Simhachalam Temple

 

Is a Hindu temple located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, South India, and is dedicated to the incarnation (avatar) of Vishnu known as Narasimha (the man-lion). Origin of the name Simha: Lion, Chala: hill

Atop the hill is a famous temple said to be the abode for Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy; hence, the mountain itself is called (Nara) Simhachalam.

 

Temple History

 

Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy is the presiding deity. Simhachalam temple is the second richest temple (after Tirupati). You can have ‘Nijaroopa darshan’ holy appearance in true form for 12 hours in a year i.e. on Akshaya Tritiya day.

 

The darshan described as Chandana yatra or Chandanotsavam falls annually in Vaisakha masa (May). The deity here the lion-headed man incarnation of  Mahavishnu covered with sandalwood paste throughout the year, once during Akshaya Teithaya Nija Roopa Darshan is available for devotees.

 

The original shape of the deity in the Tribhanga posture has two hands with the head of a lion on a human torso. An inscription dated as far back as 1098 AD of the Chola king Kuloththunga provides some clues as to its antiquity.

 

Another inscription shows a Queen of the Eastern Ganga of Kalinga (ancient Orissa) (1137-56 AD) covering the image with gold while a third inscription says the eastern Ganga King of Orissa Narasimha Deva built the main/central shrine in 1267 A.D. With more than 252 inscriptions in Oriya and Telugu describing the antecedents of the temple, it is a historically important monument.

 

Sri Krishna Deva Raya after defeating the Gajapati ruler of Orissa Gajapati Prataparudra Dev visited the shrine twice in 1516 AD and 1519 AD and offered numerous villages for maintenance of Bhogam (worship) along with valuable jewellery an emerald necklace is still in the temple.

 

Temple Architecture:

 

This temple was built with Odissan architecture. For the last three centuries, the Royal family of Vizianagaram and the Pusapati Gajapathi have been the temple trustees.

 

Legend Says

 

Hiranyakasipu was a Rakshasa king. He was, in fact, one of Vishnu’s Dwarapalakas or gatekeepers in Vaikuntha, Jaya, and Vijaya. One has to take birth in the mortal world because of a curse given by Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanathana and Sanathkumara.

 

They were not allowed to take the darshan of Mahavishnu by them. The other Palaka was born as his brother Hiranyaaksha. Hiranyakasipu wanted to become immortal and hence performed austerities (Tapasya) to propitiate Lord Brahma. However, Lord Brahma said that was not possible.

 

Hiranyakasipu asked Lord Brahma to grant him a boon so that he could not be killed by any animal or a man neither in the morning nor in the night, by any weapons, neither in the sky nor on the earth. Hiranyakasipu wanted the entire world to worship him.

 

But, Prahalada, his son, was a devotee of Lord Narayana and always expressed his bhakti towards him. Despite warning Prahalada Hiranyakasipu could not alter Prahlada’s devotion. Angry Hiranyakasipu made numerous attempts to kill Prahlada. One of them was to throw him off the top of a mountain. However, Vishnu rescued him by moving the mountain and making a small path for Prahaladha. The local belief suggests temple stands where the Lord stood to protect Prahaladha.

 

Address:	Simhachalam Rd, Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530028
Phone:	0891-2764949
Simhachalam Temple Darshan Timings (Hours)
Sunday	6:30 am–2:30 pm, 3:30–9 pm
Monday	6:30 am–2:30 pm, 3:30–9 pm
Tuesday	6:30 am–2:30 pm, 3:30–9 pm
Wednesday	6:30 am–2:30 pm, 3:30–9 pm
Thursday	6:30 am–2:30 pm, 3:30–9 pm
Friday	6:30 am–2:30 pm, 3:30–9 pm
Saturday	6:30 am–2:30 pm, 3:30–9 pm
Creator:	Narasingha Deva I (Present temple)
Deity:	Varaha Narasimha (Vishnu), Simhavalli thayar (Lakshmi)
Festivals:	Dola Utsava; Kalyanotsava; Chandanotsava; Narasimha Jayanti; Navaratrotsava; Kamadahana
Style:	Kalinga architecture; Dravidian Architecture

 

Simhachalam Devasthanam Temple Pooja/ Aarti/ Sevas Time-Table
Days	Pooja/Aarti/Sevas	Timings
Mon-Sun	Ashtottara Santhanamarchana	6:00 am
Mon-Sun	Kappasthabham Aalinganam	9:30 am
Mon-Sun	Nitya Kalyanam Seva	10:00 am
Mon-Sun	Sahasranamarchana Seva	5:00 pm
Mon-Sun	Sahara Deepalankarana Seva	5:30 pm
Mon-Sun	Swarna Pushparchana	4:00 pm
Mon-Sun	Seeghradarshanam	4:30 pm
Mon-Sun	Sudarsana Narasimha Yagam	6:30 pm
Mon-Sun	Special Darshanam	6:00 pm

 

Simhachalam Devasthanam Temple Daily Timings

 

• Suprabhata Seva – 4:00 am.

• Suprabhata Darshanam – 4.30 am to 5 am.

• Aradhana Seva – 5 AM to 6.30 AM

• Morning Free (Sarva Darsanam) – 6.30 AM to 11.30 AM.

• Nitya Kalyanam Seva – 9. 30 AM Onwards.

• Rajabhogam Seva – 11.30 AM to 12.30 PM

• Afternoon Free (Sarva Darshanam) – 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm

• Afternoon Break – 2.30 PM to 3 PM

• Evening Free (Sarva Darsanam) – 3 pm to 7 pm

• Aradhana Seva – 7 pm to 8.30 pm

• Aradhana Seva (Dhoop Seva) Timings – 7 pm to 8.30 PM.

• Aradhana Seva Free (Sarva Darsanam) – 8.30 pm to 9 pm.

• Pavalimpu Seva (Ekanta Seva) – 9 PM

 

With Warm Regards

Our Office Address:

Get Set Go Travels

Station Road,

Opp DRM Office,

Dondaparthi,

Visakhapatnam-530016.

 

📞+91 9246814399

 

WhatsApp Chat

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