Narasimhaswamy Temple, Namakkal – Legends
As per
Hindu legend, Hiranyakasipu, a demon king, was troubling the Devas (celestial
deities) as he got a boon from Brahma that no human can kill him, neither could he be
killed in morning, noon or night nor in air, water or ground. His son Prahalada was an ardent devotee of Vishnu, garnering the
hate of his father. Hiranyakasipu tried to slay Prahalada at various times,
just to be saved by the divine grace of Vishnu.
During
the last heated argument between the two, Hiranyakasipu was asking if Vishnu
was present everywhere and went on to break a pillar with his weapon. Vishnu
took the avatar of Narasimha and came out of
the opening in the pillar. Narasimha was a half-human with a lion face and
slayed Hiranyakasipu on an evening time in a doorway, which was neither land
nor air.
Ages
passed by, when Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu was doing penance at this place,
seeking his boons. Hanuman (Locally called Anjaneyar) was carrying an image
made of Saligrama and Lakshmi requested him to help her with a view of Vishnu
in the form of Narasimha. Hanuman entrusted the saligrama to her and requested
her to hold it until he returns.
Lakshmi
could not bear the weight and placed the image at this place, which grew into a
mount before Hanuman could return. Narasimha appeared before both of them and
set his abode at this place.
