Narasimhaswamy Temple, Namakkal – The Temple
The
temple is located in Namakkal, in the downhill of the Namakkal
Fort in Namakkal
district in Tamilnadu on the road from Namakkal to Salem. The temple is
on the western flank of the hill, which has a set of pillared halls leading to
the rock-cut sculpted images. The temple has a flat gateway tower and a
second entrance, also with a flat gateway leading to the pillared halls. The
sanctum houses the image of Narasimha in sitting posture, called Asanamurthi
with two images under his feet. The sanctum is rock-cut and square in
shape with a black background. The sanctum has three sculpted cells, two
pillars and a verandah in front of it.
The
image is treated as a Yogasana image, with the images under his feet seen to be
the Sun and the Moon. It is not called a Bhogasana as the consorts on either
side of him are absent. He has Vishnu and Brahma on his either sides and he is spotted with two
hands holding the conch and the chakra. There is a panel depicting the
narrative of Varaha avatar of Vishnu, who takes water from Bali and later grows big as Trivikrama to submerge Bali under his feet as per the Skanda
Purana.
Historians
consider this as a deviation from the monoscenic sculptures in temples of Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram. The temple has other sculptural relief on the walls of
the temple depicting Trivikrama, Narasimha slaying Hiranyakasipu and Ananta Sayana
Vishnu. The temple tank, Kamalalayam, is located outside the temple. There are
similar rock-cut images in the temple half way up the Namakkal Fort.
Kudavarai
Narasimhar is depicted with sharp nails that he used to kill the demon Hiranya
and the palms show bloodstains. Other figures around Narasimhar include King
Janaka, Sanathanar, Sun & Moon and Lord Brahma. Since the deity is a
Kudavarai Murthi, (hewn out of a huge rock) Thirumanjanam (ablutions) are not
performed. The ritual bathing of the god is performed only for the bronze
processional deity.
Narasimhar
is depicted with eight arms holding a Prayoga chakra, a sword, a conch and a
bow. The demon Hiranyakashipu is shown lying on his lap and being torn into
pieces. Lord Vishnu is usually known as Sri Lakshmi Narasimha when the figure
of Goddess Lakshmi is shown sitting on his lap. Here Mahalakshmi is shown on
the chest of the Lord. Sri Namagiri Thayar, Mother Lakshmi’s shrine faces east.
It is believed that devotees would become experts in mathematics if they
worship Mahalakshmi.
Sri
Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is right at the foot hill of Namagiri on its western
side. The same temple complex houses three temples. In the center is the temple
of Lord Narasimha, on its left is the temple of Namagiri Thayar and on the
right is Sri Lakshmi Narayana temple. Thayar is facing east towards Lord
Narasimha to have his darshan always. She is sitting on a lotus flower holding
lotus in her beautiful hands. On the right side of Lord Narasimha is Lord Shiva
and on his left side is Lord Brahma offering him prayers. Hence this place is
also called as Trimurti Sthalam.
Amusingly
there is no gopura atop this temple since the Lord is in the cave and the
gopura could not be constructed for such a huge saligrama mountain. He is
decorated with Karanda Maghudam (Special design of Golden crown), golden
earrings, and wildflower garland and sandal paste on his body.
He is having
four hands with Prayoga Chakram on his top right hand (Chakram which is ready
to use) and Pancha Sanyam on top left hand (white conch). His down right hands
is with Aahwana Muthra, like inviting devotees with assurance and kept his down
left hand on his left Knees.
He is wearing Saligrama Haram with 108 saligramams and having Velli Pirambhu (Silver stick) which is used to punish demons, nullify the evils sprit and clear black magic.
