Nava Narasimhar Temple, Avaniyapuram, Thiruvannamalai
Nava
Narasimhar Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu located at Avaniyapuram
Village in Thiruvannamalai District of Tamilnadu. This Temple is also called as
Dakshina Ahobilam. It is a small hill with temples at 2 tiers and about 200
steps to climb. Steps can be easily climbed by even older persons also. The
first tier has Lord Lakshmi Narasimhar, Alarmel Mangai Thayar and Pancha
Narasimhar Sannadhis. The second tier has Sannadhis for Lord Venkateswarar,
Sholingur Narasimhar, Varadaraja perumal and Ranganatha Perumal. Avaniyapuram
is located at about 20 kms from Cheyyar and is on a small hillock.
Legends
For
brief details, please refer below link;
The
Temple
It is a
small hill with temples at 2 tiers and about 200 steps to climb. The steps are
painted with colorful painting and the either side of the walls are marked with
Narayana tiru Namam in blue background color adds more beauty. Steps can be
easily climbed by even older persons also. A three-tier Rajagopuram welcomes
beckons one with its grace and grandeur. One has to climb 70 steps to reach the
first deity, Lord Narasimha found in a small cave (Kudavarai koil), and ascend
another 114 to have a Dharshan of Lord Venkateswara.
The
first tier has Lord Lakshmi Narasimhar, Alarmel Mangai Thayar and Pancha
Narasimhar Sannadhis. Lord Narashima is in a sitting posture, Mahalakshmi
Thayar seated on his left thigh. His left arm is around his consort and his
right hand is in abhaya Hastha position. His upper hands are holding the chakra
and conch. Here Lord has no face and Thayar having the Lion Face. Another
Narasimhar can be found below the Moolavar. The day the goddess got the Lion
face from the Lord is celebrated once in 60 years.
Lord
Narasimhar is said to have appeared here in the form of five Divyadesam lords
for Brighu Maharishi. The Uthsava Moorthy of lord Narasimhar had a face of
lion. He has four hands and is in standing position flanked on either side by
Sri Devi and Bhoodevi. There is a small Garuda Sannadhi inside the temple and
Anjaneya Sannadhi outside the main Sannadhi in the first tier. There is a
“Pancha Narashimar” enclave on the right side of the prakaram. A small temple
for Siriya Thiruvadi can be found in the mid-way while climbing steps.
The
second tier has Sannadhis for Lord Srinivasar, Sholingur Narasimhar, Varadaraja
perumal and Ranganatha perumal. Similar to Tirupathi, where Lord Venkateshwara
is in Tirumala and Alarmelmangai Thaayar is at Tiruchanur, here Lord
Venkateshwara is in the first tier, while the Thaayar is found at the lower
tier. Lord Venkateswara is a Swayambhu Moorthy standing armed with chakra and
conch.
There
are totally nine Narasimhars here (out of which five are in a row) like
Ahobilam and hence is called Dakshina Ahobilam. Behind the Srinivasa Perumal
temple, there is a separate sannidhis in a cave - Lord Ranganatha with his
Consort Ranganayaki on his Serpentine bed, Sri Perundevi Sametha Sri Varadaraja
Perumal, Sri Yoga Narasimhar and Sholingur Yoga Narasimha is in a sitting
position along with Amirthavalli Thayar. Thus once can have darshan of all the
main Pancha Divya Desa moorthies – Ahobilam, Kanchi, Sholingur, Srirangam and
Tirumala.
There
was a huge rock formation in the form of a lion with face, eyes, nose, mane and
a raised right leg. The temple is believed to have been built during the
Pallava regime. It is heartening to note that all the shrines in the hill
temple are well maintained.
The
temple is open in the mornings from 6 am to 12 noon and in the evenings from 3
pm to 8 pm. There is heavy rush on Saturdays and the timings extend to 1 pm in
the afternoon and till 11 pm in the night.
Festivals
During
the Sarvadhari Samvathsarm Aani month 9th day is the day Thayar got
the Lion face and it is celebrated once in 60 Years of Sarvadhari Samvathsarm Aani
Month 9th day. Only on this day 4 types of Naivedhya Prasadam will
be offered to lords of this hill temple.
·
For Mahalakshmi Thayar –
Sarkarai Pongal
·
For Narasimhar –
Puliyodharai
·
For Srinivasa Perumal –
Curd Rice
·
For Yoga Narasimhar – Ven
Pongal
Popular
festivals here are Sri Jayanthi, Deepavali and Vaikunta Ekadasi. Lord
Venkateswara Brahmotsavam is celebrated on a very grand scale in the Tamil
month of Purattasi and Lord Narasimha has his Parivettai utsavam in Panguni.
Prayers
Thulabharam
is a famous Pirathanai here. We could see some people offering sugar, jaggery
and coins equal to the weight of their babies. It is believed that if childless
couples pray to offer Thulabharam once their prayers were answered, their wish
of childbirth is granted, and they come back with the child to offer gratitude.
By
visiting this kshetram itself one can get the benefit of
·
Kalyana Prapthi
·
Putra Soubhagyam
·
Runa Vimochanam
·
Vyaparam
Contact
Nava
Narasimhar Temple,
Avaniyapuram,
Thiruvannamalai District
Mobile: +91 9629540448
/ 9941756271
Connectivity
Avaniyapuram
is located at about 16 kms away from Arani, 75 kms from Thiruvannamalai and 25
kms from Vandavasi. The temple is located on the Vandavasi - Arani highway. The
temple is located at about 135 kms from Chennai. The best route from
Chennai is to take the GST road and take the right towards Uthiramerur.
Proceed towards Kanchipuram road and take the left towards Vandavasi. After
reaching Vandavasi, take the right towards Arani and exactly at the 26th
km from Vandavasi, there is an arch on the left with the board of Avaniyapuram.
The temple is about 1.4 kms from the Arch. Nearest Railway Station is located
at Thiruvannamalai and Nearest Airport is located at Chennai.
References
