Lakshmi Narsimha Swamy Temple, Singiri Koil – The Temple
This Temple is situated on a small hillock on the banks of the tiny river. The temple will be closed if the river flows in full stream and this happens for about a week in a year. There were about 50 steps to climb and it is a small temple with only the sanctum sanctorum and two small shrines for Periya Thiruvadi (Garudazhwar) and Siriya Thiruvadi (Lord Hanuman).
The sanctum sanctorum was quite big with the Lakshmi Narasimhar in sitting posture in Santha Roopam with Goddess Lakshmi on his right lap (usually he will have his consort on his left lap). The Lord is about 6 feet high with four hands – two hands hold the conch and the chakra, third (left) hand is on his lap and the fourth (right) hand is around the waist of Goddess Lakshmi.
Thirumanjanam is performed on every Swathi Nakshatram, which is the birth star of Narasimha. There is a separate shrine for Anjaneya, known here as Bala Anjaneya. The idol is one foot high. Bala Anjaneya, appears like a small child is believed to bestow the boon of parenthood to the childless. The temple also has a separate shrine for Garuda.
There is a big rock at the back of the sanctum sanctorum and so the praharam is a little narrow on this side. As per the inscriptions around the sanctum sanctorum, this is an 8th century temple built during Pallava Rayar period by the King Nandhi Varman. Panorama of the surroundings can be viewed from the Hillock top.
