Narasimha Temple, Anthili,
Thirukkovilur – Legends
Penance
of Garuda:
As Lord Vishnu did during the
Gajendra Moksham episode, Lord Vishnu, skipped his vehicle (Garuda) on his way
to kill Hiranya. This action of Lord Vishnu hurt Garudalwar very much. He felt
that he had failed in his devotion because of which the Lord had not taken him
along in such an important avatar. He was angry with himself and thought that
he would do penance to redeem himself of this shortfall in devotion. He came
down to find a suitable place to start his penance. He chose the banks of the
River Krishna Bhadra also called Dakshina Pinakini (Then Pennai River).
When Lord Vishnu took the Vamana
Avatara he measured the earth with one foot, and the skies with the second.
While he did so, Lord Brahma washed the foot measuring the heavens, with water
from his Kamandalu. This water is believed to flow as the Dakshina Pinakini and
since it is the water that washed the foot of Mahavishnu it is believed to be
as holy as the Ganges. Sitting atop the rock, he undertook severe penance that
sent heat waves everywhere that over time generated raging fire.
Anxious at this development,
Brahma and the Devas sought the help of Lord Vishnu to cool down his exclusive
vehicle, Garuda. Lord Vishnu set out on a mission from Vaikunda along with
Goddess Lakshmi, finally reaching the rock where the angry Garuda was
undertaking penance. An inquisitive Lakshmi questioned her Lord's reasoning for
leaving Garuda behind on such an important trip to kill the Asura and she also
suggested that it was unreasonable to put Garuda to such hardship.
Lord Vishnu explained the
urgency of his task and the immediate need to put an end to Asura Hiranya's
wrong doings meant he had to leave without Garuda. Pleased with Garuda's
penance, Lord Vishnu provided darshan here as Narasimha with Lakshmi on his
lap. Garuda immediately cooled down on seeing his Lord once again, especially
in the Narasimha form which he had missed earlier as he did not accompany the
Lord at the time of killing Hiranya.
He requested the Lord to remain
here in this cool form (Shantha roopi) and provide darshan to all devotees.
Also, having missed taking him on the trip to kill Hiranya, Garuda sought the
opportunity now to carry the two of them around this place. An overjoyed
Garuda is said to have taken them around Thiru Kovilur, Mugaiyur,
Arakandanallur and Paranur, among others.
Visit
of Sri Vyasaraja:
The Madhwa seer Sri Vyasaraja
visited Anthili and had dharshan of the Lord on top of a small hillock that
looked like Garuda to him. The same Vyasaraja became Sri Raghavendra in his
next birth. Idol of Hanuman in this Temple was installed by him. Sri Vyasaraja had installed over 729 hanumans throughout India.