Velachery Sri Yoga Narasimhar - Sri Narasimha Darshanam 104

Sri Mantra Raja Patha Slokam - Explanation by Sri Mukkur Lakshmi Narasimhachariyar Swamigal - Part 32

Renovation and Kumbahishekam of Adhistanam of Sri Paramasivendra Saraswati Swamigal (Thiruvenkadu, TamilNadu)

Adhistanam of the 65th Acharya at Ilayathangudi - Temple Renovation

His Holiness Pujyasri Sudarsana Mahadevendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamiji was known as Mahalingam prior to his Sanyasa and anointment as the 65th Shankaracharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. He toured extensively  and had gone on pilgrimage touching the borders of Orissa.  The 65th Shankaracharya attained siddhi at Ilaiyattangudi in Tamilnadu on Amavasya in the month of Phalguna of the cyclic year Virodhi (1891 AD). A Temple has been built by the Nattukottai Chettiars on his samadhi.

We all should take part in this adistanam renovation activity. Details as follows:-

Sarvam Sri Lakshmi Nrusimharpanamasthu 

Sarve Jana Sugino Bavanthu

Ghati Subramanya Kshethra - A rare temple of Lord Subramanya and Nrusimha

Lord Sri Subramanya a popular Deity in Hindu religion is worshiped across the country especially in South India. Regarded as the son of Lord Shiva, Subramanya was commander-in-chief of army of Gods who killed the demon Tharakasura. He is also popularly called as Shanmukha, Karthikeya, Saravanabhava, and Skanda etc. Guha is another name of Lord Subramanya, the one who dwells in caves and invariably we find mountains and caves as the abode of Lord Subramanya. There are several temples dedicated to Lord Subramanya spread across the country and some of them are pilgrim centers famous as Subramanya Kshethras. One such temple which is of rare significance is located at Ghati in Karnataka state about 60 km from Bangalore.

According to Sthala Purana (Temple legend) Ghati is the place where Lord Subramanya performed penance in the guise of a serpent [(there is a tradition to worship to Lord Subramanya in Sarpa roopa (serpentine form)] inside the caves in the mountain ranges of this area before going to kill the demon Tharakasura. Ghati is also the place where Lord Subramanya invoked protection from Lord Lakshmi Narasimha for the serpentine clan from Garuda’s scare. Traditionally Garuda the divine mount of Lord Vishnu is known to be an enemy of Serpentine tribe.

Combining the above said episodes the temple at Ghati is uniquely dedicated to both deities Lord Subramanya and Lord Lakshmi Narasimha a rare combination. Rarity of this temple is that both Deities are carved on a single self manifested (swayambhu) idol with Lord Subramanya in a seven hooded serpentine form (cobra) facing east and Lord Lakshmi Narasimha facing west. One can view Lord Lakshmi Narasimha through strategically placed mirror inside the sanctum sanctorum.

Ghata is a Sanskrit word meaning a pot. A serpent’s hood resembles that of a pot and Ghati is the place where Lord Subramanya lived in the form of Ghata Sarpa. In Hindi Ghat means mountain range and this temple of Lord Subramanya is located in the mountain ranges.  Ghati is believed to be the place where Lord Subramanya killed a demon called Ghatikasura. According to temple records the temple at Ghati Subramanya Kshethra has a history of more than 600 years and it was first built by Ghorpade erstwhile rulers of Sandur dynasty. This rare and self manifested idol was unearthed by the King with the help of local citizens as per the directions (dream) given by Lord Subramanya himself.

Ghati has become one of the major pilgrim centers of Karnataka state and due to the serpentine form of Lord Subramanya the place is also revered as a Naga Kshethra. Thousands of devotees approach this temple for worshiping Lord Subramanya as a remedy for various negative results from Kuja (Mars) especially Kuja (Angaraka) Dosha, marital related problems and prosperity, as a remedy for malefic effects from Rahu, Sarpa/Naga Dosha, for attaining progeny; as a remedy for health problems especially chronic skin diseases like leprosy, leukoderma, relief from enemies (both internal & external), relief from debts apart from overall prosperity and general wellbeing.

Lord Narasimha - Deeparadhanai

Ghati Subramanya Kshethra can be reached by road via Doddaballapura about 45 km from Bangalore and from there Ghati is about 15 km distance. Nearest railway station is Makalidurga about 5 km from Ghati on the Bangalore-Guntakal line. Nearest airport Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli is about 30 km from Ghati.  The temple is open on all the week days from morning 06.30 am to night 09.00 pm.

Lord Subrahmanya - Turmeric Abhishegam

Temple car festival is held every year on the 6^th lunar day (Sukla Shashti) during Pushya maasam apart from, special celebrations held on other important occasions as per the calendar for worship of Lord Subramanya and Lord Lakshmi Narasimha.

Shadananam Kunkuma Raktha Varnam
Mahamathim! Divya Mayura Vaahanam

Rudrasya Sunum! Surasasya Natham
Guham Sadhaham Saranam Prapadhye

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu

Source : https://bhargavasarma.blogspot.com

Malai Nadu Yatra (திரு வித்துவக்கோடு, திருநாவாய், திருமூழிக்களம், திரு காட்கரை and few other temples) Travelogue - PART1

Jai Sri Lakshmi Nrusimhaya namaha

Sri Maha periyava thiruvadigale saranam

Sri Mukkur Lakshmi Nrusimhachariyar thiruvadigale saranam

We went for 3 days yatra to Malai nadu temples (4 divyadesam around Guruvayur and few other temples) .

Very soothing and blissful days of our life

No electric lights in any of the temples and people who do puja in temple doesnt seem to work for money.   We have bought dried fruits / nuts for neiveidhyam and in each temple the temple gurukal / archagar did atleast 15 min pooja and offered the flowers & dried food to God.

We could see that the  temple gurukal / archagar doing nithya pooja even when there is no crowd or not even a single person other than pujari in the temple. 

Imagine calm, divine, soothing atmosphere and a garbhagraham filled beautifully aligned ghee lamps, in the midst your kuti guruvayoor krishanan with four hands, chubby cheeks, magical smile, simple vastram , simple garland and in chandana alakaram. Thats how most of the temples are.  out of the world feeling.

Thirumoozhikkalam Lakshmana swamy

Same is true for Sivaperuman / Bagavathi  temple..

• Day 1 3rd Feb Sunday - 
• reach GuruVayur, 
• Thriprayar Sri Ramar temple, 
• Mammiyur Shiva Temple, 
• Lunch in Brahmana Samooham 
• Evening Thiruvithuvakkodu Divyadesam and 
• Thiru Naavaay Mukunthan Divyadesam

• Day 2 - 4th Feb Monday - Thai Ammavasai. 
• Guruvayur Krishnan, 
• Kodungalur Bagavathy amman , 
• Thiruvanchikulam Mahadeva Temple, 
• Thirumoozhikkalam Lakshmana swamy Divyadesam, 
• Night Stay in Kalady (Birth place of Sri Adishankarachariyar)

• Day 3 -  5th Feb Tuesday - 
• Kalady Sri Adishankarachariyar Darishanam, 
• Krisnan temple (Kuladeivam of Sri Adishankarachariyar), 
• Thirukkaatkarai appan Divyadesam, 
• Chottanikkarai Bagavathi Amman, 
• Vaikkam Sri Mahadevar Temple, 
• Sree Narasimhaswami Temple, 
• Muriyamangalam

Food

Food in GuruVayoorGuruvayur brahmana samooham +91 487 255 3499 / 0487 2562221Mr. Siva Rama Krishnan 9895392251 lunch served between 12 - 2pm. If you want to contribute for 1 day meals its 2500rs. You can contribute whatever you feel like.

 Other options.

Breakfast Ganapthy Bhavan, Lunch & Dinner Ramakrishna LunchNandini Vegetarian Restaurant

Guruvayur Stay

Stay - We stayed in mayura residency guruvayur. Rooms are good. AC rooms roughly @ 3000rs per day. I felt its bit costly. I also didnt like the complimentary buffet. 

Kalady Stay

Phone: 0484-2462350, 0484-2465922Mr. Surya - Feb4th Night Stay in Kalady. (9846749473)Feb 5th - Ganapathy Homam from 6.30-7.30am  400 Rs only

ICabs Contact

We used i CABS taxi guruvayur. very good service from them at reasonable price.12 seater Traveller 100 km / 3500 per day. each extra km 20rs

Cab Contact - Srijith Guruvayoor Icabs +91 70340 70341
 https://www.google.com/maps/place/i+CABS+taxi+guruvayur/@10.5954583,76.0457153,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x3ba794f2d39a7027:0x5c5703d95a6529f6!8m2!3d10.595453!4d76.047904

Temple and contact details:

திருப்பிரயார்  - ஸ்ரீ ராமர் கோவில் 

0487-2391375 /  +91 487 239 1375

03.30 am to 12.00 pm

04.30 pm to 08.30 pm

1. Sri Ramachandra Prabhu with four hands- Jaba malai - with Sri Devi and Bhu Devi Thayar. 

2. Dhrishtaa seetha Hanumaar.

3. Dakshinamoorthi Sanithi, Ganapathy, Sastha, gopala krishnar sannithi.

4. Vedi and Fish food

திரு வித்துவக்கோடு

5am-1030am and 5pm-7pm

Contact : Ravichandran and Ramachandran Embranthari @ 98460 92853

1. பெருமாள் அம்பரீஷ மன்னனுக்கு “ பிரத்தியும்னன், அநிருத்தன், பரவாசுதேவன், சங்கர்ஷணன் “ அப்படின்னு நான்கு வடிவங்களில் காட்சி தந்த தலம் இந்த திருவித்துவக்கோடு. 

2. பஞ்ச பாண்டவர்கள் கட்டிய கோவில் .மூலவர் உய்யவந்த பெருமாள் / அபயப்ரதன்

3. காசி விஸ்வநாதருக்கு தனி சந்நிதி

4. ஐந்து மூர்த்தி ஸ்தலம்

5. வாளால் அறுத்துச் சுடினும்*  மருத்துவன்பால்*

மாளாத காதல்*  நோயாளன் போல் மாயத்தால்*

மீளாத் துயர் தரினும்*  வித்துவக்கோட்டு அம்மா*  நீ

ஆளா உனது அருளே*  பார்ப்பன் அடியேனே

திருநாவாய்

5am-10am (till 1130am on Sundays) and 5pm-7.30pm

Narayana Namboodari @ 0494 2603747 or 93876 34946

Gireesh - 97451 16998

1. நாவாய் முகுந்தன். நவ யோகி ஸ்தலம்

2. நான்கு திருக்கரங்களோட , சங்கு சக்கரம் கதா பத்மம் ஏந்தி , மந்தகாச புன்னகையோடு, அருள் பொழியும் திரு கண்களோடு.. அழகான சேவை ... இன்றும் நாவாய் முகுந்தன் திருப்பாதம் ,பூமிக்குள்  புதஞ்ச மாதிரி இருக்கும்.

3. கஜேந்திராழ்வாரும் , மஹாலக்ஷ்மி தாயாரும் போட்டி போட்டு பூ பறிச்சு பூஜை செய்த ஸ்தலம்

4. ஆற்றை கடந்தோம்னா , சிவபெருமானுக்கும், ப்ரஹ்ம தேவருக்கும் தனி கோவில் உண்டு. அதனால இந்த ஷேத்திரத்தை திரு மூர்த்தி ஸ்தலம் அப்படின்னு சொல்றாங்க

ஸ்ரீ மலர் மங்கை நாச்சியார் சமேத , நாவாய் முகுந்தன் திருவடிகளே சரணம்

குருவாயூரப்பன்

3am Nirmalya Darshan

closes @ 12.30pm

Evening 4.30pm till 9 or max 10pm

1) உத்தவருக்கு ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ண பரமாத்மா தந்தருளிய விக்ரஹம்.

2) பிரகஸ்பதி (குரு)+ வாயுவின் - சிவபெருமான் உத்தரவின் படி அமைத்த கோவில். அதனால் குரு வாயூர் என்று அழைக்கப்படுகிறது.

3)  நான்கு திருக்கைகளுடன் சங்கு, சக்கரம், கதா, பத்மம் ஏந்தி புன்சிரிப்புடன் அழகிய உண்ணிக்கிருஷ்ணன் இவன்.

4) சகல விதமான நோய்களுக்கும் அருமருந்து இந்த அமுதன், கிருஷ்ணன்,

குருவாயூரப்பன் திருவடிகளே கதி

மம்மியூர் மகாதேவ க்ஷேத்ரம்

04:45 am - 12:30pm

04:45pm -  08:30pm

வாயுவின் உதவியோடு பிரகஸ்பதி (குரு) உலகம் முழுவது அலைந்து கிருஷ்ணரின் பாதள அஞ்சன விக்ரகத்தை செய்ய மிகவும் புனிதமான மற்றும் பொருத்தமான தலத்தைத் தேடினார். அப்போது பரசுராமரின் வேண்டுகோள்படி கேரளா வந்தனர் வாயுவும் குருவும். அப்போது ருத்ர தீர்த்தத்தில் நீருக்குள் சிவபெருமான் தவம் செய்து கொண்டிருந்தார்.அவர் வெளியே வந்து தாம் தவம் செய்து கொண்டிருந்த இடம் மிகப்புனிதமானது என்றும் அங்கே ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகளாகத் தாம் தவம் செய்து வருதலையும், தாம் ருத்ர கீதையை உபதேசம் செய்த தலமும் அதுவே என்று கூறி, கிருஷ்ணரின் விக்கிரகத்தை அங்கேயே வைக்கலாம் என்று உறுதி செய்து அருளினார்.

எனவே குருவாயூர் குருவாயூரப்பன் கோயிலுக்கு வரும் பக்தர்கள் மம்மியூர் சிவபெருமானையும் வழிபட்டபின்னரே வழிபாடு பூரணமாகின்றது.

கொடுங்கல்லூர் பகவதி அம்மன்

4am - 12 noon

4pm - 8pm

480 280 3061

1) கருவறையில், ஏழடி உயரத்தில், எட்டுக்கரங்களுடன், பலாமரத்தாலான சிற்பமாக அருள்பாலிக்கிறாள் கொடுங்கல்லூர் பகவதி.

2) தேவி பத்திரகாளி வடிவெடுத்து, தாருகனை வதைத்ததாக தலபுராணம் சொல்கின்றது.

3) இன்னொரு கருத்தின்படி, மதுரையை எரித்தபின், சேர நாட்டுக்கு வந்த கண்ணகியே இங்கு கோயில் கொண்டிருக்கிறாள்.

4)ஆதிசங்கரரால் நிறுவப்பட்டதாக நம்பப்படும் ஆறு சிறிசக்கரங்களே, இத்தேவியின் வரமருள் திறத்துக்குக் காரணம்.

திருவஞ்சிக்குளம் மஹாதேவர்

Phone +91 480 281 2061

5:00AM - 11:00 AM,

5:00PM - 8:00 PM

1. தேவாரப்பாடல் பெற்ற திருத்தலங்களில் கேரளாவில் இருக்கும் ஒரே சிவத்தலம் இந்ததிருவஞ்சிக்குளம் மஹாதேவ சுவாமி கோவில்

2. சுந்தரர் சில காலம்  சேரமானோடு கொடுங்களூரில்  தங்கி திருவாஞ்சிக்குள   ஆலயத்தில் மகாதேவனை தரிசித்து வந்தார் . பின்பு இந்த இரு சிறந்த சிவனடியார்களும் கைலாசம் சேர்ந்து போகிறார்கள்.

3. சிறந்த சிவனடியாரை பணிந்து தொழுவதால்  கைலாஸ பதவியும் தேடாமல் கிடைக்கும்

திருமூழிக்களம்

லெட்சுமணப்பெருமாள் திருக்கோயில்

5am-11am, 5pm-8pm

+91 4842470374

1. லக்ஷ்மணர்,  தான் பரதருக்கு மனதால் இழைத்த தவறுக்கு  பிராயச்சித்தமாக ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணருக்கு ஒரு கோவில் கட்டி வழிபட்ட இடம் தான் இந்த திருமூழிக்கலம் .

2. திருமூழிகளத்து பெருமாள் திருநாமம் ஸ்ரீ ஸூக்தி நாதர் ஏன் என்றால் - ஹரித மகரிஷிக்கு  ஸ்ரீ ஸூக்திகளை தந்தருளிய பெருமாள் இவர்.

3. நம்ஆழ்வார் பத்து பாசுரம் படியிருக்கார். நாயகி, நாயகனுக்காக பறவைகளை தூது விடுவது போன்ற பாசுரங்கள்.(தக்கிலமே கேளீர்கள்)

4. ஸ்ரீ மதுர வேணி நயிகா சமேத ஸ்ரீ ஸூக்தி நாத பெருமாள் திருவடிகளே சரணம்.

Kalady

5 am to 11.30am

4 pm to 8 pm

Surya (9846749473)

Kalady, the holy birth place of Jagadguru Adi Shankara Bhagavadpada is a beautiful village with rustic simplicity and serenity . It is situated very close to the river Periyar(Poorna).

Main Deities - Sri Sakti Ganapati, Sri Sharadamba, Adi Shankara 

Samadhi of Aryamba (Holy mother of Sri Shankara)

Sri Krishna Temple - Kalady

Sri Kumar Namboodari 9388862321,

5am-10.30am

This temple is just one compound from Kalady Sringeri Mattam.

Thirukkaatkarai

5:00AM - 11:00 AM,

5:00PM - 8:00 PM

S. Venkatan @ 99952 16368 or 97475 36161

Vinod @ 94462 05706

ஸ்ரீ வாமன மூர்த்திக்கான மலைநாட்டு திவ்யதேசம் இது.

கபில முனிவருக்கு பெருமாள் - வாமன மூர்த்தியா சேவை சாதிச்ச இடம்.

கரை அழிக்கும் காட்கரை.

சோட்டாணிக்கரை பகவதி அம்மன்

4am till 12 noon

4pm till 9pm

0484 - 2711032 , 2713300

இங்கே லட்சுமி, சரஸ்வதி, துர்க்கை என்னும் மூன்று உணர்வு நிலைகளோடு தேவி திகழ்கிறாள்.

காலையில் அறிவாற்றலை வளர்க்கும் அன்னை சரஸ்வதியின் ‎ரூபத்தில் வெண்ணிற ஆடையிலும்;  நண்பகலில் சௌபாக்கியம் ‎தரும் அன்னை மகாலட்சுமியாக,

ஆழ்சிவப்பு வண்ண உடையிலும்; ‎மாலையில் வீரத்தை வளர்க்கும் அன்னை துர்க்கையாக, கரும் நீல ‎வண்ண உடையிலும், காட்சி தந்து பக்தர்களை உய்வித்து அருள்பாலித்து வருகிறாள்.

தேவியின் வலது பக்கத்தில் இரண்டு அடி உயரமுள்ள கிருஷ்ணன் சிலை உள்ளது. 'அம்மே நாராயணா', 'தேவி நாராயணா' என்று மனமுருகி பக்தர்கள் வழிபடுகிறார்கள்.

Sree Narasimhaswami Temple, Muriyamangalam

+91 94970 23521

The 'Prathishta' of this temple is in the form of four handed Lord MahaVishnu ('Chaturbaahu'), facing west, emerging out of the sacred fire of the 'homa'. The 'Aayirakudam' Abhisheka is performed daily to [subside/reduce] the heat generated from the sacred fire. The 'Vigraha' is 5 feet tall.

Sri Manikarnika Gunja Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple - Sri Narasimha Darshanam 16 - Narsipur

Related post : http://murpriya.blogspot.com/2013/10/sri-manikarnika-gunja-sri-lakshmi.html

Where is Sri Manikarnika Gunja Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

Kethavaram - Sri Lakshmi Nrusimhar temple

Related link http://murpriya.blogspot.com/2018/08/kethavaram-sri-lakshmi-nrusimha-swamy.html

Kethavaram is an ancient Narasimha Kshetra situated on the banks of River Krishna in Andhra Pradesh.

LEGENDS

Kethavaram was named after the King Ketha Varma who ruled this region. Kethavaram is also called as Kaataaram or Kethaaram in the scriptures.

Once, during the reign of KethaVarma, the Lord appeared in the dream of a Yadava King who ruled a nearby land and told him about His(Lord’s) presence in the hill of Kethavaram. The Yadava King immediately conveyed this message to King Ketha Varma, who conducted an extensive search in the hill and finally discovered the Swayambhu Moorthy of Lord sriNarasimha.

Kethavarma constructed a temple at the place and arranged for NityaPooja. Festivals began to be celebrated at a grand splendour. Lord Narasimha graces the devotees with Mother Mahalakshmi. There is also a shrine for Sri Anjaneya in this temple.

Vajralaya – While digging the land here for a tank, one worker was hit by a stone and it began bleeding. Testing the rock, it turned to be a diamond rock. Further digging brought out some idols also. Hence, Lord Narasimha is praised as Vajralaya., vajram meaning diamond.

DEITY

Sri Narasimha Swamy at Kethavaram is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested deity). The Mother Goddess is Chenchu Lakshmi. There seems to be 2 temples here. One is at the foot of the hill and the other is at the hill top.

There are 600 steps to reach the hill temple.

TIMINGS

As the temple is situated in a dense jungle area, the temple at the foot hill temple is open during the visit of devotees. A family is staying near the temple.

FESTIVAL

Sri Narasimha Jayanthi is grandly celebrated in this temple.

ADDRESS

Sri Narasimha Temple, Kedavaram, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh

Source - http://srinarasimhakutumbam.org/temples/divya-kshetra/kethavaram/

MATTAPALLY : Sthala Puranam - From Narahari Hrudayam

MATTAPALLY : Sthala Puranam

This, like many other materials, was provided by Sri Vijayaraghavan Bashyam referred to as Vayasya by Sri Mukkur Swami. He maintains the site www.vijayaraghavan.cjb.net a MAGNUM OPUS site on Lord Lakshmi Nrusimhan (unfortunately not able to track that site now)

Location :Mattapalli is situated on the banks of river Krishna, in Huzurnagar taluq of Nalgonda District in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Presiding Deities :
Sri Yogananda Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, Sri Raajyalakshmi Thaayar and Sri Chenchu Lakshmi Thaayar

Sthala Puranam :
The Maha Kshetram is in the midst of a dense and lovely forest, which instills awe and inspiration in the minds of the visiting pilgrims. In one of the caves adjoining the pilgrim town, the image of the Lord has been radiating glory from times immemorial. Legend had it that Sri Bharadwaaja Maharshi worshipped this deity everyday accompanied by several other sages. In those unknown times, only sages and gods could worship the self revealed images of Narasimha in the cave. Later the sages who had the welfare of this world at their heart, decided to throw open this holy place to the common man. An auspicious time for it came in Kali Yuga.The deity was revealed in a dream to the devotee Sri Anumala Machireddi, the ruler of Thangeda which is 3 km off Mattapalli on the opposite bank of the Krishna river. The Lord wished Machireddi to reveal his image for the good of the mankind during Kali Yuga. The ruler accompanied by his pandits, searched all the caves on the banks of river Krishna, as ordained by the Lord, but could not trace the location of the deity. Sad and depressed, he fell asleep in the forest. Again the Lord appeared in his dream and ordained him to search further, in a designated area near an "Aare" tree hidden behind the foliage in a cave. Waking up, the ruler found the cave and the image of the Lord in a seated posture, with the wellspread hood of Sesha over his head, fully adorned with Shankha Chakra Gadha and as if the Lord was being worshipped regularly, with flowers, sacred leaves, fruits etc. Overjoyed, the ruler revealed the Maha Kshetram to the general public and constructed a Mukhaalaya.

More about Sri Anumala Machireddy :The name and fame of Machireddi has lived down to this day and we still see his benevolence and benefaction inscribed in the golden kalasams in the Siva temple of Srisailam,and others like Kasi Visheswara, Lord Gopala in Thangeda etc.However the fort of Thangeda is now in ruins.

An incident in history :Chennuri Sri Narasimha Rao, Chairman of the temple committee, said that one " Chennuri Giramma", belonging to his great-grand-forefathers was an ardent devotee of Sri Mattapalli Narasimha. She lived during the period of the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb. When Mughal forces were to attack the temple, she prayed to the Lord to dispell the danger. Then the Lord created countless bees which attacked and drove the Mughal soldiers away. Their attempt to capture this temple proved a futile exercise.

Description of the Garbhagriha ( sanctum sanctorum ) :
There is a rock above the door to the sanctum sanctorum. On it is the sculptured motif of Gaja Lakshmi with two elephants raising their trunks upwards on either side. The sanctum is a cave. The roof of the Garbhagriha is a big rock.

The Lord manifested Himself on a rock, which is on the backside of the Garbhagriha. Another rock is spread like the hood of Sesha over it. The Lord is 1 foot in height. Seated in Padmasana, He holds, Chakra in His upper right hand and Sankha in His upper left hand. He has kept His lower left hand on His left knee, and His lower right hand is not visible. On the left side of the Lord, ther are decorated three Namams ( Thirumann ), and two eyes, which are considered as the form of Prahlada, the ardent devotee of the Lord. There is a small lengthy rectangular rock of about 1 foot length at the feet of the Lord. The rock is said to be "Chakri", an ardent devotee of the Lord who was not given mukti when he requested for the same because the Lord did not want to be separated from him. So he was made into a rock like form and placed in the sanctum. Daily the abhishekam is performed to this rock also.

To the left of the manifested Lord, there is a black, stone image of Lakshmi which is 1.5 feet in height, in a sitting posture on a lotus. She holds lotus flowers in her upper hands. Her lower right hand is in Abhaya posture and the left hand is in Suchi posture. Below the Lakshmi image, there is another image of Lakshmi, which is carved on a rock. As Lakshmi is not visible to the visitors, the image of Rajya Lakshmi is installed for the 'darsan' of the devotees. It was consecrated in 1975. She holds chakra in her upper right hand and Sankha in her left hand. She holds lotus buds in her lower hands. She is in sitting posture. She is 1.25 feet in height. She wears a makuta on Her head. 

Before the presiding deity, at a lower level, the utsava idols of the Lord are installed. There are also copper images of Sudarsana and Nammazhwar

To the right side of the sanctum, leading to the north door, there are eleven black stone images of the Azhwars, seven of which face the west and the remaining four face east. There is a trench on the left side of the Lord at some distance in the cave, which it is believed to lead to the river Krishna through an underground passage.

Description of the temple :
The sanctum faces the west. The mukhamantapam has 21 pillars with a cement roof. Before the Vaikunta dvaara ( North door ) there is a mantapa with five pillars with a cement roof. It was built in 1973-75. It measures 21feet X 18 feet. The mukhamantapam before the sanctum measures 24feet X 45 feet. Teh height of the mukhamantapam is about 20feet. As there is mo convenience to go around the sanctum, the devotees perform circumambulation ( pradakshinam ) around the Dhwajasthambha and the stone image of Hanuman which faces the Lord. There is a Ramanuja Kutam ( Madapalli or kitchen ) to the north of the temple in the same premises where in, the naivedya to the Lord is prepared.

There is an entrance to the temple which faces the south. There is a fleet of steps leading down to the river Krishna just outside the main temple but within the compound.

Temple Traditions :
Vaikhaanasa Aagama is followed here. The priest is a Sri Vaisnava who is a heriditory priest. There is a Vedic pandit who recites Vedas and other mantras at appropriate occasions. The daily programme of the temple is as follows:

05.00 Suprabhatam
0600 Viswaroopam and Abhishekham after removing kavachams
0700 - 1000 Darsanam
1000 Sahasranama Archana
1130 Balabhogam and Viniyogam
1200 Dvarabandhanam
1600 Reopening of Temple doors and Archana
1700-1900 Darsanam
1900 Naivedyam and Viniyogam
1930 Kavaatabandhanam

Special Events :On every friday, ther is a seva of Andal at 1800 hours with the procession by devotees.

Adhyayana utsavas precede the annual festival of the Lord for 3 days from Chaithra Sudhdha Dasami to Dvadasi. The annual festival is celebrated from Chaithra Sudhdha Trayodasi to Bahula Tadiya.

The following festivals are celebrated in the temple viz., Ugadi, Sri Raama Navami, Sri Nrusimha Jayanthi, Sri Krishna Jayanthi, Vijaya Dasami, Vaikuntha Ekadasi, Dhanurmasa Aaradhanam and Sankaranthi.

On the occasion of the Brahmotsavas, Mukkoti Ekadasi and Nrusimha Jayanthi, about 5000 devotees from local and other areas congregate. During these days, one-act-plays, dramas, dances, harikatha, bhajan and songs afford entertainment to the devotees. The special feature of this temple is giving free food to all the pilgrims on these days.

Temple Trust :
The temple committee associated with the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department runs the temple with liberal contributions from the pilgrims. The chairman is Sri Chennuri Narasimha Rao who stays at Huzurnagar buts visits the temple almost daily. He can be contacted for arrangements to be made for the devotees.

Boarding and Lodging facilities :Stay facilities are available in the form of Choultries. There are Brahman Chathtrams and Vysya Chaththrams which are given free of cost to the devotees who visit the temple. However it is desirable to offer nominal contributions to the Chaththram Authotities.

Once reaching Mattapalli, one may inform Brahmana Chaththram for food requirements. Here again food is given free of cost. However devotees may donate nominal amounts towards expenses according to their will.

Near the temple, there is only one shop for general items. Therefore it is advisable to take all personal requirements especially medicines when one visits Mattapalli. The nearest town is Huzurnagar which is 25km away.

Importance of this Kshetram :
There is a popular verse which goes thus :- " Ekameva Kshetram, Mattapalli Kshetram, Na Anyat Kshetram, Mattapalli Tulyam, Ekameva Tatvam, Mattapalli Naatham, na Anyat Tatvam, Palli Simha Tulyam" which means that "Mattapalli is the only pilgrim spot. There is no secondary whatsoever and there is no equal to it. There is only one Lord and He is the Lord of Mattapalli. There no secondary whosoever and none is comparable to HIM."

There is a belief that incurable diseases will be cured and the evil spirits will be driven out and all desires will be fulfilled by the Lord if one stays in Mattapalli for 11 days and 11 nights and performs 32 pradakshinams thrice a day with wet clothes having bathed in the Krishna river each time.

Another important feature is the possession of a rare type of conch by the temple called Dakshina Vriththa Sankha. It is said that if one keeps it near his ear, a booming sound of the sacred Pranava also called Taaram, echoes out of it. This type of conch is present only at the Kasi temple and nowhere else.

Route to reach Mattapalli:
Mattapalli is 25km from Huzurnagar. Huzurnagar can be approached from Kodada or Miryalaguda. Kodada is on the Vijayawada - Hyderabad Highway and is 15km from Huzurnagar. Kodada is 175km from Hyderabad and 100km from Vijayawada.