Simhachalam Temple in Vizag | Places to worship
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Simhachalam Temple

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The hill of the lion (Simhachalam) combines the Orissan and Chalukyan features of temple construction, and it attracts scores of pilgrims from both Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.

Legend
Maha Vishnu took the incarnation of Narasimha Avatara 50
Pooja/Prayer Information
Special Prayer/Pooja Day Timings Charges
Simhagiri YatraDaily Visiting Hours
Nitya Kalyanam 10.00 AM 50
Sannidhi Ashtottarawarna Visiting Hours 25
Sannidhi Sahashranama Archana 50
KappaSthambam Alingana 10/Single
15/Couple
to protect his disciple Prahalada from Samudram (Sea). Prahlada performed the first Kalyanam to Lord Narasimha on Chaitra Suddha Ekadasi. All Devatas (gods) including Lord Shiva attended this Kalyanam. Lord Shiva liked Simhagiri and settled on hill as Tripurantakeshwara.Long after that in the Kaliyugam, an anthill covered the temple. In Trethayugam,a king named Pururavudu while traveling across Simhagiri on his Divyavimana, was told by Urvasi, who was accompanying him, of the Narasimha temple hidden under the anthill. Pururava searched the temple for three days, finally he got the darshanam of the deity on an auspicious day known as Akshaya Trithiya.

The Panel that depicts the legend can be seen in one of the mandapams in temple complex Beautifully carved we can see Lord Narasimha in a standing posture tearing open the entrails of Hiranyakasipu with ferocity by placing him on his left thigh is well delineated in a sculpture on the southern wall of the garbagraha. While His fore arms are laid on Hiranyakasipu, the rear right and left arms hold the ghatyam and conch respectively. Prahalada is found beneath the panel supplicating to the Lord. Just above this is a beautiful panel of Kalinganardhanam of Lord Krishna. The delineation of Narasimha is rather unique in this temple. Another piece of sculpture, on the northern wall, is that of Varahamurthy, which attracts attention with its sculptural delineation, similar to that of Belur and Halebedu. Just above this panel is that of Lord Krishna holding aloft the Govardhanagiri over the herd of cows which seek protection from the torrential rain caused by Indra.

Information

Darshanams

Sevas

Offerings

It is believed that the idol of the deity was taken out from a well nearby. Till 1912, She was worshipped where they consecrate
Sthalapurana  
Hiranyakasipu, who thought that the entire world should chant his name as the chief deity and if anyone chants other than his name should be sentenced to death. This was the major order that was proposed by him. Because of fear, all the people started to chant Hiranyakasipu's name and dedicated poojas towards him instead of doing it to Sriman Narayanan. But, bhaktan Prahaladan, the blessed child of Sriman Narayanan and the real son of Hiranyakasipu, did not chant his father Hiranyakasipu's name but always expressed his bhakti towards Sri Vishnu. Though his father warned him that he should only follow him as the main deity but not Sriman Narayanan, he didn't follow and instead he started to follow him very deeply.

This kind of action of Prahaladhan made Hiranyakasipu angry and ordered his soldiers to kill him by throwing him from the top of the mountain. As the order from the king, the soldiers threw Prahaladhan from the top of the mountain and to protect him, the perumal Sriman Narayanan came as Sri Narasimhar and rescued him by moving the mountain and made a small path for Prahaladhan. And, it is said that in the place where the perumal stood to protect Prahaladhan is the place where the temple is built.

Kulottunga Chola I of Tamilnadu, made endowments to this temple, as evidenced from inscriptions dating back to the year 1087. The Vengi Chalukyas of Andhra Pradesh renovated the original shrine in the 11th century. Much of the structure as it stands to day is the result of renovation by Narasimha I, of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, in the second quarter of the 13th century CE. Krishna Deva Raya, the Vijayanagar monarch visited this temple in the year 1516, as seen from inscriptions here. There are as many as 525 inscriptions in this temple.
How to Reach There
Simhachalam is located at a distance of 12 Km from Vizag,  It is well connected by BRTS Road and buses.
Suggested Itinerary
Full Day Itinerary Dolphins Nose, Ross Hill, RK Mission, Aquarium, Lane Of Fame, Submarine Museum, Visakha Museum, VUDA Park, Sivaji Park, Kailasgiri Park
Events and Attractions  
The architectural style of the complex is simple yet elegant with meditation halls mainly designed to offer peace and silence for monks. The stupas are positioned right in the heart of the complex while the hall is looked after by two guards standing by the entrance. Thotlakonda is also home to many stupas and viharas. The cooking area as well as the resting place used by monks creates a clear picture of how simple their lives used to be.
Architecture  
The architecture of the temple is a combination of that of Konarak's Sun Temple, those of Chalukyas and the Cholas. In fact coastal Andhra from Vizag to Srikakulam was under the Gajapathis of Orissa (1470-1541 A.D.) As in Konarak, the three-tier sikara rising over the sanctum sanctorum is shaped like a stepped pyramid, and is profuse with ornamentation. The temple was built in the 9th or the 10th century, and was extensively rebuilt in the 13th century. There are 525 inscriptions in this temple, and the earlier one dates back to 1087 A.D.

This temple boasts of a beautiful stone chariot drawn by horses. The Kalyana Mandapa within the temple has 16 pillars with bas reliefs depicting the incarnations of Vishnu. Narasimha, the man lion incarnation of Vishnu is seen in several depictions throughout the temple.

The temple faces west. With its hilly backdrop covered with verdant vegetation, it looks resplendently beautiful, with a five-tier Rajagopuram and a white coloured sikara rising over the sanctum sanctorum. A flight of steps leads to the northern gateway, an elaborately decorated three-tier gopura, which gives access to the visitors to the side entrance of the ardha mantapa.

The cubical shaped sannidhi is centrally located in the quadrangle. The dwajasthamba, a metallic piece with an artistic design, is in front of the maha mantapa. The walls of the garbagraha carry fine sculptures in the niches, which have been sculpted in Hoysala style.

The artwork here has elements of similarity with that of Konark. Elephants, flowers and plants are portrayed in plenty. The outer walls of the sanctum depict images of a royal personality (said to be King Narasimha) in various postures.

The corners of the base of the sikara bear lion statuettes symbolising Lord Narasimha. On the eastern face of the sikara are found the sculptures of Indra on his mount, Iravatha, and lower down Gajalakshmi. Capping the sikara is the gold plated dome with the Vaishnavite symbol held aloft.

Around the inner prakara is found the 96-pillared Kalyana mantapa. The shape of the pillars, the ornamentation on them, and the cornices stand on a unique pedestal. To the right of the northern entrance is the 16-pillared natya mantapa. These pillars carry simhalalathas or lion's head at the base. While the `jagatti' or the railed parapet around the ardha mantapa carries a row of well-sculpted elephants, which denotes strength, the inner `jagatti' around the garbagraha carries a row of swans. Just above this is the scrollwork with sculpted figures at intervals. Then above this is a row of smaller simhalalathas interspersed with other figures. By the side of niches are the simhalalathas riding over elephant on the supporting pillars. The capital, architrave, frieze and cornice of the column are beautifully shaped. In between the pillars is the convolution carrying figures. The eaves of the sidewalls carry excellent filigree work in stone. A study of the pillars in the Kalyana mantapa and the sculptures in the niches reveals that basalt and schist appear to have been the media with which the artisans worked.
 

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