Avaniyapuram Nava Narasimhar Temple, Thiruvannamalai

Address

Avaniyapuram, Thiruvannamalai District,

Tamil Nadu-604503

Mobile: +91 9629540448 / 9941756271

Moolavar

Nava Narasimhar

Introduction

Nava Narasimhar Temple is dedicated to 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. 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.

Puranic Significance

Etymology:

Avani means Lion in Sanskrit and hence the name Avaniya Puram to this place, originally this sacred place called as Avani Narayana Puram and during the days it became Avaniyapuram.

Mahalakshmi with Lion Face:

During the time of Thretha Yuga Lord Brahma was doing the yaga and at that time from the yaga’s fire Lord Narasimha has appeared in front of him. Due to the heat lord doesn’t had the face when he come up. Seeing this Mahalakshmi Thayar told to Narasimhar that how you will give darshan to bhaktas without face hence please grant me your face to me. Pleased by the Thayar lord gives his face and hence in this Kshetra Thayar with lion face giving darshan to all and this day is celebrated once in 60 Years of Sarvadhari Samvathsarm.

Lord Darshan to Brigu Rishi as Five Desam Deities:

Lord Narasimha had given darshan to Brigu Maharishi in the form of five Divya Desa Deities viz Tirupathi Balaji, Sholingur Narasimhar, Kanchi Varadaraja Perumal, Srirangam Ranganathar and the Ahobilam Nava Narasimhars.

Beliefs

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

Special Features

The temple is said to be more than 1500 years old. 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. 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.

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 (June – July) 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 (August- September) and Lord Narasimha has his Parivettai utsavam in Panguni (March – April).

References

https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/02/nava-narasimhar-temple-avaniyapuram.html