Nangavalli Someshwara Swamy (Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy) Temple, Salem

Address

Nangavalli Someshwara Swamy (Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy) Temple, Salem Nangavalli, Salem district – 636454.

Diety

Someshwara Swamy Amman: Soundaravalli

Introduction

The Someshwarar (Lakshmi Narasimhar) temple in Nangavalli, located in Salem district, Tamil Nadu, is a significant pilgrimage site with historical and religious importance.

Deities and Significance:

The temple is dedicated to two main deities: Someswarar (Lord Shiva) and Lakshmi Narasimhar (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu).
The consort of Lord Someswarar is Soundaravalli.
The temple is known for its unique feature of Saiva-Vaishnava unity, where devotees can worship both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu within the same complex.

Holy Tree and Water:

The sacred tree of the temple is Vilwa, which holds spiritual significance in Hinduism.
The holy water source associated with this temple is known as Bhrama Theertham.

Puranic Significance

Age and Historical Significance:

The temple is estimated to be around 1000-2000 years old, making it a prominent historical and religious site in the region.

Origin of the Temple:

The origin story of the temple is linked to a woman named Thotti Nangai, who came to the area with her basket. Her basket mysteriously became heavy, and when she checked, she found a stone in the shape of a window inside it.
Initially, she discarded the stone, but it mysteriously reappeared in her basket. This happened multiple times, and it became clear that something divine was at play.
A woman appeared and revealed that the stone symbolized Goddess Lakshmi. People of the town retrieved the stone from a pool, where it was found with a snake, and erected a shrine to worship it.
The temple was later developed by the Vijayanagara kings, who built a temple dedicated to the goddess Narasimha and Lord Shiva, uniting the two deities in the same complex.
The serpent deity in the temple is considered highly powerful.

Additionally, the temple’s location has historical significance, as the water from Nangavalli flows by gravity to Salem, a system constructed and inaugurated by the British before India’s independence. The Someshwarar (Lakshmi Narasimhar) temple is not only a place of worship but also a living testament to the rich history, traditions, and unity of different religious beliefs in the region.

Beliefs

It is an ongoing belief that people who suffer from skin diseases will be immediately corrected by taking the soil. Devotees come here for all kinds of sicknesses, marital breakups and patriarchy.

Special Features

Special Features of the Temple:

The temple houses a shrine for Lord Shiva as Shakti Dakshinamurthy, a unique feature.
The Rajagopuram, the monumental tower at the temple’s entrance, stands at 75 feet in height and 5 feet in width.
The temple complex features several shrines and notable structures, including a Thulasimadam, a Flag Tree, an Altar, Sabhamandapam, shrines for Navagrahas (nine planetary deities), Lord Murugan, Lord Brahma, and Ashtalakshmi (eight forms of the goddess Lakshmi).
The temple celebrates various festivals, including Panguni Uthiram, Vaikasi Visakam, Navrathri, Chitra Poornima, Tirukarthikai, Aani Tirumanjanam, Masi Magam, Tiruvadhirai, and Thai Poosam, each marked with special pujas and rituals.

Festivals

The Narasimha Swamy Thirukovil festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm by nearby villages, bringing communities together.
The Draupathi Amman festival is another important celebration, featuring a live reenactment of the Mahabharata’s epic battle, a unique event in Tamil Nadu.