Yanaimalai Othakadai Yoga Narasimha Perumal Temple, Madurai

Address

Yanaimalai Othakadai Yoga Narasimha Perumal Temple, Narasingam, Othakadai, Yanaimalai, Madurai – 625 107 Mobile: +91 98654 88821

Diety

Yoga Narasimha Perumal Amman: Narasingavalli Thayar

Introduction

Yoga Narasimha Perumal Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Narasingam in Yanaimalai in Madurai District of Tamilnadu. The Temple is located at the foot of the Yanaimalai hills. This is a rock cut temple and the main deity Narasimhar is carved out of the rock. The temple is a good example of the cave sculpturing of the Pandya Kingdom. Presiding Deity is called as Yoga Narasimhar and Mother is called as Narasingavalli. This place, though not a Divyadesam sanctified by Azhwars’ hymns, is situated between two holy places – Alagar Koyil in the north and Thiru Mohur in the east.

Puranic Significance

Maran Kari, the minister of the Pandya king, started the construction of the temple in 770 A.D., which remained unfinished, either due to his death or due to some other calamity, and was completed by his brother Maran Eyinan later. He also built the Muka Mandapam and consecrated the temple. Narasingam Patti is also renowned as the birthplace of the poet, Perungoushiganar well known for his literary work ‘Aatru Padai’ in ‘Paththuppattu’. Yoga Narasimha: According to the Sthala Purana for the Madurai Koodal Azhagar Temple, sage Romasa had installed the Narasimha idol in a cave in the hill. And the 87th chapter of the Uttara Kanda of the Brahmanda Purana says the sage did penance on the banks of the Padma Thadagam, as it was filled with lotus flowers, near the Gajagiri Kshetram (the present Anaimalai) seeking progeny, and wanted the Lord to appear in his Narasimha avatar. The Lord appeared as Ugra Narasimha and the heat that emanated from him was unbearable. Even the celestials were affected by it and they all came to Gajagiri Kshetram and prayed to the Lord to calm down. The Lord could not be pacified and then they sought the help of Prahlada, whose arrival quietened him to some extent. They prayed to the Goddess Mahalakshmi, who also took her abode in him as Narasingavalli, after which he became Yoga Narasimha. The Lord later granted the boon sought by the sage. Chakra Theertham: According to another legend, Lord Siva was afflicted by Brahma Hathi Dosham (a curse that descends upon a Hindu if he murders a Vedic Brahman) after he plucked one of the five heads of Lord Brahma. He was relieved of it after he took a bath in the holy water source there, also known as Chakra Theertham, and he worshipped Lord Narasimha. It is believed that taking a dip in the Chakra Theertham, which is near the temple, rids one of all sins. Thiruvilayadal Puranam: The Thiruvilayadal Purana, written by Perumbatta Puliyur Nambi and later amended by Paranjothi Munivar, says that the Chola king, who could not win the battle against the Pandya ruler, sought the help of Jains. They created a giant elephant using their mystic powers and directed it to kill the Pandya king and destroy his capital. But the Pandya prayed to Lord Siva to save him and his capital. The Lord sent to him the “Narasinga Asthram” (the eight-lettered word Namo Narayana), which turned the elephant into a hill. To commemorate this event, a stone elephant was installed in Madurai near the Vaigai facing the north, which is found near the Yanaikkal Bridge even today. Etymology: This hill is in the shape of an elephant hence it is called Yanaimalai (elephant hill). This place is mentioned as the Gaja Giri Kshetram, Narasingam or Hasthigiri. Pulasthya Maharishi penance on this place: Pulasthya Maharishi, the great grandfather of Lankan King Ravana is said to have undertaken penance at this place and had darshan of Lord Narasimha.

Special Features

Yoga Narasimha Perumal Temple is situated at the foot of the Yanaimalai hill. The Hill is called as Hasthigiri or Gajagiri. This is a beautiful temple with a wonderful temple tank to its north filled with water lilies. This Temple is equipped with Maha Mandapam, Garuda Mandapam, Artha Mandapam, Mukha Mandapam and Sanctum. There is no separate flagstaff (Kodi Maram) in this temple. This is a rock cut temple and the main deity Narasimhar is carved out of the rock. This temple has a small, square-shaped sanctum sanctorum and Artha Mandapam (hall). Presiding Deity is called as Yoga Narasimhar and is facing west. The Yoga Narasimha idol at the temple is six feet high, sculpted on the hill itself. Narasingar, in a seated posture, performing penance, can be seen carved in the sanctum sanctorum. His front two hands are folded and are resting on his knees, while the two hands behind can be seen holding the Chakra (wheel) and Shangu (conch). The chakra (wheel) in the hands of Lord Narasimha looks almost like that of prayoga chakra (wheel). The temple is unique for its Utsava idol of Varada Narasimha in a standing posture with the Sudarsana and Panchajanya in his upper two hands while the left lower hand holds the Gathai (club weapon) and the right is in the Abhaya Hastha posture (blessing pose). This idol is a rare and unique form which is not seen elsewhere. Usually, in Narasimha temples the Utsava idol would be Srinivasa or a similar form. This would be the only Narasimha temple where the Utsava idol is also Narasimha. Mother is called as Narasingavalli and she is housed in separate shrine facing south. Her shrine is located at the entrance of The Temple. There are shrines for Anjaneya and Garuda in the Temple premises. Theertham associated with this Temple is Chakra Theertham. Inscriptions say that there was also an agraharam for Vedic Brahmins, but there is no trace of it now.

Festivals

The temple bustles with activity during Narasimha Jayanthi and on every Maasi Pournami (full moon day), to act out Gajendra Moksham episode, Thirumohur Kalamegha Perumal (Divya Desam) makes his annual trip to Yanaimalai Narasingam Perumal Temple. On this day, a ritual of oil bath or Abhishekam is performed on the idol of Lord Narasimha. Since the hill is considered as sacred, Girivalam (circling the entire hill) during Full Moon Day is an important event. Swathi Thirumanjanam and Prathosham Thirumanjanam are the festivals of Yanaimalai Sri Narasingam Perumal Temple. Lord Narasimha’s incarnation happened during the Pradhosha period (between 4.30 PM and 5.30 PM) of Krishna Paksha Chathurthi (fourth day from the Full Moon Day). Special Abhisheka pujas are performed to Sri Narasimha during this period for improvement in studies and business. During the time of Swathi star (the birth star of Yoga Narasinga Perumal) special pujas are held.