It is said that, in the evenings, Gods, and Sages worship the Lord. So, there is no Archana in the evenings.
Mangalagiri - The Auspicious Hill
Mangalagiri means
The Auspicious Hill. This place is one of the 8
important Mahakshetrams (sacred places) in India. The eight places
where Lord Vishnu manifested himself are (1) Sri Rangam (2) Srimushnam
(3) Naimisam (4) Pushkaram (5) Salagamadri (6)
Thothadri (7) Narayanasramam (8) Venkatadri.
Thotadri is the present Mangalagiri. Lakshmi Devi has done
tapas
on this hill. That's why it got this name (The auspicious hill). There
are three Narasimha Swamy temples in Mangalagiri. One is Panakala
Narasimha Swamy on the hill. Another one is Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at
the foot of the temple. Third one is Gandala Narasimha Swamy at the top
of the hill.
This shape of the hill looks like an elephant. From all the directions,
the hill appears in the elephant shape only. There is an interesting
legend to show as to how the mountain came into existence. Pariyatra, an
ancient king had a son Hrasva Srungi visited all holy and sacred places
to regain normal bodily stature and finally visited this holy place of
Mangalagiri and stayed for three years performing penance. All the
Devathas (Gods) advised him to stay at Mangalagiri and continue to do
penance in praise of Lord Vishnu. The father of Hrasva Srungi came with
his retinue to take back his son to his kingdom. But Hrasva Srungi took
the shape of an elephant to become the abode of Lord Vishnu who is
locally known as Panakala Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy.
The temple of Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy is situated on the
hill. On the right side of the steps provided to reach the temple, there
is a stone inscription by Sri Krishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagar and a
little further up, the foot prints of Mahaprabhu Chaitanya are to be
seen. Midway on the steps there is a temple of Lord Panakala Lakshmi
Narasimhaswamy there is only the face with the mouth widely opened. A
dhwajasthambham was erected in front of the temple in 1955. Behind the
temple there is the temple of Sri Lakshmi, to the west of which there is
a tunnel which is believed to lead to Vundavalli caves on the banks of
the Krishna. The stone inscription of the kings of Vijayanagar relate
besides to the conquest of Rayalu over Kondapalli etc., that Siddhiraju
Thimmarajayya Devara granted a total of 200 kunchams (10 kunchams make
one acre) land in 28 villages of which Mangalagiri was one and gift of
40 kunchams by China Thirumalayya to Ramanujakutam.
The steps to the temple were constructed by Sri Channapragada
Balaramadasu in 1890. There was a cave next the devi temple on the hill.
It is said that, there is a way to Vundavalli from that cave, and the
sages used to go by that way to take bath in Krishna River. Now, the
cave is very dark, and the way could not be seen.
The Demon Namuchi
The Lord that has established himself on the hill is in the form of
Narasimha (man-lion) which Lord Vishnu assumed to kill Hiranyakasipu, a
rakshasa father of Prahlada, a great devotee. He is also called as
Sudarsana Narasimhaswamy. The legend says that Namuchi, a Rakshasa after
great penance obtained a boon from Brahma that he would not be killed
by anything that is either wet or dry. He began to harass Indra and the
Devathas. Encouraged and supported by Lord Vishnu, Indra commenced
destroying the army of Rakshasa Namuchi, who did in a cave in
Sukshmakaram (small size) giving up his sthulakaram (Physical
manifestation). Indra dipped Sudarsanam, the disc of Lord Vishnu in the
foam of the ocean and sent it into the cave. Lord Vishnu manifesting
himself at the centre of the disc destroyed the Pranavayuvu (life
breath) of the Rakshasa with the fire of his exhalation. He thus got the
name of Sudarsana Narasimha. The blood that flowed from the body of the
Rakshasa seemed to have formed into a pool at the foot of the hill
which is known hill. The Devathas themselves were unable to withstand
the fire of the anger of the Lord and they prayed for appeasement. The
Lord took amrutam (nectar) and cooled down. It was in Krithayugam. The
Lord said that he would be satisfied with ghee in Threthayugam, with
milk in Dwaparayugam and with panakam(Jaggery water) in Kaliyugam. Hence
the Lord is called in Kaliyugam as Panakala Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy.
Story in Threthayugam
In Threthayugam, the second of the four yugas, people who enjoyed in
heaven as a result of their good deeds in the world are most unhappy to
return to this world (when once the fruits of good deeds are exhausted,
the soul has to come back to the world). They prayed Indra, the Lord of
heaven to save them from the impending fate. Indra advised them to spend
their time in the world at Mangalagiri to attain heaven again. In
Krithayugam, the first of the four yugas when the sinners were few,
Yamadharmaraja, the Lord of hell advised them to wash off their sins by
doing penance at Mangalagiri. Mangalagiri is in existence from the
beginning of the Universe with the names Anjanadri in Krithayugam,
Thotadri in Threthayugam, Mangaladri and Mukthyadri in Dwaparayugam and
Mangalagiri in Kaliyugam affording salvation to sinners also. In
Krithayugam, Vaikhanasa Maharshi worshipped the Lord and his idol is
worshipped even today in the temple. It is also believed that Lord Rama
while departing for Vaikuntam after completing his mission in that
incarnation advised Anjaneya to stay at Mangalagiri and after obtaining
his blessings to remain in this world for ever. Anjaneya took his adobe
at Mangalagiri as Kshetrapalaka.
Panakala Narasimha Swamy - God Who Drinks Panakam
It is said that here, god is self-existent. In the temple, there will be
no statue of the god, but there is only mouth, widely opened to 15 cms.
The mouth is covered by metal face of the god. The temple will be
opened till afternoon only, with the belief that devatas will perform
pujas in the night. The God takes jaggery water as offering by a conch.
The Jaggery water is actually poured into the mouth of the Lord, a
gargling sound is clearly audible as if the Lord is actually drinking it
and the sound becomes shriller and shriller as and when the Lord is
drinking. The sound will come to a stop after sometime and the balance
of the jaggery water is thrown out. This phenomenon happens not once in a
day but is a recurring feature during the course of the day as and when
devotees offer panakam (jaggery water). It will be interesting to note
that even a single ant is not traceable near the Lord nor around the
temple in spite of the offering of so much jaggery water. As the
offering of the panakam to the Lord is peculiar, the Lord here is called
panakala Narasimhaswamy. There is a legend about the offering of the
panakam (jaggery water) to the Lord. It is said that the hill was once a
volcano. Sugar or jaggery water, it is said, neutralizes sulphur
compounds found in a volcano and prevents a volcanic eruption.
Behind the temple there is the temple of Sri Lakshmi, to the west of
which there is a natural cave. It is believed that it will lead to
Undavalli caves on the banks of the Krishna river and the sages used to
go to take bath in Krishna River. Now, the cave is very dark and the
way could not be seen. We can reach the temple through steps-way on foot
and also by road-way. The steps to the temple were constructed by Sri
Channapragada Balarama Dasu in 1890. In 2004, ghat road had been
constructed through which the pilgrims can reach the temple easily.
Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple
At the foot of the hill, there is another temple whose origin is traced
to the time of Yudhishtira, the eldest of the pandavas. Yudhishtira is
said to be the founder of the chief image of this temple and the deity
here is called Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. In Vijayawada itself, which
is 8 miles from Mangalagiri there is a hill called Indrakeeladri in
which Arjuna is said to have done tapascharya (penance) in order to
obtain the weapon Pasupata from Lord Siva. About 200 years back Raja
Vasireddy Venkatadri Naidu who ruled from Amaravati as his capital
constructed a stupendous gopuram (tower) on the eastern gate of the
Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy. It is one of the highest gopurams in South India
and only one of its type in this part of India. It is 153ft. in height
and 49 feet wide with 11 storeys, and gates facing east and west. This
great and imposing tower dwarfs the central shrine. The devoted patience
of thousands of skilled craftsmen and the labour of many more
apprentices which had gone into this great structure is a testimony to
the religious fervour which characterized the builder. After
constructing the gopuram, it was leaning towards one direction. The
Kancheepuram Architects suggested to dig a tank opposite to the tower.
After digging the tank, it is said that, the tower became straight.
The Image of the Lord in the form of Narasimha (man-lion) and that of
Lakshmi Devi to his left are of stone. The garland of the Lord with 108
saligramams is of special significance here. Dakshanavrutha Sankham, a
special conch believed to be one that was used by Lord Krishna and
resented by the Maharaja Sarfoji of Tanjore, is one more possession of
significance of the Lord. There is also an ancient ratha (temple car)
belonging to the temple with ornamental wood carvings depicting the
scenes from the great epics of Bharata, Bhagavatha and Ramayana.
Thimmaraju Devaraju a military chieftain of the Vijayanagar rulers
improved this temple. He had constructed prakarams (compound walls),
mandapas, gopurams (towers), five images of Lord Bhairava, a festival
chariot, ten varieties of courts for annual ceremonies, flower gardens
lakes and tanks. He had also installed utsava vigrahas in the temple
(metal images intended for being taken out in procession). To the north
of the temple there is a temple of Sri Rajyalakshmi to the south that of
Rama with Sita and Lakshmana and to the west vahanasala (the store
house for the vehicles of which the golden garudavahanam, the silver
Hanumanthavahanam and ponnavahanam are noteworthy). The Lakshmi narayana
temple and the Anjaneya Mandiram in Pedda Bazar are the other places of
worship in the town.
Gandalayam
On the top of the hill, there is no deity for the god. There is only facility to put a
deepam. If anyone gets miseries, then they go there, lamp the
deepam by cow ghee, and they lose the miseries. That lamp is visible from many villages.
Festivals
Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Brahmothsavam is very important
annual festival. It is believed that the celebration was inaugurated by
Dharmaraja at the behest of Lord Krishna. Pradyumna, the son of Lord
Krishna, reqested his father to celebrate his birthday annualy for a
sapthaham (seven days) from Phalguna Suddha Sapthami. Lord Krishna
entrusted this work to Dharmaraja, the eldest of the pandavas who has
the successor to the throne at Hasthinapura.
At present the festival is celebrated for 11 days commencing from
phalguna sudda shasti (february - march). One day before Phalguna Suddha
Purnima i.e. on Chaturdasi, here the marriage of Santha Narasimha
Swamy, and Sridevi and Bhoodevi will be celebrated. They follow Agama
sastra in this celebrations. Before the marriage, Chenchus celebrate on
the occassion of Narasimha swamy marrying their daughter Chenchu
Lakshmi. On that day night, Swamy comes by
Sesha Vahanam and participate in
Eduru Kola. The next day after the marriage is
Purnima, on which the
Holi festival is celebrated by indians. The same day, here, people celebrate
Tirunalla,
and about 1,00,000 people, local and from distant places congregate. On
a big chariat, the Lord will go on procession and hundreds of devotees
will pull this cart with fervour and enthusiasm.
Srirama Navami, Hanumajayanthi, Narasimhajayanthi, Vaikunta Ekadasi, and
Mahasivarathri are other festivals which are celebrated here on a large
scale. On Mahasivarathri, Lord will go on procession on a small
chariot.
Ksheera Vruksham (The milk tree)
Ksheera vruksham (the milk tree) on the Mangalagiri hill is of great
attraction particularly to the woman. The legend goes to say that king
Sasibandi was advised by Narada to visit pilgrimages. King left the
kingdom, and his queen, and started visiting pilgrimages. The queen came
to know about this, and grew furious and cursed Narada to become a
Ksheera vruksham on the hill within the easy reach of devotees, blessing
women at its very sight, with property, children and washing off the
sins they committed out of ignorance or oversight, for having
ill-advised her husband to desert her and take to penance. Narada took
this not as a curse but as a boon as it meant service to humanity,
blessed the queen with happy life with her husband and a thousand
children. Even today the milk tree is on the Mangalagiri hill and
throughout the year thousands of women visit and worship the tree for
begetting children.
There is a legend connected with the making of the procession idols of
the temple. A repated goldsmith was appointed to make the procession
images of the Lord. In spite of all his skill and care, the panchalohas
(five metals) melted together in a huge crucible and smeared over the
images to form a brilliant coating, the metals used to separate
themselves and this bitter disappointment continued day after day. He
began the process of burning one day after praying for the Lord's grace
and heared a voice that success in his work required human sacrifice.
Just then his son rushed to him and requested the father for water to
quench his great thirst. He lifted his affectionate son and threw him
into the molten mixture of the five metals and the body disappeared in
no time. The amalgam was cast and beautiful icons of the Lord were then
completed. After completing the work, the goldsmith thought about his
son and called out in agony come my son and I will give you water to
quench your thirst. It is believed that the body jumped out of the image
and stood before his father.
Gali Gopuram (Tower)
Thoorpu Gali Gopuram (Tower on East Side) is the main attraction
for the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. Vijayanagara kings constructed
three storeys and Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Naidu constructed another 8
storeys. Raja Vasireddy constructed this from 1807 to 1809. Height of
this temple is 153 feet and width is 49 feet. It is very rare to find
out towers which have less width, and more height like this tower.
Utthara Gali Gopuram (Tower on North Side) is opened on the
Vaikunta Ekadasi (Mukkoti) day. It was constructed by Rangapuram Jamindar
Madapati Venkateswararao in 1911. When
Padamati Gali Gopuram
(Tower on West Side) was being constructed, accidentally some stones
fell down and some workers died. By this incident, the work was stopped
and had not been started till now.
Dhakshina Gali Gopuram (Tower
on South Side) was renovated in 1992 for Krishna pushkaras by the
initiative of the Executive officer Sri Nootakki Kotaiah.