Veeranna Swamy Temple

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Overview

The customs and traditions of Shaivas and Vaishnavas are different. There is a temple in Andhra Pradesh in which Poojas are offered to Narasimha Swamy, who is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Shaiva tradition. The temple has many other interesting facts and is visited by lakhs of devotees in the month of Sravana. There is a big Peepal tree in the village under which there are two idols - one of Veerabhadra swamy and the other of Narasimha Swamy. A temple was built for the two idols and there is no roof to the temple. The temple is called Veeranna temple.

About The Temple

There was a sage named Hiranya (popularly called as Eranna or Veeranna in these areas) who did penance for many years under a Peepal tree in Urukunda village. All the cows that grazed in the village used to flock around him and he spent a lot of time pampering and talking to them. The villagers brought fruits and food to him and sought his blessings. Sage Eranna helped to cure chronic diseases and ailments of these kind villagers.

One day, Sage Veeranna disappeared from his usual place under the Peepal tree. At about the same time, an idol of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha appeared below the tree. The villagers believed that the sage had appeared before them again as Narasimha Swamy. They placed the idol of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha under the Peepal Tree and started worshipping him.

They also wanted to place an idol of Sage Veeranna alongside the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy for worship. Since Sage Veeranna had been like a guardian angel of the village, (Kshetrapalaka), they made a silver idol of him represented as Sri Veerabadra Swamy and installed it next to the idol of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha.

There is also another version of the story, that Sage Eranna used to advocate a lot for Saiva-Vaishnava unity, and after he disappeared two idols of Veerabadra and Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy were found below the Peepal tree and the villagers started worshipping them together within the same Sanctum Sanctorum.

Both Veerabadraswamy and Lakshmi Narasimha are worshipped as per the Veera Saiva tradition to date. Poojas and abhishekam are done to the holy Peepal tree. There is no roof to the Sanctum Sanctorum and one can worship the holy tree from the sides of the temple even if the main temple is closed. The temple draws several thousands of devotees through the year, who come to be rid of mental ailments and physical diseases.

Once when Guru Raghavendra Swamy was travelling along the banks of the Tungabadra river, he is said to have told his disciples about the Urukunda temple and brought them there to worship Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy and Veerabadraswamy.

Festivals

The festivals are celebrated Mahasivaratri, Ugadi, Dasara, Sankranthi, Kartheeka masam, Sravananamasam.

How To Reach Veeranna Swamy Temple

The nearest Bus stop is Urukunda. The nearest Railway Station is Kupgal Railway Station. The Nearest Airport is lokpriya gopinath bordoloi international airport Guwahati.

Temple Address