Narasimha Temple

Overview

Sri Narasimha Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located in Thuravoor, Cherthala, in Kerala, India. Sree Lakshmi Narasimha Temple can be seen at about one and a half kms from the NH47, on the Kumbalangi Road.

About the temple

The idol that is found at the Shree Lakshmi Narasimha temple seems to be older than the present temple complex which is believed to be built in early 18th century. The idol or prathishta seems to be of the 17th Century. The temple also houses an idol of Lord Venkatachalapathy on the first step. Vishnu padakkam is found on the second step and the Utsavamurthy is on the fourth step. The third step is vacant, perhaps as the holding place for Ugra Narasimha idol which is at present at the Anpuram Temple at Alappuzha.

There is a small temple for Lord Ganapati which is located inside the Nalambalam. There is a small temple for Lord Hanuman near the flag mast of the temple and this is regarded as the Vrindavan of Srimad Rajendra Tirtha Swamy, who happens to be the 11th pontiff of Kashi mutt. There is a shrine outside the west gopuram dedicated to Raval Naicken and also a small temple for Kuladevata Vittala brought by Poojari settlers.

About the Diety

Twin deities of the Mahakshetram

Two separate temples in close proximity - within the same compound - reflect the synthesis of a unique and mysterious divine power. The idol of Sree Narasimhamoorthy is said to have originated in the holy city of Kashi (Varanasi). Swami Padmapadar (8th century AD), the principal disciple of Adi Sankaracharya, had worshipped the very same idol at Kashi.

Distinctive in its architectural and artistic touch, Thuravoor Mahakshethram is one of the most revered places of worship in Kerala. Twin-Sreekovils in a single Nalambalam, a majestically tall Anapandhal (elephant rostrum - the largest in Kerala), days after days of rituals and festivals, two gold-plated flagmasts that tower into the skies, a strict regimen of observances of vrathas for the priests, chanting of Vedic hymns and presentation of learned discourses on Puranas throughout the year ... all these attract streams of devotees to the temple from within and outside the State.

Of the two temples here, it is believed that the one dedicated to Lord Sudarsanamoorthy was the first to come into existence. Though there is no record of its origin, the temple is estimated to be over 1300 years old. There are scholars who hold that the circular-shaped Sreekovil belongs to the Thretha Yuga; according to others, its origin dates back to the Dwapara Yuga. Some palm leaf texts on the temple do exist; but nobody has yet been able to understand or decipher them.

As for the Sri Narasimhamoorthy temple, records do show that it came into being sometime in the 7th century AD, during the reign of a Chera king named Keralendran. His guru was the great Muringottu Adigal, a well-known priest and scholar.

Sub-shrines: Within the Nalambalam, on the southern side of the inner courtyard is the shrine of Lord Ganapathy. Outside the two Sreekovils - but within the same temple premises - are the idols of Sastha on the south, with the serpent gods just behind it; Goddess Bhagavathy on the west and Brahmarakshassu on the north - housed in separate, smaller sub-shrines.

Legend and stories

The legend behind the Sree Lakshmi Narasimha temple is that there was a young business man called Sri Raval Naicken, who had come to stay at Thuravoor, near the vadakkanathappan temple. In those days GSB's that is Gouda Saraswat Brahmins of Konkan region were not allowed to enter in to Hindu temples in Kerala. He used to pray from outside every day without fail. None of the Poojaris liked him and was not even given the prasad some days. One day they closed the temple without giving him any prasad, he was heartbroken and began praying to God. At that time he heard a voice asking him to move westwards after a light which was moving towards west. The light disappeared when he reached a place and he heard a voice telling him to install an idol there. At the same time he saw two sculptors and he asked them to make an idol of Lord Narasimha for him. They accepted and made a shilpalaya like an enclosure and entered therein to make the vigraha. After some time when he could not hear any sound coming from within, he peeped and was surprised to see two vigrahas but no sculptors. He learnt then about the divine presence and the vigrahas were of Ugra Narasimha and Lakshmi Narasimha. Ugra Narasimha had a defect and a nail was missing in his foot. He believed that the sculptors were Vadakkanathappan and Thekkanathappan and built a temple there for Lakshmi Narasimha Murthy. He also constructed a house for himself and managed the affairs of the temple.

Later when he became old he handed over the temple to Cochin Thirumala Devaswom in 1704 AD. A new temple and agrasalas were constructed during this time and was financed by the then Maharaja of Cochin. Location of the present Sri Lakshmi Narasimha temple in Alappuzha:Later when some of the GSBs shifted to Alappuzha they took Ugra Narasimha Murthy with them along with Venkatachalapathy idol from Cochin to Anantha Narayana Puram or AN Puram in the year 1852 AD. It was declared by the court that Alleppey and Thuravoor temple belongs to the entire Community members (in the eight villages or Ashta gramas) of Travancore state. The Ashtagramas are Alleppey, Thuravoor, Shertallai, Purakkad, Kayamkulam, Quilon, Kottayam and Parur. So Alleppey Anathanarayanapuram Thuravoor Tirumala Devaswom (AATTD) was formed and managed by elected members from the Ashtagramas.

The Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Murthy has many vahanas namely Hanuman, Garuda,Chandra, Aswa,, Sesha vahanas , Iravatha, Hamsa and a silver palanquin. Among these the Aswa Vahana is the most popular and the biggest.

Festivals

The temple holds several festivals throughout the year. In many of them members of the local community enthusiastically participate. The 9-day utsavam during the month of Thulam (October) is the most important festival.

Valiyavilakku is celebrated on the Diwali day. It is said that one of the Arattu functions (holy bath before the closing ceremony) at the temple coincided with the birth of Sree Chithirathirunal Maharaja. This was a Valiavilakku festival when Amavasi (new-moon) and Diwali happened to fall on the same day.

The temple also hosts one-day festivals in connection with Ashtamirohini, Dwadashi,Dhanu 1st, Thiruvathira,Makarasankranthi,Vishu and Pathamudayam ezhunallathu to Bhoothanilam Temple, in association with the local community. On the day of Pathamudayam, the idols of the two temples are taken out in a ceremonial procession till the spot where Sree Narasimamoorthy’s idol was first sighted.

Arti/Pooja/seva

POOJA TIMINGS & OFFERINGS

Sri Narasimha Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located in Thuravoor, Cherthala, in Kerala, India. Sree Lakshmi Narasimha Temple can be seen at about one and a half kms from the NH47, on the Kumbalangi Road.

MORNING
Niyamavedi	03.00 am
Nadathurappu	04.20 am
Ethrutha Pooja	06.30 am
Thekkinakom Pantheradi Pooja	07.30 am
Vadakkinakom Pantheradi Pooja	08.00 am
Uchapooja	11.00 am

EVENING
Nadathurappu	05.20 pm
Deeparadhana	06.45 pm
Athazhapooja	07.30 pm

Prasad & offering

IMPORTANT VAZHUPADUS (SACRED OFFERINGS)

Vedivazhupadu
Thalichukuda
Muzhukkappu
Ellu Nivedyam
Paalpayasam
Sahasranama Archana
Ney-vilakku
Bhagyasookth Archana
Thrikkayil Venna
Swayamvara Archana
Ganapathi Havanam
Ashtothara Archana
Bhagavathi Seva
Narasimhamoolamanthra Archana
Thulabharam
Mahasudarsana Manthrarchana
Aravana
Purushasooktha Archana
Vishnupooja
Chuttuvilakku
Lakshmi Narayana Pooja
Panakam

Rarefacts

Geographically, the temple site belongs to the former Cochin state. However, it subsequently came under the purview of Travancore for certain political reasons. But this transition was subject to an important proviso: If a Travancore king were ever to set foot on the Mahakshethra soil, the temple would be immediately restored to Cochin. Therefore, for a long time, no Travancore king visited the temple. In 1951, on the merger of Travancore and Cochin and coronation of Sree Chithirathirunal, the Maharaja visited the temple - the first time for a Travancore king to do so. He walked to the temple over a carpet to avoid stepping directly on the ground.

Inviolable discipline and austerity is observed by the temple priests. Melsanthi (chief priest) has to maintain absolute celibacy; he must not leave the temple compound during his tenure, and has to follow an austere lifestyle and observe a stringent daily regimen.

Accessibility

Thuravoor Mahakshethram, an ancient Devasthanam located by the side of NH-47, approximately 25 kms south of Kochi city, is the sacred abode of Lord Sree Narasimhamoorthy and Lord Sree Mahasudarsanamoorthy. The entire temple complex can be seen from the road. Thuravoor railway station is the nearest railhead.

Address

Narasimha Temple
Thuravoor, Cherthala,
Alappuzha, Kerala,
India. Pin-688 532.