Singirikudi is a
revenue village
A Revenue Village is a small administrative region in India, a village with defined borders. One revenue village may contain many hamlets. Each revenue village is headed by a ''Village Administrative Officer'' ''(VAO)''. History
The advent of the c ...
in
Cuddalore
Cuddalore, also spelt as Kadalur (), is a heavy industries hub and a port city, and headquarters of the Cuddalore District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Situated south of Chennai, Cuddalore was an important city and port during the Britis ...
of
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
, India.
This is one of the Nava-Narasimha temples of
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
which are popular for the worship of Vishnu as
Narasimha
Narasimha (, , or , ), is the fourth avatara of the Hindu god Vishnu in the Satya Yuga. He incarnated as a part-lion, part-man and killed Hiranyakashipu, ended religious persecution and calamity on earth, and restored dharma. Narasimha has th ...
. Also, this is one of the 3 temples along with Puvarasamkuppam and Parikkalpattu which are being worshipped on the same day by the devotees. The form of Vishnu as
Narasimha
Narasimha (, , or , ), is the fourth avatara of the Hindu god Vishnu in the Satya Yuga. He incarnated as a part-lion, part-man and killed Hiranyakashipu, ended religious persecution and calamity on earth, and restored dharma. Narasimha has th ...
here is Ugra Narasimha and he is disemboweling and killing the demon
Hiranyakashipu
Hiranyakashipu (, ), also known as Hiranyakashyap, was a daitya king of the asuras in the Puranas.
In Hinduism, Hiranyakashipu's younger brother, Hiranyaksha, was slain by the Varaha (boar) avatar of Vishnu. Angered by this, Hiranyakashipu ...
on his laps. There are separate shrines for Lakshmi as Kanakavalli and Andal and unusually, they both are facing the opposite direction to that of Vishnu.
History of Singirikudi Narashima Kanakavalli Temple
Sage Vasishtha who was cursed by King Nimi, approached his father Brahma and mother Sarasvati and sought their help. Brahma and Sarasvati asked him to proceed to Singirikudi and do penance propitiating Vishnu as Narasimha. Vashishtha went to Singirikudi and attained salvation through penance. Vishnu in the form of Narasimha was pleased with his devotion gave audience to him. This place is called Singirikudi as the presiding deity Vishnu here is Narasimha known as Singaperumal. Narasimha has 16 hands and looks ferocious as he disembowels and kills Hiranyakashipu. Narasimha's appearance star Svati is celebrated on a grand scale. This is a Prarthana Sthala for Vishnu as Narashima and Lakshmi as Kanakavalli.
The Main Statues of Narasimha and Kanakavalli inside the Singirikudi Narashima Kanakavalli Temple
On Vishnu as Narashima's right side Hiranyakashipu's son Prahalada, Sage Vasishta and God Shukra are present. On Vishnu as Narashima's left side Hiranyakashipu's wife Kayadhu is represented when Vishnu as Narasimha disembowels and kills Hiranyakashipu. It appears that such a representation of Vishnu as Narasimha disemboweling and killing Hiranyakashipu is there in only two places in the Indian Subcontinent, with the other being in Rajasthan. Also, Lakshmi as Kanakavalli has a separate shrine here in this temple.
External links
Official Web Site of Cuddalore DistrictOfficial website of Tamil NaduGovernment of Tamil Nadu
References
Villages in Cuddalore district
Cities and villages in Cuddalore taluk
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