|
Entertainment
For the sake of a child-devotee
|
The Mahasamprokshanam of the Padaladri Narasimha Perumal temple in Singaperumalkoil, near Chennai, will be performed today. T. A. SRINIVASAN writes...
|
Lord Padaladri Narasimha... a unique avatar.
LORD NARAYANA'S incarnation as Narasimha — half-lion, half-man — is considered unique, as the whole purpose of His appearing on the Earth seems to have ended the moment he emerged from the pillar in Hiranya's palace.
In all other incarnations, a lot of work had to be done before the evildoers were punished or slain. But in the Narasimhavatara, the Lord, came out of the pillar pointed out by Hiranya and killed him, to prove the words of his child-devotee, Prahlada.
Hence it is no wonder that the ancient kings and sages established temples for Lord Narasimha, the "Vyapanasheela", who pervades every atom of existence. One such temple, 48 km South of Chennai, is the Padaladri Narasimha Perumal Temple,better known as Singaperumalkoil, which is to be consecrated today (May 10). This cave temple is situated around a very small hillock and the Moolavar image is sculpted on the hill itself. Hence there is no separate sanctum sanctorum. According to the inscriptions in the temple, it was carved out about 1,500 years ago. The Vaishnavite preceptor and Ramanuja's chief disciple, Mudaliandan, lived here and even now his descendants visit the place.
The Lord here is known as Padaladri Narasimha as He is red in colour, stained with the blood of Hiranya.
According to legend during the Lord's incarnation as Narasimha there was a big forest around this place. Sage Jabali, who was doing penance at the place, requested the Lord to appear as Ugra Narasimha, just as He was seen after slaying Hiranya, and the Lord fulfilled his wish.
The Moolavar image, carved on the hill, is in a sitting posture. He has four hands, two holding the Sacred Disc and Conch. The right hand is in the Abayahastha pose and the left is on His lap.
His right leg is placed on His left. He has three eyes. As in all Vishnu temples, Mahalakshmi is in His right chest and He is also seen wearing the Sahasranama and Salagrama garland. There are separate shrines for the Goddess known as Ahobilavalli Thayar, Andal, Azhwars and Acharyas.
While the Moolavar is known as Padaladri Narasimha Swami, sitting under the Pranavakodi Vimanam, the Utsavar is known as Prahlada Varadan as in Ahobilam.
The holy water source is Suddha Pushkarani and the holy tree is ``Paarijatham''.
Festivals are celebrated in the temple almost every month with the Brahmotsavam being held in the month of Vaikasi.
The temple looks spick and span as the renovation work has been completed for the Mahasamprokshanam.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Entertainment
|
