Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple

Legend

Temple lore says that after Vishnu killed Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada built a temple here and asked the Lord to take a form in which the Varaha and Narasimha avatars could be seen together. The hill was named Simhachalam, the lion's hill. When the idol was later lost, Urvasi recalled it in a dream, and king Pururava did penance at Gangadhara, unearthed it and consecrated it again. The dream also said the deity must stay covered in sandalwood paste all year except on the third day of Vaisakha.

Why this temple matters

The deity stands in tribhanga posture with a boar's head, a human torso and a lion's tail, worshipped with his consort Simhavalli Thayar. The present temple was completed in 1268 by the Eastern Ganga king Narasingha Deva I, and nearly 500 inscriptions from the 11th to 18th centuries survive. Krishnadevaraya set up a victory pillar here. The architecture mixes Eastern Ganga, Eastern Chalukya and Chola styles, and in income it is second only to Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh.

What devotees pray for here

Festivals

• Chandanotsavam (Akshaya Tritiya, April–May): the sandalwood is removed around 4 AM and devotees see the deity's original form for about 12 hours, the only time in the year
• Kalyanotsavam (Chaitra, March–April): five days celebrating the celestial wedding
• Narasimha Jayanti (Vaisakha Shuddha Chaturdashi, April–May): celebrations begin around 6 PM
• Giri Pradakshina (Ashadha full moon, June–July): devotees walk about 30 km around the hill
• Kamadahana (Phalguna full moon, February–March): the ritual burning of desire

Poojas & rituals

• Suprabhatam in the early morning, chanted for about an hour and a half
• Archana to Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha and Simhavalli Thayar in your family's name
• Prayer at the Kappa Stambham in the mukha mandapa
• Divviti Salam, the torch salute that opens evening worship at 6 PM
• Giri Pradakshina around the hill on Ashadha full moon

How to reach

Simhachalam is about ten miles (16 km) north of Visakhapatnam, the nearest city for flights and trains. At the foot of the hill, a flight of about a thousand steps climbs from the Bhairava Dwaram, and a road also runs from there to the top. Another pathway starts at the Madhava Dwaram.

Timings

Worship begins around 5:30 AM with Suprabhatam. Rajabhoga is offered at 11 AM, evening worship starts at 6 PM with Divviti Salam, and the temple closes at about 9 PM after Sayana seva.

Rules & dress code

Follow the Simhachalam Devasthanam's current notices on dress, phones, cameras and queues. On ordinary days you see the sandalwood-covered form; the original form is shown only on Chandanotsavam.

Frequently asked questions

Photo gallery