Dakshina Ahobilam – the Nava Narasimha Temple at Avaniyapuram, where the presiding deity Lakshmi Narasimha is faceless, but strangely, Thayar and Garuda have a lion’s face, is the only temple of its kind in India. The 1300 year old temple is unique in several other ways.

Visiting this temple alone, is equivalent of having darshan and receiving the blessings and grace of all the deities at the 108 Divya Desams. 

 

 

 

  Avaniyapuram Nava Narasimhar Temple

             

The solar giant is graciously mellow as we briskly ascend 70 well laid steps to reach the first tier of the 1300-year-old two-tiered temple known variously as Dakshina Ahobilam, Dakshina Simhachalam, Dakshina Simhagiri and Pancha Tirupathi. 

 

 

A natural rock formation in the form of a lion with face, eyes, nose, mane and a raised leg, juts out midway, in greeting as we make our way up. Most popularly known as Avaniyapuram Lakshmi Narasimha Kshetram, the Pallava period temple with simple architecture, has self-manifest idols of deities in black stone that go back a few thousand years.

Kulashekhara padi, garbha graham, ardhamantapam, dwara mantapam,, mahamantapam, dhwajasthambam and balipeetam – bereft of ornamentation, characterize the architecture of the edifice. Except for the three tier Rajagopuram, the rest of the structure is sparsely embellished.

 

A slightly built but stately Hanuman, sculpted from a single stone, welcomes visitors at the landing of the first level.

The first or lower level shrine boasts a sanctum sanctorum in a small cave referred to as Kudavaraik koil for Narasimha, the presiding deity who has no face. His consort MahaLakshmi Thayar with the lion face, is seated on his lap. The sanctum is also adorned by the processional idol of Narasimha who has a lion face and four hands, and is flanked by his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi.

As we come out from this sanctum, to the left is another garbha graham with the Pancha Narasimhas. A feature that is unique and exclusive to this shrine at Avaniyapuram, found nowhere else in India is that all the five idols of Narasimha are south-facing, the direction in which Yama, God of Death dwells. Hence, it is believed that by visiting the temple, devotees can rid themselves of the fear of Yama or death!

After paying our obeisance to the Narasimhas, we trudge up 114 steps to come upon the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Venkateshwara in a cavernous structure. Similar to Tirupathi where the Lord is in Tirumala and his consort Alarmelmangai Thayar at Tiruchanur, here too, the Goddess adorns the lower tier. In separate sanctums behind the garbha graham of Venkateshwara, are Ranganayaki Thayar sametha Shayana Ranganatha on a serpentine bed representing Adisesha; Perundevi Thayar sametha Varadaraja Perumal, and Yoga Lakshmi Narasimha in a sitting posture along with Amirthavalli Thayar.

Legend has it that after killing Hiranyakashipu Lord Narasimha appeared as a self-embodied being in the cave on this knoll. To cool his anger, Brahma undertook to perform a Yajna in the Treta Yuga. Lord Narasimha emerged from the sacrificial fire, faceless, due to the intense heat. However, bereft of face, how would He give darshan to His devotees! Hence, Goddess Mahalakshmi requested Lord Narasimha to give her his face so that she may give darshan to their devotees. The Lord acquiesced. Thus, uniquely, Thayar came to have a lion’s face. To mark this day, Sarvadhari Samvathsarm is celebrated once in 60 years, on the 9^th day of the Tamizh month, Aani (mid-June to mid-July).

Avani means ‘lion’ in Sanskrit; hence the name Avaniyapuram. Originally the place was called Avani Narayana Puram because apart from Lord Lakshmi Narasimha, his consort Thayar, and Garuda too, have a lion’s face. Due to the presence of 9 Narasimha idols in the twin temples, the place goes by the name of Dakshin Ahobilam.

Again, according to legend, Narasimha is said to have given darshan to Brighu Maharishi in the form of the Lords of five of the one hundred and eight Divya Desams – the 9 Narasimhas of Ahobilam (Andhra Pradesh), Venkateshwara or Srinivasa of Tirupathi, Varadaraja of Kanchipuram, Ranganatha of Srirangam, and Yoga Narasimha of Sholingur or Sholingapuram. 

It is believed that by visiting this temple which is set against pastoral background in the midst of village houses, one attains the grace and blessings derived from worshipping the Lords at the entire 108 Divya Desams! Those seeking to rid themselves of pitru dosham, pitru shraap (sins or curses acquired from ancestors), those who are plagued by debt, and those desirous of getting married,  begetting progeny and wishing to witness thriving business, seek the Lords’ favours, and are blessed.

Another specialty of the temple is the presence of the Dhwaja sthambam in both lower and upper sannadhis. This is the only temple anywhere in India which has this feature – the flagstaff being in front of Lakshmi Narasimhar sanctum in the lower tier, and that of Venkateshwara at the upper level.

It is considered highly propitious for devotees to spend a Saturday night at the temple and perform girivalam (circumambulating or doing pradakshina of the hillock on which the temple stands). The benefits of doing so are enhanced if it is a full moon Saturday, or when the Saturday coincides with the Swathi star. The belief is that the sleeping devotee, with the grace of the Veppalai tree, will be blessed with a vision of Lord Narasimha in the guise of Brighu Maharishi. This augurs well for the devotees who are bestowed with auspiciousness and they are enabled to get rid of their problems. Incidentally, the Veppalai tree is the sthala vriksham of the temple. (Veppalai tree is the Pala indigo or Wrightia tinctoria – a small deciduous tree with pointed oval leaves. It bears white fragrant flowers)

 

Quick Facts

Avaniyapuram is 135 km from Chennai, 75 km from Tiruvannamalai, 26 km from Vandavasi, 15 km from Arani. It is Located near Cheyyar on the Vandavasi-Arani route.

Railhead: Tiruvannamalai is the nearest

Airport: Chennai is the closest

Timings: Sunday to Friday : 6 to 12 pm and 3 to 8 pm. On Saturdays it is from 6 to 1 pm and 3pm to 9pm

Festivals:

On the occasion of the Sarvadhari Samvathsarm alone, which is held once in 60 years to mark the occasion of Thayar getting the lion face, 4 types of Naivedhya prasadam are offered to the deities at the temple. Chakkarai Pongal for Maha Lakshmi, Puliodharai for Narasimha, Dadhiyodhanam or Curd Rice for Venkateshwara and Venn Pongal for Yoga Narasimha.

Other Festivals: Vaikunta Ekadasi, Sri Jayanthi, Deepavali, Lord Venkateshwara Brahmotsavam in Purattassi month (mid Sept to mid Oct), and Lord Narasimha’s Parivettai Utsavam  in Panguni (mid March to mid April) month

Thulabaram is the main offering made here, especially offered by childless couples when they beget progeny. Sugar, Jaggery and coins are chiefly used for the purpose.

Contact: Mukunda Bhattar: 9629540448, 9941756271, 9486046206