Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy - Parikkal

Om Namo Narayanaya namah

Deva karya sidhyartham,
sabha sthambha samudbhavam,
Sri nrusimham mahaveeram
namami runa mukthaye..

Kshetram: Parikkal

Abode of: Lakshmi Narasimhar

Sthala Vriksham: Magizham

Important Festivals:
Nrusimha jayanthi , Brahmotsavam month of Chithirai)

Parikkal Narasimha Temple is an ancient temple located at Parikkal village, 23 km from Viluppuram. The place is situated between two rivers, Thenpennai and Garuda. The Lord is also found with His left hand around the Goddess.

Sthala Puranam: According to a legend, Lord Vishnu destroyed a demon known as Parakalasuran here to save his devotees and hence the place came to be known as Parikkal. It is also said that in order to appease the Lord Narasimha, Goddess Lakshmi embraced him and thus Parikkal gained its name. His devotees and hence the place came to be known as Parikkal.
The Lord here was said to have appeared before Vasantharajan, a local ruler.

About the Temple:
Unlike in most of the Narasimha temples, the Utsavar idol here is also that of Narasimha in standing posture with Sridevi and Bhoodevi on either side. There is also a small idol of Lakshminarasimha in the sanctum sanctorum besides that of Sudarsana.
There is a separate shrine for the Goddess, Kanagavalli Thayar, on the right side of the temple, and Her Utsava idol is inside the main sanctum sanctorum. To the northwest is the shrine of Anjaneya, where two idols of Bhakta Anjaneya and Veera Anjaneya are worshipped. A pilgrim can offer obeisance to Anjaneya at the entrance while the idols of Vinayaka and the Nagars are found in the main Prakaram. Afterpraying at the shrine of Garuda, he can worship the presiding deity, Lakshmi Narasimha with His Consort, seated on His left lap. Said to be a Swayambu Murthi, the idol, according to some scholars, was installed by Vyasaraja.

The Anjaneya idol, found inside the sanctum sanctorum, was also installed by him and it is one of the 732 idols installed by the saint all over the south. The other, of course, is the idol in the Nallattoor Temple, near Tiruttani.

The shrine is thronged by those who are afflicted by Navagraha Dosha and they light ghee and oil lamps. They spread before the idols the nine kinds of grains (Navadanyam) and write their pleas on them seeking relief and His blessings. In the northern Prakaram there is a shrine for Lord Varadaraja of Kancheepuram.

There is an ancient "Deepasthampam" in front of the temple, which faces east. Festivals are held almost every month with the Brahmotsavam taking place in Chithirai, when the float festival is also celebrated. The Lord visits Thenpennai and Garuda rivers for "Theerthavari" in the months of Thai, Masi and Panguni.

Nearby Cities/Towns
Villupuram: 20 Kms
Pondicherry: 32 kms
Cudallore: 15 kms

How to get there
Rail: Parikkal Railway Station is on the Virudhachalam-Viluppuram line.
Road: Buses from Panruti, Ulundurpet and Viluppuram pass through Parikkal.

Poovarasankuppam - Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple

Om Namo Narayanaya namah

Srimat payonidhi nikethana chakra pane,
Bhogeendra Bhoga mani rajitha punya moorthe,
Yogeesa saswatha saranya Bhabdhi potha,
Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam.

Kshetram: Poovarasankuppam

Abode of: Lakshmi Narasimhar

Important Festivals:
Nrusimha jayanthi

Daily Poojas timings:Temple is open between 8am - 12.30pm and 4pm-8pm on all days

Monthly poojas and Special poojas: On the day of swathi star every month On the month of Puratasi (between Sept 15th -Oct 15th)

Sri Lakshminarasimha Perumal temple is situated at Poovarasankuppam, a small village about 15kms from Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu, India. The residing deity is Sri Lakshminarasimha Perumal and his consort, Amirthavalli Nayaki Thayar. The Temple is also popularly known as "South Ahobilam".

Sthala Puranam:
Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple in Poovarasankuppam is about 1200 years old. After Hiranya vadha Lord Narasimha whose rage didn’t subside was roaming all over the earth. On the Northern shore of the river South Pennai in South India also known as Dakhshin Pinnakini, the "Saptha Rishi' or Seven rishis prayed to the Lord to have his darshan. The spot were the Lord gave the darshan is called Poovarasankuppam. However, the intensity of the Lord was so much that the rishis couldn’t bear it. They prayed him to cool down and requested his darshan along with his consort Amirthavalli thayar who gracefully obliged. Here the Lord appeared with the Thayar on his lap.

While she partially faces the lord as if in a conversation with him, forwarding the bakthas prayers, she also bestows her blessings with her glance at the bhaktas who visit her temple. This act of the Goddess Lakshmi brought a soothing and tranquil effect on the Lord. To this day, it is only at this temple in the whole world does the Lord Lakshmi Narasimhar appear in such a pose.

There is another legend to this Kshetram. Once a king belonging to the Pallava dynasty embraced Jainism and started destroying Vishnu and Shiva temples. He imprisoned those who protested against him. The king imprisoned those who protested against him. One of the protesters happened to be a sage ‘Narahari’, who was sentenced to death by the king. Due to his action the king was cursed with ‘Brahma hathi dosham’. The curse started having its effect. The king was besieged with problems and difficulties Realizing his folly he repented for his sins and sought the blessings of the sage. On his way to the sage’s abode he rested for a while beneath a ‘poovarasan tree’. The Lord appeared in his dream and declared that he would be redeemed of his curse as the sage would come there to bless him. On waking up a leaf from the poovarasan tree dropped on the king, were he saw the image of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha. Overwhelmed with happiness the king knew no bounds when the sage appeared in person to bless him. The king was absolved of the curse. As per the wishes of the sage, the king constructed a temple for the Lord at Poovarasan Kuppam.

Nearby Cities/Towns
Villupuram: 20 Kms
Pondicherry: 32 kms
Cudallore: 15 kms

How to get there

Air: Pondicherry, Chennai
Rail: One can reach Poovarasankuppam from Villupuram, which is well connected by rail.
Road: There are buses/cabs connecting Poovarasankuppam with Villupuram and Cudallore.