Sri Ugra Narasimha Swamy - Singaperumal Koil

Om Namo Narayanaya namah

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

Kshetram: Singaperumal Koil
Abode of: Ugra Narasimhar

Important Festivals: Brahmotsavam (from June 2), Nrusimha jayanthi,

Singaperumal Koil, is a small town about 45 km to the south of Chennai. It is the abode of Ugra Narasimhaswamy, situated on top of a small hillock.

The Lord's image has been carved out on the hillock itself and hence one who wants to go in circumambulation of the Lord has to do so by going round the hillock itself. The Lord in sitting posture has three eyes, and wears the Salagrama and Sahasranama garlands. The Goddess here is known as Ahobilavalli.

Sthala Puranam:
According to "Brahmanda Puranam" the temple was surrounded by a big forest where Sage Jabali was doing penance praying to the Lord to appear before him. It was the time of Narasimha incarnation and He appeared before the sage as "Ugra Narasimha" after slaying the demon, Hiranyakasipu. The Goddess here, as in Ahobilam, is known as Ahobilavalli and there are separate shrines for the Goddess, Andal, Azhwars and Acharyas. ``Periya Thirumozhi" hymns, starting with "Anganngnalamanja," in praise of the Lord in Ahobilam are recited here also.

The name Singaperumal translates to Lion-god. The idol of Pataladri Narasimha is about 8 ft tall.

The idol is a part of a large boulder (almost a hillock). Hence if one desires to circumbulate the idol (pradakshina), one needs to go round the boulder. This is called Giri-valam in Tamil. Giri is hill/mountain and Valam is going round.

The performance of Arathi is unique here. The priests remove the "Namam" of Narasimhaswamy to reveal a third eye.

Padaladri means Red faced - here Narasimha is an Ugra roopa. Legend has it that he manisfested here at the request of Sage Jabali, after the destruction of Hiranyakashyapu. Since Narasimha here is in a position to destroy evil, it is believed that if one sees the third eye of this god, all misery of life is removed.

One can go around the hillock thice, seven times, nine times or twelve times. On the Prakara are idols of Venkateshwara and Lakshmi-Narasimha swami. There is also a wish-fulfilling tree, the Mandapa and the Bali peetha


Nearby Cities/Towns
Chennai: 45 Kms

How to get there

Rail: One can reach Singaperumal Koil from Chennai which is well connected by rail.
Road: There are regular buses connecting Singaperumal with Chennai and Chengulput.