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Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple,Tamil Nadu
Locality/village : Walajapet taluk
State : Tamil Nadu
Country : India
Nearest City/Town : Vellore
Best Season To Visit : All
Languages : Tamil& English
Temple Timings : 8 am to 5.30 pm
Photography : Not Allowed
Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple,Tamil Nadu
Sholingur or Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple is a famous pilgrimage spot in Vellore District in the State of Tamil Nadu in India and one of the 108 Divyadesham (Lord Vishnu temples), with Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy, the 4th Avatharam of Lord Vishnu (Sriman Narayana) as the presiding deity and Sri Amirthavalli Thayar as his consort on top of a 450 foot hill called periya malai (big hill). This Divyadesham is also known as Gatikachalam and Thirukkadigai.
Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple,Tamil Nadu
The Big Hill Temple has a north facing 5-tiered Rajagopuram (main tower) and 7 kalasams (decorative pots) at the top. A big bali peetam (platform) and Dwajasthambam (flag post) is to the north. The Town Temple where the Utsavar (processional deity) can be seen has no separate flagpost. A four-pillared mandapam is in the outer prakaram (corridor) of the Perumal shrine. East facing goddess, Amrithavalli Thayar is first worshipped before moving on to the sanctum.
A mandapam leads to Lord Narasimha Perumal’s (Vishnu) shrine and two Dwarapalakas (guards) are at the entrance. Yoga Narasimhar can be seen seated in the sanctum in a yoga posture wearing Chalakkrama with the Sun and Moon at his feet. The other names of the Perumal are “Thakaan” and “Akkarakani”. Akkaram means Money and Wealth.
A frieze depicting the ten Avatars of Lord Vishnu is beautifully depicted. The icons of Lakshmi Narasimhar, Aadiseshan, Chakrathalvar, Kannan (Krishna) and Garudalvar are placed on a wooden Platform.
Yoga Anjeneya Swami Temple, or Small Hill Temple is on another hill, 350 feet high with 406 steps leading up to it. Chathurbhuja (4 hands) Yoga Anjeneya (Hanuman) faces west. He holds the discus in the upper right hand, conch in the upper left hand and Japamalai (prayer beads) and Japashangu in the other hands. The beautifully crafted standing Utsavar has 4 hands.
A reclining Lord Aranganathar (Ranganatha, form of Lord Vishnu) is known as Bala (child) Aranganathar has been consecrated in this shrine and said to have been worshipped by Lord Rama. Images of Navaneetha (butter) Krishna, Chakratalwar, Vishnu, Sridevi and Boodevi and Lord Rama with Lakshman and Sita are also present.
The main temple tank is called Takkan kulam or Brahma theertham. There is a huge hanuman statue and an arch welcoming the devotees there.
Sholinghur is a shortened form of its original names viz. Chozhasimhapuram, Chola Lingapuram, Cholasingapuram and finally Sholingapuram until a couple of decades back. Karikaala Cholan, when separating his empire into 48 small districts, named this place as Kadigai Kottam.
Story associated with the temple goes- Once, there was a king by named Hiranyan (Hiranyakasipu) who by virtue of strong tapas (penance) got the varam (boon) that he could not be killed by any human being, day or night, land or air. He had become a menace to his people and ignored the existence of Indra. In due course, he declared himself as the supreme authority and insisted that people treat him as the supreme god and mention only his name. Indra and other gods requested Lord Vishnu to take care of Hiranyan and he agreed to do so in due course.
When Hiranyan’s wife was pregnant, Narada Muni visited her and narrated the essence of Bhakthi and that only Narayana (Lord Vishnu) could save the Universe from the clutches of evil. Her son to be named as Prahladan, heard the praises of the Lord while still in the womb. This made him a staunch devotee of Narayana. Hiranyan tried several times to kill his son as Prahladan was opposed to the mention of his father’s name in lieu of the name of Narayana.
Every attempt was a failure as Narayana saved Prahladan. At last, Lord Vishnu took the avatharam of Narasimha to finish Hiranyan. He had the face of a lion (Simham) and the body of a human (Nara). Taking Hiranyan on his lap, he tore him open with his finger nails at twilight (neither day nor night). To make Prahladan happy, Lord Narasimha gave his seva for 1 Kadigai in Yoga Nilai. Kadigai represents the fraction of time. Some have interpreted it as 24 minutes.
Following the footsteps Prahaladan, the Saptha rishis (7 great sages- Vasistha, Bharadvaja, Jamadagni, Gautama, Atri, Visvamitra, and Agastya) also undertook penance here wanting a darshan of the Lord. Within 1 Kadigai, Lord Narasimha gave his seva to the Saptha Rishis. Since the Lord gave his seva to the rishis within a kadigai, this sthalam (location) came to be known as “Gadikachalam” and is also called “Thirukkadigai”. It is also believed that Sage Visvamithra meditated here for a Kadigai and obtained the Brahma Rishi title. It is said that even if we stay for just 1 Kadigai in this sthalam, we will get Moksham. It is also believed that worshipping at this temple would relieve the devotees from various ailments, especially those who suffer from mental illness and evil spirits. That is the kind of power, this Kshetram has got. Gadikachala Kshetra Mahatmiyam is described in Brahma Kaivartha Purana.
Festivals
Festivals celebrated in Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple include the Chittirai Brahmotsavam (April – May), Avani Pavitrotsavam (August – September purifying event), Margazhi Padi Utsavam (December – January), Navaratri (Dusshera), Kartikai (November – December), the girivalam on the 2nd 3rd days of Thai and Mukkoti Dwadasi. Worshipping on Thursdays is considered of significance here.
Temple Pooja Daily Schedule
Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple remains open between 8 am to 5.30 pm
How to reach
By Air
Nearest Airport: Chennai
By Road
Sholingur is around 120 KMs from Chennai (Guindy) near Arakkonam. Several routes are there to reach Sholingur. As direct buses to Arakkonam are less from Chennai, we can try via Tiruttani or Kanchipuram.
By Rail
Nearest Railway Station: Sholingur station.
