Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple.
At the foot of the hill, there is another temple whose origin is traced to the time of Yudhishtira, the eldest of the pandavas. Yudhishtira is said to have done the pratistapana of the chief image of this temple and the deity here is called Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. In Vijayawada, which is 8 miles from Mangalagiri there is a hill called Indrakeeladri in which Arjuna is said to have done tapascharya (penance) in order to obtain the weapon Pasupatastra from Lord Siva. About 200 years back Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Naidu who ruled from Amaravati as his capital constructed a stupendous gopura (tower) on the eastern gate of the Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy. It is one of the highest gopurams in South India and only one of its types in this part of India. It is 153ft. in height and 49 feet wide with 11 storeys, and gates facing east and west. This great and imposing tower dwarfs the central shrine. The devoted patience of thousands of skilled craftsmen and the labour of many more apprentices, which had gone into this great structure, is a testimony to the religious fervor, which characterized the builder. After constructing the gopura, it was leaning towards one direction. The Kancheepuram architects suggested digging a tank opposite to the tower. After digging the tank, it is said that, the tower became straight.
The Image of the Lord in the form of Narasimha (man-lion) and that of Lakshmi Devi to his left are of stone. The garland of the Lord with 108 saligramams is of special significance here. Dakshanavrutha Sankha, a special conch believed to be one that was used by Lord Krishna and resented by the Maharaja Sarfoji of Tanjore, is one most possession of significance of the Lord. There is also an ancient ratha (temple car) belonging to the temple with ornamental woodcarvings depicting the scenes from the great epics of Bharata, Bhagavatha and Ramayana.
Thimmaraju Devaraju a military chieftain of the Vijayanagar rulers improved this temple. He had constructed prakarams (compound walls), mandapas, gopurams (towers), five images of Lord Bhairava, a festival chariot, and ten varieties of courts for annual ceremonies, flower gardens lakes and tanks. He had also installed utsava vigrahas in the temple (metal images intended for being taken out in procession). To the north of the temple there is a temple of Sri Rajyalakshmi to the south that of Rama with Sita and Lakshmana and to the west vahanasala (the store house for the vehicles of which the golden garudavahana, the silver Hanumanthavahana and ponnavahana are noteworthy). The Lakshmi narayana temple and the Anjaneya Mandira in Pedda Bazar are the other places of worship in the town.
Gandalayam.
On the top of the hill, there is no deity for the Lord. There is only facility to light a deepa. Devotees light the lamp using ghee to get rid of their worries; the lamp is visible far from many villages.
Festivals.
Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Brahmothsavam is very important annual festival. It is believed that Dharmaraja inaugurated the celebration at the behest of Lord Krishna. Pradyumna, the son of Lord Krishna, requested his father to celebrate his birthday annually for a sapthaha (seven days) from Phalguna Suddha Sapthami. Lord Krishna entrusted this work to Dharmaraja, the eldest of the pandavas who has the successor to the throne at Hasthinapura.
At present the festival is celebrated for 11 days commencing from phalguna sudda shasti (february - march). One day before Phalguna Suddha Purnima i.e. on Chaturdasi, here the marriage of Santha Narasimha Swamy, and Sridevi and Bhoodevi is celebrated. They follow Agama sastra in this celebration.
Before the marriage, Chenchus celebrate on the occassion of Narasimha swamy marrying their daughter Chenchu Lakshmi. On that day night, Swamy comes by Sesha Vahanam and participate in Eduru Kola. The next day after the marriage is Purnima, on which Indians celebrate the Holi festival. The same day, here, people celebrate Tirunalla, and about 1,00,000 people, local and from distant places congregate. On a big chariot, the Lord will go on procession and hundreds of devotees will pull this cart with fervor and enthusiasm.
Srirama Navami, Hanumajayanthi, Narasimhajayanthi, Vaikunta Ekadasi, and Mahasivarathri are other festivals, which are celebrated here on a large scale. On Mahasivarathri, Lord will go on procession on a small chariot.
At the foot of the hill, there is another temple whose origin is traced to the time of Yudhishtira, the eldest of the pandavas. Yudhishtira is said to have done the pratistapana of the chief image of this temple and the deity here is called Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. In Vijayawada, which is 8 miles from Mangalagiri there is a hill called Indrakeeladri in which Arjuna is said to have done tapascharya (penance) in order to obtain the weapon Pasupatastra from Lord Siva. About 200 years back Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Naidu who ruled from Amaravati as his capital constructed a stupendous gopura (tower) on the eastern gate of the Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy. It is one of the highest gopurams in South India and only one of its types in this part of India. It is 153ft. in height and 49 feet wide with 11 storeys, and gates facing east and west. This great and imposing tower dwarfs the central shrine. The devoted patience of thousands of skilled craftsmen and the labour of many more apprentices, which had gone into this great structure, is a testimony to the religious fervor, which characterized the builder. After constructing the gopura, it was leaning towards one direction. The Kancheepuram architects suggested digging a tank opposite to the tower. After digging the tank, it is said that, the tower became straight.
The Image of the Lord in the form of Narasimha (man-lion) and that of Lakshmi Devi to his left are of stone. The garland of the Lord with 108 saligramams is of special significance here. Dakshanavrutha Sankha, a special conch believed to be one that was used by Lord Krishna and resented by the Maharaja Sarfoji of Tanjore, is one most possession of significance of the Lord. There is also an ancient ratha (temple car) belonging to the temple with ornamental woodcarvings depicting the scenes from the great epics of Bharata, Bhagavatha and Ramayana.
Thimmaraju Devaraju a military chieftain of the Vijayanagar rulers improved this temple. He had constructed prakarams (compound walls), mandapas, gopurams (towers), five images of Lord Bhairava, a festival chariot, and ten varieties of courts for annual ceremonies, flower gardens lakes and tanks. He had also installed utsava vigrahas in the temple (metal images intended for being taken out in procession). To the north of the temple there is a temple of Sri Rajyalakshmi to the south that of Rama with Sita and Lakshmana and to the west vahanasala (the store house for the vehicles of which the golden garudavahana, the silver Hanumanthavahana and ponnavahana are noteworthy). The Lakshmi narayana temple and the Anjaneya Mandira in Pedda Bazar are the other places of worship in the town.
Gandalayam.
On the top of the hill, there is no deity for the Lord. There is only facility to light a deepa. Devotees light the lamp using ghee to get rid of their worries; the lamp is visible far from many villages.
Festivals.
Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Brahmothsavam is very important annual festival. It is believed that Dharmaraja inaugurated the celebration at the behest of Lord Krishna. Pradyumna, the son of Lord Krishna, requested his father to celebrate his birthday annually for a sapthaha (seven days) from Phalguna Suddha Sapthami. Lord Krishna entrusted this work to Dharmaraja, the eldest of the pandavas who has the successor to the throne at Hasthinapura.
At present the festival is celebrated for 11 days commencing from phalguna sudda shasti (february - march). One day before Phalguna Suddha Purnima i.e. on Chaturdasi, here the marriage of Santha Narasimha Swamy, and Sridevi and Bhoodevi is celebrated. They follow Agama sastra in this celebration.
Before the marriage, Chenchus celebrate on the occassion of Narasimha swamy marrying their daughter Chenchu Lakshmi. On that day night, Swamy comes by Sesha Vahanam and participate in Eduru Kola. The next day after the marriage is Purnima, on which Indians celebrate the Holi festival. The same day, here, people celebrate Tirunalla, and about 1,00,000 people, local and from distant places congregate. On a big chariot, the Lord will go on procession and hundreds of devotees will pull this cart with fervor and enthusiasm.
Srirama Navami, Hanumajayanthi, Narasimhajayanthi, Vaikunta Ekadasi, and Mahasivarathri are other festivals, which are celebrated here on a large scale. On Mahasivarathri, Lord will go on procession on a small chariot.
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