Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

A fisherman while fishing in the river Raktakulya, a Kurma Avatar Idol got struck in his fishing net. He tried a lot to open the Idol treating it as a Pearl oyster, after several attempts he started hitting with stone. He lost conscious when the blood oozing from the Idol. A divine voice told him to keep this Idol at the Lord’s feet and perform Abhishekam daily. As instructed the fisherman kept the Idol at the Lord’s feet.

Puranas reference : In Tretayuga, Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Anjaneya worshipped Narasimha at this place after Killing Ravana. In Dwaparayuga, Arjuna the Pandava king worshipped the Lord here during his pilgrimage. As per the Legends, In Krutayuga the demon Rakta Vilochana, son of the demon king Hiranyaksha, performed a strict penance for the Lord Siva and got the boon. As per the conditions set in the boon, that new Raktha Vilochana will emerge out of every blood dropping on the Earth. With his supernatural powers, he started troubling Sages, Devas and innocent people in the Earth. Sage Viswamitra who was waiting for an opportunity to take revenge on Sage Vashista, provoked and diverted the demon on Sage Vashista’s 100 sons. Sage Vashista was performing a strict penance on the banks, after diverting river Gowthami to the sea. Arundhati urged Vashista to save their children for which Sage Vashista prayed for the Lord Narasimha who appeared before him with his Garuda Vahana. In the fierce battle, the demon Raktha Vilochana keeps gaining the strength. Lord Narasimha understood that this all due to the boon he acquired and created Maya Sakthi who came on a horse to the battlefield. Lord asked her to stretch her tongue and cover the entire Earth so that the demon’s blood drops will not touch the Earth. Later Lord killed the demon with his discus (Chakra) and washed his discus and hands by creating the pool, which later came to known as Chakra Theertham. It is believed that whoever takes the bath in the Theertham will be relieved from the sins in the present life. As Maya Sakti came on a horse so she called by Aswarudambika, also called by Gurlakka.The blood pool which was created from the battles was called by the Raktakulya.