God
Narasimha is main deity of this temple, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Idol has four hands with Prayoga Chakram on his top right hand (Chakram which is ready to use) and Pancha Sanyam on top left hand (white conch). His down right hands is with Aahwana Muthra, like inviting devotees with assurance and kept his down left hand on his left knees. He is decorated with Karanda Maghudam (Special design of Golden crown), golden earrings, and wildflower garland and sandal paste on his body.
Goddess
Goddess Lakshmi is the consort of Lord Narasimha.
Best Season To Visit
The best season to visit this temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to March.
Weather
Highest - April to June (38°C during day and 26°C during night)Average - May (37 °C during the day and 21 °C during night)Lowest - October to February (30 °C during day and 18 °C during night)Monsoon season - August to September
Dress Code
- For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
- For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
- These rules are applicable for foreigners also. Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.
- Pilgrims/visitors will not be allowed inside the temple if dress code is not followed.
Do's & Dont's
- Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
- Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.
- Smo​king is strictly prohibited inside the temple premises.
transport connections
| Name | Distance | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
 Namakkal Bus Stand |
1.1 KM | 9600304728 |
 Namakkal Railway Station |
3.2 KM | 139 |
 Salem Airport |
70.7 KM | 04290-220060 |
Architecture
Amusingly there is no gopura atop this temple since the Lord is in the cave and the gopura could not be constructed for such a huge saligrama mountain. The temple is on the western flank of the hill, which has a set of pillared halls leading to the rock-cut sculpted images. The temple has a flat gateway tower and a second entrance, also with a flat gateway leading to the pillared halls. The sanctum houses the image of Narasimha in sitting posture, called Asanamurthi with two images under his feet. The sanctum is rock-cut and square in shape with a black background. The sanctum has three sculpted cells, two pillars and a verandah in front of it.
The inner prakaram looks more like a spacious courtyard with small shrines all around. There are sannidhis for Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, a Udayavar (Ramanujar) sannidhi, Nammalwar sannidhi, one for Sri Krishna, Satyabama and Rukmini and a Desikar sannidhi. There are exquisite wood carvings like Sita giving bhiksha – alms to Ravana who has taken the form of an ascetic, The one next to it shows Rama slaying the Maya maan or pon maan –golden deer, Hanuman and Sita in the Asokavanam, This panel on another door shows Rama breaking the Siva Dhanus at Sita’s Swayamvaram. Sage Visvamitra stands behind Rama, I think this one shows Ahalya emerging from the stone as the curse leaves her when Rama’s foot touches the stone. Again Sage Viswamitra looks on, Outside in the outer prakaram is a sannidhi for Lord Laskhmi Narayana and the madapalli or temple kitchen.
The image is treated as a Yogasana image, with the images under his feet seen to be the Sun and the Moon. It is not called a Bhogasana as the consorts on either side of him are absent. He has Vishnu and Brahma on his either sides and he is spotted with two hands holding the conch and the chakra There is a anel de ictin the narrati e of Varaha a atar of Vishn ho takes ater chakra. There is a panel depicting the narrative of Varaha avatar of Vishnu, who takes water from Bali and later grows big as Trivikrama to submerge Bali under his feet as per the Skanda Purana.
Religious Significance
Legend : As per Hindu legend, Hiranyakasipu, a demon king, was troubling the Devas (celestial deities) as he got a boon from Brahma that no human can kill him, neither could he be killed in morning, noon or night nor in air, water or ground. His son Prahalada was an ardent devotee of Vishnu, garnering the hate of his father. Hiranyakasipu tried to slay Prahalada at various times, just to be saved by the divine grace of Vishnu. During the last heated argument between the two, Hiranyakasipu was asking if Vishnu was present everywhere and went on to break a pillar with his weapon. Vishnu took the avatar of Narasimha and came out of the opening in the pillar. Narasimha was a half-human with a lion face and slayed Hiranyakasipu on an evening time in a doorway, which was neither land nor air. Ages passed by, when Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu was doing penance at this place, seeking his boons. Hanuman (Locally called Anjaneyar) was carrying an image made of Saligrama and Lakshmi requested him to help her with a view of Vishnu in the form of Narasimha. Hanuman entrusted the saligrama to her and requested her to hold it until he returns. Lakshmi could not bear the weight and placed the image at this place, which grew into a mount before Hanuman could return. Narasimha appeared before both of them and set his abode at this place.
History
The temple is believed to be built during the 8th century by the Pandya kings in Rock-cut architecture. Historian Soundara Rajan places the date to a pre-Varagunan I (800–830) era on the 8th century. Based on the paleography and Rock-cut architecture, P.R. Srinivasan has placed it at 8th century. Most of the historians have compared the temples with similar architectural elements found in Badami Caves (6th century) and a possible influence.
Some historians have argued that the Azhwars during the Bhakti tradition have discarded Rock-cut images and hence no mention is found in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham about this temple. But the argument is disproved by other historians who have quoted rock-cut temples like Thirumeyyam in Pudukottai district and Ninra Narayana Perumal temple in Virudhunagar district finding mention in the canon.
The records of the details of the inscriptions are found in the Annual report of Epigraphy -1961. There are no inscriptions in the temple, but an undated inscription in the Ranganatha temple, which is on the upper cave in the hill. Historians believe it is possible that both the temples were built during the same period. This temple is taken over and maintained by Archaeological department under monuments and sites act 1958.
Temple Timings
| Day | Timings | |
|---|---|---|
| All Days | 07:00 AM - 01:00 PM | 04:30 PM - 08:00 PM |
Tours
Airports
| Airport Name | Distance |
|---|---|
| Shamshabad | 40 KM |
| Lorem Ipsum | 12 KM |
Railway Stations
| Railway Station Name | Distance |
|---|---|
| Secunderabad | 10 KM |
| Nampally | 12 KM |
| Begumpet | 6 KM |
| Lingampally | 20 KM |
Bus Stations
| Bus Station Name | Distance |
|---|---|
| MGBS | 35 KM |
| CBS | 28 KM |
| kukatpally | 20 KM |
| Lingampally | 30 KM |
| Uppal | 35 KM |
Private Transports
| Transport Name | Distance | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
| Private Transport | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
| Private Transport1 | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
| Private Transport1 | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
| Private Transport1 | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
| Private Transport1 | 8 KM | 9546858757 |
Local Transports
| Transport Name | Distance | Contact Number |
|---|---|---|
| Local Transport | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
| Local Transport1 | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
| Local Transport1 | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
| Local Transport1 | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
| Local Transport1 | 5 KM | 9546858757 |
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Trek starts on Eastern Ghats at an altitude of 1200 m
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