Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

BRAMHANDA PURANA : Bramhand purana says that Somaksura a demon of Yore stole the four Vedas from Lord Bramha and hid himself in the Ocean. Lord Bramha then approached his father Lord Srimannarayana murthy and Prayed for the restoration of Vedas. Lord Srimannarayana Murthy in ‘Matsyavathara’ (Fish) entered the Ocean, killed the demon Somakasura and brought back the Vedas in tact. The Vedas, in human from thanked the lord for his kind gesture in saving them, Prayed to stay with them on their heads. There upon the Lord munificently granted their Prayer but said that the would do that only after killing another demon Hiranya Kasapa and saving his son prahalda. The Lord also assured the Vedapurushas that he would stay with them as panchamurthy only. So saying the Lord bid them till such time to remain in the river Krishnaveni as Saligrama mountain. Lord told them that Krishnaveni also prayed to allow her to worship him everyday and that the granted her the boon. He assured the Vedapurshas that both the prayers would be granted simultaneously. According to the bid of the Lord the Veda purashas remaind in Krishnaveni as Saligrama mountain.

Later the Lord incarnated himself as ‘Narasimha’ killed the mighty demon Hiranya Kasapa and served Prahalda and ever since stayed as Jwala Narasimha on the mountain head at Vedadri in fulfillment of the inclination of Veda Purushas. Then Lord Bramha requested Jwala Narasimha to stay in Sathya Loka as Saligrama Narasimha so the Lord went to Sathya Loka as Saligrama Narasimha at the request of Lord Bramha. But even before Brahma offered his worship to the Lord in Sathya Loka, the Satya Loka was consumed in flames. There upon Lord Brahma personally brought Saligrama Narasimha Murthy to the river Krishnaveni and erected the Saligrama Murthy on the Saligrama Mountain. Thus Lord Laxmi Narasimha Swamy the incarnation of Lord Srimannarayana fulfilled the desire of both Veda purushas and the river Krishnaveni, simultaneously.

Later on, the Lord, at the request of Rishis like Rishya Srugna and kinga like Mann, stayed in the middle of the mountain as Yogananda Narasimha Swamy and at the request of the Garudas the Lord stayed as Veera Narasimha and as per the prayer of Vana Devatha the Lord is pervading the mountain as Laxmi Narasimha Murthy. Thus this holy place is sanctified by the presence of all devatas who descended from the heavens to worship the Lord who enriched the mountain with several holy spirit. The facts were revealed by Suta Mahamuni to Sownaka and others who acclaimed the place where pancha Narasimha Murthy are existing.

The Lord is staying as Jwala Narasimha on Vedasikhara of the mountain, as Saligrama a Narasimha in the river Krishnaveni and as Yogananda Narasimha, having been erected by Sage Rishya Srunga and in his own peetam as Laxmi Narasimha Swamy. Thus the Lord existing in five forms different from each other called Pancha Narasimha Murthys namely ( Jwala, Saligrama , Veera Yogananda and Laxmi Narasimha). This holy shine is called “VEDADRI”.