Padalathri Temple

Narasimhar temple
Narasimhar temple Location in Tamil Nadu
Name
Other names	Padalathri temple
Proper name	Singaperumalkovil
Geography
Coordinates	12°45′43″N 80°00′15″E / 12.76194°N 80.00417°E / 12.76194; 80.00417Coordinates: 12°45′43″N 80°00′15″E / 12.76194°N 80.00417°E / 12.76194; 80.00417
Country	India
State/province	Tamil Nadu
District	Kanchipuram
Locale	Singaperumalkoil
Culture
Primary deity	Narasimhar (Vishnu) Ahobilavalli(Lakshmi)
Important festivals	Pallavas architecture

Padalathri Temple or Narasimhar Temple (also called Singaperumalkoil Temple) is dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu located in Singaperumalkoil, Kanchipuram district, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the Rock-cut architecture, dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Narasimhar and his consort Lakshmi as Ahobilavalli. The temple is built by the Pallavas during the 8th century.

The temple is open from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and has four daily rituals at various times of the day. Various festivals are celebrated in the temple, with the Chittirai Brahmotsavam during April–May, Narasimha Jayanthi, Pavithra Utsavam during Aani (June–July) and Maasi float festival during February–March being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

According to the Hindu legend, Singaperumalkovil is referred by a Sanskrit Padalathri. The temple finds mention in Brahmanda Purana, which mentions that Vishnu appeared as Narasimha to the sages performing penance at this place after killing the demon king Hiranyakasipu. Hiranyakasipu was troubling the Devas as he got a boon from Brahma that no human can kill him. His son Prahlada was an ardent devotee of Vishnu, which Hiranyakasipu discouraged. He also tried to slay Prahalad by various means, but was saved by the divine grace of Vishnu. Vishnu took the avatar of Narasimha and appeared from a pillar. Narasimha was a human with lion face and slayed Hiranyakasipu on an evening time in a doorway, which was neither land nor air. His anger was not quenched even after slaying the demon king, but Prahalad sang and prayed Narasimha to calm down, which he acceded to. He is also believed to have quenched his anger by bathing at the temple tank in this place. The water is believed to have turned red after the incident.