Simhachalam

Simhachalam Temple
Simhachalam Temple
Simhachalam Temple Location in Andhra Pradesh
Geography
Coordinates	17°45′59″N 83°15′02″E / 17.7664°N 83.2505°E / 17.7664; 83.2505Coordinates: 17°45′59″N 83°15′02″E / 17.7664°N 83.2505°E / 17.7664; 83.2505
Country	India
State/province	Andhra Pradesh
District	Visakhapatnam
Locale	Visakhapatnam
Culture
Primary deity	Vishnu, Narasimha
Architecture
Architectural styles	Kalinga Architecture, South Indian
History and governance
Website	http://simhachalamdevasthanam.net/

Simhadri or Simhachalam is a Hindu temple located in Visakhapatnam city suburb of Simhachalam in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is dedicated to Lord Narasimha (the man-lion), an incarnation (avatar) of Lord Vishnu. The central shrine was built in Kalinga architectural style. The Kshetrapalaka of Simhachalam is Kalabhairava and pilgrims must visit the Kalabhairava Temple in the area prior to visiting the Narasimha Swamy temple.

"Simha" in Sanskrit means lion; "Adri" or "Achala" in Sanskrit means hill. The temple is located at the top of a hill; hence the temple is called Simhachalam. Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy, the lion-man incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is the presiding deity of the temple. The temple is one of the eighteen "Narasimha Kshetras", the shrines of Lord Narasimha, in India. The deity is usually covered with sandalwood paste year round and can be seen without sandalwood ("nijaroopa darshan" – holy appearance in true form) for only 12 hours per year. On Akshaya Tritiya Day, the deity is re-covered with sandalwood paste. The festival of 'Chandana yatra' or 'Chandanotsavam' falls every year in Vaisakha (May).

The deity is in the tribhangi posture, with two hands and the head of a lion on a human torso. An inscription dated 1098 AD of the Chola King Kuloththunga provides a clue as to its antiquity. Another inscription names a queen of the Eastern Ganga of Kalinga (ancient Odisha) (1137–1156), while a third inscription says the eastern Ganga King of Odisha, Narasimhadeva II (1279–1306), built the central shrine in 1267. More than 252 inscriptions in Odia and Telugu describe the antecedents of the temple.