History of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple

Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha Parabrahmane Namah

At the beginning of Kali Yuga, ‘Aakasha Raju’ (father of Sri Padmavati Devi) was the ruler of this area which is in and around the present-day Narayana Vanam. According to the locals, it is said that some time before the marriage of Padmavati, one day Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy appeared to the king in his dream and said – that he was in this place, with four arms, and being worshipped together with Sridevi and Bhudevi as his dual consorts. Historical evidences suggest that Akasha Raju visited the Lord who was residing in this place and immediately built the temple’s sanctum-sanctorum or the garbha gruha (which we see today). Moreover, according to the local legends, Lord Venkateswara Swamy used to visit this place in the past and used to bathe in the pond that we see today. According to the Varaha Purana, we learn that Akasha Raju had performed the "Aswamedha Yagam" at this very place, and that before the yagam, he purified the plough in this pond to level the land, hence this place came to be known as "Nagileru". There are five springs atop the surrounding mountains of this temple, where water flows down continuously for 365 days of the year, thus forming an eternal and natural water falls, which becomes the source of water for the sacred pond. Since this natural spring water flows through the mountains, this water is very highly medicated and has been instrumental in curing skin diseases for hundreds of devotees taking bath in this sacred pool (named as Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha Teertham). It is also a very popular local belief that the devotees’ wishes get fulfilled when they sleep overnight in the temple premises.

Historical evidences suggest that Akasha Raju visited the Lord who was residing in this place and immediately built the temple’s sanctum-sanctorum or the garbha gruha (which we see today). Moreover, according to the local legends, Lord Venkateswara Swamy used to visit this place in the past and used to bathe in the pond that we see today. According to the Varaha Purana, we learn that Akasha Raju had performed the "Aswamedha Yagam" at this very place, and that before the yagam, he purified the plough in this pond to level the land, hence this place came to be known as "Nagileru".

There are five springs atop the surrounding mountains of this temple, where water flows down continuously for 365 days of the year, thus forming an eternal and natural waterfalls, which becomes the source of water for the sacred pond. Since this natural spring water flows through the mountains, this water is very highly medicated and has been instrumental in curing skin diseases for hundreds of devotees taking bath in this sacred pool (named as Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha Teertham). It is also a very popular local belief that the devotees’ wishes get fulfilled when they sleep overnight in the temple premises.

Thus, the pages of history proclaim that the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple that we see today is related to the Narasimha incarnation and also the Kali Yuga daivam, Sri Venkateswara Swamy, and also that this temple was built more than 2000 years ago.

The temple is managed by the “Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Trust”. Lord Narasimha is the kula daivam for the family of the trustee, P. Gunavantha Rao. In 1984, when there were no facilities here, he arranged for the dhoopa-deepa-naivedyam for this temple at his own expense. Gradually, on his own land which is spread over 18 acres, he established this temple under the management of the “Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Trust”, and a cowshed with 120 swa-deshi cows under the management of the “Sri Radhakrishna Goshala Trust”, and also established the “Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Annadana Trust” to provide three meals a day to all the devotees. After his demise, his sons P. Giribabu and P. Bhaskarababu (who are also the Trustees) are working tirelessly for the constant development of the temple.