Thread by @scarysouthpaw

Ever been here?
The Simhachalam Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Temple in Visakhapatnam. It's one of the most revered Vaishnava shrines in AP, the largest temple after Tirupati.
Only temple where lord Sri Maha Vishnu is worshipped in two avatars.

Located just outside the main city of Vizag atop the Simhachalam hill range, this temple traces ancestry back to the Chola period. Built in a style that merges Chola, Vengi Chalukya, Eastern Ganga, and Vijayanagara architecture, the oldest inscriptions are of Kulottunga Chola.

Major reconstruction took place during the Eastern Ganga dynasty rule. The famous king Narasimha Deva (who built the Konark Sun temple) carried out major expansions of the temple in the 13th century. Later his feudatories, the Gajapathis patronised the temple.

The Vijayanagara Emperor, Sri Krishna Deva Raya visited the temple after his successful conquest of Kalinga and built the Jayastambha in the temple. The large Rajagopuram, typical of Vijayanagara architecture was probably added during this period

Most temples face East, signifying *Shubham*. The Simhachalam temple faces west, signifying *Vijayam*.
The Kshetrapalaka of this shrine is Lord Shiva, as the fierce Tripurantaka. I love this fusion of Shaiva/Vaishnava traditions.

It's a beautiful temple to visit, situated atop a hill in the middle of a dense forest. The view is amazing and the atmosphere serene and electrifying at the same time.

The Temple panels have exquisite carvings all around the sanctum sanctorum and the pillars of the various mandapas. The most famous (and most visible) are the images I have shared here. The Varaha Avatar and the Narasimha Avatar.

The mula virat (seen right below in the original form) is always covered in sandalpaste (the image on left). Apparently to cool down the ferocious Narasimha Avatar 😎.
The paste is removed only once a year on Akshaya Tritiya and devotees can see the original form.

Even though the temple is in the North Andhra abutting Orissa , the influence of the Tamil Vaishnava traditions is clear. There is a shrine for the 12 Alwars within the temple and also for the Ramanuja, who is credited for codifying the temple practices followed till date.

And like all traditions of Vishnu, there is a bond between Tulasi leaves and him. They are offered to him daily (Remember the legend of Vakula Devi in Tirumala who adorns Srinivasa as a garland of Tulasi leaves. I guess that's where this worship has originated)
(Pic taken today)

And no mention of Simhachalam is complete without talking about the Prasadam offered here. The Pulihora (Tamarind rice) is just out of the world 🤩🤩.
My grandmother used to say it's because of the wild tamarinds offered to the Lord by the tribal devotees.

Do visit this temple next time in Vizag. You can see Lord Vishnu being worshipped as Varaha (the slayer of Hiranyaksha) and Narasimha (the slayer of Hiranyakashapa)

To end it with a famous song about the temple.🤩