Singirikudi Explained

Singirikudi
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:India Tamil Nadu#India
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates:11.8653°N 79.7808°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Tamil Nadu
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Cuddalore
Subdivision Type3:Taluk
Subdivision Name3:Cuddalore
Subdivision Type4:Block
Subdivision Name4:Cuddalore
Unit Pref:Metric
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Demographics1 Info1:Tamil
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code Type:PIN
Postal Code:605007
Area Code Type:Telephone code
Area Code:0413
Registration Plate:TN-31

Singirikudi is a revenue village in Cuddalore of Tamil Nadu, India.[1] [2]

This is one of the Nava-Narasimha temples of Tamil Nadu which are popular for the worship of Vishnu as Narasimha.[3] Also, this is one of the 3 temples along with Puvarasamkuppam and Parikkalpattu which are being worshipped on the same day by the devotees. The form of Vishnu as Narasimha here is Ugra Narasimha and he is disemboweling and killing the demon Hiranyakashipu on his laps. There are separate shrines for Lakshmi as Kanakavalli and Andal and unusually, they both are facing the opposite direction to that of Vishnu.

History of Singirikudi Narashima Kanakavalli Temple

Sage Vasishtha who was cursed by King Nimi, approached his father Brahma and mother Sarasvati and sought their help. Brahma and Sarasvati asked him to proceed to Singirikudi and do penance propitiating Vishnu as Narasimha. Vashishtha went to Singirikudi and attained salvation through penance. Vishnu in the form of Narasimha was pleased with his devotion gave audience to him. This place is called Singirikudi as the presiding deity Vishnu here is Narasimha known as Singaperumal. Narasimha has 16 hands and looks ferocious as he disembowels and kills Hiranyakashipu. Narasimha's appearance star Svati is celebrated on a grand scale. This is a Prarthana Sthala for Vishnu as Narashima and Lakshmi as Kanakavalli.[4]

The Main Statues of Narasimha and Kanakavalli inside the Singirikudi Narashima Kanakavalli Temple

On Vishnu as Narashima's right side Hiranyakashipu's son Prahalada, Sage Vasishta and God Shukra are present. On Vishnu as Narashima's left side Hiranyakashipu's wife Kayadhu is represented when Vishnu as Narasimha disembowels and kills Hiranyakashipu. It appears that such a representation of Vishnu as Narasimha disemboweling and killing Hiranyakashipu is there in only two places in the Indian Subcontinent, with the other being in Rajasthan. Also, Lakshmi as Kanakavalli has a separate shrine here in this temple.[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cuddalore taluk Map, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu . 10 October 2013.
  2. Web site: List of revenue villages in Cuddalore taluk, Tamil Nadu . 10 October 2013.
  3. Web site: Singirikudi.
  4. Web site: Singirikudi Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Temple. 5 January 2020.
  5. Book: "Singarkudi Temple". Published by Temple authorities. 2004.