Sthambadri Sri Lakshmi Narashima Swamy Temple.
The temple of Sri Narashima Swamy is located in the heart of the Town, which is popularly known to local people as guha gudi. The ancient temple is believed t be existing from Tretha Yuga. The town is located on the banks of the River Munneru, which is tributary to River Krishna.
During Tretha Yugam Mouthgalya Maharishi with his disciples penance here in a cave and he was blessed by Lord Vishnu. Mothgalya Maharishi requested Lord Vishnu to stay back in this place along with Lakshmi. Lord came out of the pillar as Sri Lakshmi Narashima Swamy. Hence the place was known as Sthambadri.
The temple is on a vertical rock which is known as Khamba which means Pillar. The temple is on khamba so it was originally known as Sthamba Sikari which later turned into Sthambadri. At present the place is known as Khammam, which was derived from the word Khammam Mettu.
We have to climb steps to reach the temple.
Sri Hanuman sanctum is seen to right side, as we climb the hill.
Main Raja Gopuram of three tier.
We see dwajasthambam as a rock pillar which is covered with kavacham. Dwajasthambam like this is something Unique.
There is a sanctum for Sri Hanuman near the dwajasthambam.
We see a mandapam with 32 pillars.
Garuda is seen opposite to, main Garbha Graham within the mandapam.
Inner sanctum is a Cave. Sri Narashimar is seen with Thayar. He is seen only up to bust. We see Urchava vigrahas, Aandal, Maharishi idol.
There is a separate sanctum for Sri Lakshmi Thayar.
Paduka is seen in front of Thayar Sannidhi.
Sayana Graha, of Lord which is known as Addala Mandapam of this temple.
Sthala Purana says in16th century, King Pratapa Rudra, who was ruling the place was blessed by Lord here. King developed the temple and pooja was arranged according to Vaikasana Agama Sthara. Panaka Abishekam on Sundays is important here. Public believe that all their wishes are fulfilled when they worship here the Lord for 40 days.
Katteel Durga
Katteel Durga is about 90 kms distance from Dharmasthala. We had to take a turn at Guruvayanakere towards Moodabidri, while traveling from Dharmathala and Mangalore highway. From here the place is about 40 kms.
The River Netravathy is flowing around the temple. The shrine is like an island on the River Netravathy.
There is an arch near the entrance.
We have to cross the River Netravathy,through a small bridge, to enter into the temple.
We see the Gopuram of main inner sanctum of Durga Parameswari.
This is the corridor leading to the sanctum.
Inside the sanctum we to southern side we see Sri Maha Ganapathy and Sastha (Iyappan).In front of Ganapathy we find steps leading us to River Netravathy. They have put grill for safety purpose.
We come to the main sanctum of Goddess Durga Parameswari in sitting posture. The distance is a bit long from were public is allowed for darshan. We had good darshan, but it was not very clear to feel the full satisfaction.
This is the picture of Durga Parameswari to wall. We had a glimpse at it and then we had darshan of Durga Parameswari in the sanctum. We had a little satisfaction after that about our drshan of Matha.
As we go around we see a sanctum which is covered to all three side wall with silver. In it we see a picture of Durga Parameswari in gold sheet framed and hanged to wall.
To side walls we see pictures of Geethopadesam.
We see Kshetrapalakar to south west side within the temple. Beside it Naga Devata is seen.
As we come out this is the main entrance door covered with silver sheet.
Front view of the main temple.
Few yards away Nagaraja is seen on a platform.
Sthala Purana:
When Durga parameswari slew Sumba and Nisumba, Arunasuran, a rakshas ran out of the battle field and became the leader for Rakshas .Arunasura meditated and acquired boon from Lord Brahma. With this grant he lost fear of death. Goddess Saraswathy blessed with Gayatri Mantra. He started troubling Sages; Rishi’s when they were doing Yaga. There was no rain and the people had to suffer out of draught condition.
Looking at the draught condition Japali Maharishi decided to perform Yagna to please Devas. He approached Devandran and requested him to send Kamadenu with him to perform the Yagna. Since Kamadenu was not available at that moment he agreed to give Nandini the daughter of Kamadenu.
Japali Maharishi requested Nandini to come with him. Nandini was not happy with people living on earth and refused to come with him. When Japali Maharishi knew that she was very firm in her decision, he cursed her to flow as a River on Earth. She realized her mistake and prayed for his mercy. Maharishi asked her to pray to Goddess to get free from the curse.
Nandini meditated to Goddess Adi Sakthi. She was pleased with Nandini and asked her to flow as a River and in due course she will be born as daughter to her. She will be purified from the curse of Japali Maharishi She was happy with the assurance Adi Sakthi gave, and emerged from Kanakagiri and started flowing down as River.
Arunasura defeated Devas, who inturn pleaded Adi Sakthi to resque them. She says unless he stops chanting Gayatri Mantra he will not be put into trouble and no one can defeat him. She asked them to send Brahaspathy to distract his meditation from chanting Gayatri Mantra. Brahaspathy flattered him and was able to distract him from chanting Gayatri Mantra.
Goddess appeared as beautiful teenage girl. Arunasura went near her, then she reminde him, about the defeat of Sumba, Nisumban and how he ran away from the battle field. Arunasura got angry and tried to kill her with his sword. Goddess turned into a stone. His sword hit the stone, stream of bees emerged from the stone. He was surrounded by the bees and stung to death.
After entering from the main entrance we see a big rock to left. This rock is known a Rakteswari.
Maharishi Japali performed abisheka with tender coconut water here and requested Bramarambika (Queen of Bees) to bless mankind. Durga Matha appeared in her “Sowmya Roopam “ in the middle of the River. Temple is constructed in the same place.
- Neimisaranyam
Nimisaranyam is 85 kms from Lucknow to Sitapur road. The place is on the banks of River Gomathy. There are few temples to visit.
Devadhana perumal, One of the Divya Desam, Hanuman temple, Veda mandir, Durga temple, Chakkra teertham and Ahobila matt. A lady by name Mrs.Vinaya is arranging for taxi for your tour from there to Ayodhya, Allahabad and Varnasi. If someone is interested they can contact to the cell phone number 09936046748 She is a tamilian lady and travelers from south can converse in tamil to avoid confusion.
Neimisaranyam:
This place was arayanyam once, and it is considered sacred place to penance and attain divine power. The whole forest is worshiped as Supreme Lord. According to legends Lord chooses this place to establish Dharma. Vrittasura was troubling the sages and they prayed Lord to give a remedy for their issue. The Lords requested Maharishi Dadichi to give his bones to create a weapon to kill the demon. The maharishi obliged and they were able to get rid of the demon Vrittasuran.
Sthala puranam says, Sutha puranikar recited 18 puranas for the benefit of Maha Rishi’s, in this place.
The reason for the name Neimisaranyam is once Maharishi’s along with Sownakar, went to Lord Brahma, and asked him to show a place where they can do meditation and yagnas. Brahma took the wheel of his charriot and rolled it down. He said the place where wheel stops, that would be the ideal place for them. They wheel stopped at this place which was Aranyam
Nemi means chakkram and the place it stopped, was Aranyam and hence the name.
- Devadhana perumal temple:
This is one of 108 temples of Divya Desam. This is One of 8 Swayam Vektha kshetrams. The rest are Badri, Pushkaram, Srirangam, Salagramam Srimushnam, Vanamamalai, Pushkaram and Tirupathy. The place is regarded as Tapovanam.
Main Deity is Devadhana Perumal in standing posture and in the main sanctum next to perumal we see lot of saligrahamas. In front of the main deity sanctum we have the darshan of Garudazwar. Goddess Pundarikavalli is seen if different sanctum. She is also known as Sri Hari Lakshmi, Sri Hari Priya.
Sthala Vruksham is Thapovanam. All the trees in this forest are considered as sthala vruksham and hence it is known as Thapovanam.
River Gomathy and Chakra Teertham are the pushkaram of this place.
[Saligrama][Chakkra Teertham][Thapovanam][swayamvektha Kshetram]
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