Panakala Narasimha Swamy/Mangalagiri

Mangalagiri, this place is one of the most ancient and holy place in India. Many legends describe the greatness of this place, even Devatas and great kings came here for salvation. No one leave this place empty handed. It is located in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. This place is situated in NH5 between Guntur and Vijayawada. The co-ordinates of this place are 16.43°N 80.55°E.


HOW TO REACH:

As this place is near NH5, it is easy to reach this place by road ways. Many govt and non-govt buses run around this place. Railway is a better means of transport to reach here, as two big notified station Guntur and Vijayawada is near to this place. From there you can take roadways to reach this pilgrim centre. Airways are also possible as Vijayawada has a domestic airport and suitable road transport is available to reach Mangalagiri.

HISTORY:

Mangalagiri name itself tells us that anyone who comes here gets mangala( Good blessings), giri means hill. So it is named as Mangalagiri.  There are about eight holy places in India.Mangalagiri is one of them. On Mangalagiri hill there are three Lord Narasimha swamy temples 1) Panakala Narasimha Swamy on the hill.2)Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at the bottom of the temple.3)Gandala Narasimha Swamy at the top of the hill. This hill is in shape of elephant.  Story behind the origin of this hill is, Harsva Srungi is son of an ancient king Pariyatra. He born abnormally, due to this he visited many holy places to regain ordinary body shape. In his visits to different places he came across Mangalagiri, where he stayed and performed rituals to Lord Sri Maha Vishnu for 2 years. His father came there to take him back to his kingdom, unwilling to go back he took a shape of an Elephant and became abode of Panakala Laxmi Narasimha swamy.

According to the legends a rakshasha name Namuchi harassed devatas and mankind, he cannot be defeated as he obtained a unique boon from Lord Brahma that he cannot be killed by anything wet or dry. To end his league Lord Vishnu helped Defender  to fight with Namuchi, unable to withstand against Devendra he hide in a cave by turning his body into small size(Sukshmarupam). Devendra then dipped Sudarshana chakra in foam and attacked him, Lord Vishnu himself powered the chakra with his eternal fire of destruction, thus killed Namuchi. But the anger of Sri Mahavishnu doesn’t cool down. His fire of anger cannot be tolerated by the devatas. Later he was cooled by intake of Amrutam (Nector). This ritual is performed in all the yugas like Amrutam in Krithayugam, with ghee in Thretayugam, Milk in Dwaparayugam and Panakam (Jaggery) in Kaliyugam. That is why Lord Narasimha in this place is called as Panakala Laxmi Narasinha. Preceding deity is said to be swayambhu , and instead of statue a mouth shaped hole is present in this temple. This temple  have many special features like, if you pour  Panakam into the mouth of the small statue you can hear a sound of drinking the panakam, not even a single ant is seen in this area even though this place is completely covered with traces of panakam.

Behind this temple there is temple of Goddess Laxmi, besides it there is a natural cave which leads to river Krishna. Earlier days sages use this cave as way between river Krishna and temple.

RITUALS & FESTIVALS:

 Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Brahmothsavam is very important festival celebrated here.

Daily timings for poojas are

07:00AM	Opening doors of temple
07:00AM-07:30AM	Morning archana
07:30AM- 01:00AM	Special archana for devotees
01:00PM	Maharnivedana
03:00PM	Closing of doors.

 

 Doors are closed early as it was believed that Devats and devine saints come for offer prayers after 03.00PM.