The
roof tower above the sanctum (vimana) is known as Ashtakona Vimana.
Some
pulses are attributed to the Navagrahas (planets) seeking their grace. Wheat
for Sun; paddy for Moon; Thuvarai-dal for Mars; green pulse for Mercury;
Kadalai for Jupiter; Mochai for Venus; El or black gingely for Saturn; Ulund
dal for Rahu and horse gram for Ketu.
While
generally, Lord Narasimha is seen embracing Sri Mahalakshmi sitting on His lap,
this is the only temple where the Lord and Mother are seen embracing each
other. This is to show that Lord Narasimha has shed His fury and
graces devotees with all mercy.
Veera
Anjaneya and Bhakta Anjaney grace devotees together. Devotees light
lamps with gingely oil and spread all the nine varieties of pulses in his
shrine and write on them their prayers. It is believed that their
prayers would be responded.
Lord
Narasimha faces east in a sitting form.
Lord
is in a smiling form as Mother is by His side.
The
temple is famous for secular tradition as people of other religions ? Muslims
and Christian also worship the Lord here without any feeling of discrimination.
Sri
Anjaneya is seen together with the Lord.
As
in Srirangam, Lord Varadaraja Perumal is facing south.
Important
festivals: 10
day Brahmmotsavam beginning from Narasimmha Jayanti each year; 13 days
Chithirai Brammotsavam in April-May, drawing huge crowd of devotees; Pennai
River festival in the month of Thai-January-February; Magam
Garudanadhi in Masi ?February-March; Tirukarthikai in November-December; Mattu
Pongal falling almost January 15, 1 day Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the
important festivals celebrated in the temple.
During
the week-end ? Saturdays and Sundays, the devotee crowd is huge. Also,
Deepavali, Pongal, Tamil and English New Year days, Krishna Jayanthi
and Vaikunda Ekadasi are celebrated with special pujas to the Lord.
A
king, Vasantharajan by name was a staunch devotee of Lord Narasimha and wanted
to build a temple for his Lord. He organized necessary Yagnas for
three nights headed by his Guru Sage Vamadeva. Many kings responded
to his invitation and gathered there. When the Yagnas were about to
begin, demon Parikalasuran came with his army to destroy the proceedings. The
Guru immediately prepared a talisman with the Mantras, Arakshara and
Amirthakshara, tied in the hands of the king and hid him in a bush. Yet
the demon attacked the king with his battle axe.
Rising
to rescue His devotee, Lord Narasimha destroyed Parikalasura with all flaming
fury.
As
the Lord destroyed Parikalasura here, the place is called Parikkal.
King
Vasantharajan begged the Lord to be ever calm to grace the devotees approaching
His feet. Lord obliged. Divine Sculptor Viswakarma made
the idol which Sage Vamadeva installed here. Lord, with Mother grace
the devotees. Due to lack of attention in the years that followed,
the idol was covered by an ant-hill.
Lord
appeared in the dream of a dumb boy and told him that He was covered by the
ant-hill. The boy informed his experience to the people, who
unearthed the idol and built a new temple. Lord Narasimha and Mother
Kanakavalli grace from the sanctum sanctorum and a separate shrine
respectively. Sri Anjaneya in two forms ? Veera Anjaneya and Bhakta
Anjaneya graces in a shrine in the northwest corner.
Devotees
spread paddy in the Anjaneya shrine and write their prayers. They
strongly believe that their appeals would be favourably heard.
In
the corridor-prakara, are shrines for Sri Varadaraja Perumal in north, Vinayaka
in south east and Garuda before the temple. The holy spring Garuda
theertha is northwest of the place.
