Yadagiri Gutta

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple,Yadagiri Gutta

Almost all the Hindu temples have dedicated worshipping the great divine and powerful deity i.e. Man-Lion incarnation or Vishnu avatar in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Most prominent of such holy shrine is the Lakshmi Narasimha swamy, a popular temple of Yadagiri Gutta is situated at an altitude of 300 feet on a hill in Nalgonda district.

At the top of the hill there is a water body called kund which is a wonderful sacred place to visit. The view from the top of the hill is magnificent and indeed spectacular leaving you almost floating in a sacred place. This is a cave temple which is only 70kms from Hyderabad and has many unique features to it. One among is the conventional structure of the temple which is visible from the outside has been superimposed upon it. Secondly, it has five forms of Narasimha which is very uncommon too. Finally, the principal shrine, Lakshmi Narasimha swamy is famed for spiritual healing and incurable diseases. So all these aspects have made it famous and one of the most popular ancient sacred pilgrimages for Hindus in the A.P. State. The temple also attracted a huge number of pilgrims and outsiders i.e. from other states of the country too. It is busy throughout the year with different events like annual brahmotsavam (usually held in the month of March), which includes Yedurkolu, Celestial Wedding and Divya Vimana Rathothsavam.

In ancient days, Sri Yada Maharshi, son of the sage Sri Rishyashrunga, with the blessings of Anjaneya had performed great penance for Lord Narasimha Swamy inside a cave on this hill. He was rewarded with the god’s blessings and then Lord Narasimha existed in five different forms known as Jwala, Yogananda, Lakshminarasimha, Gandabherunda and Ugra. Hence worshipped later as “Pancha Narasimha Kshetram”. The hurdles through evil spirits and obstacles faced by the devotees are being cured by the God and Goddess through herbal medicines likes Fruits, flowers and Tulasi Teertham who worship this deity with the great devotion.

The Lord first appeared as Jwala Narasimha (As a Flame or Fire).As it was so scary and when Yada Maharshi was unable to face the intensity of this apparition, he appeared in a peaceful form as Yoga Narasimha (Lord in a Yogic Padmasana Posture) which is both a granter of spiritual healer and incurable diseases. Hanuman is carved beside Yoga Narasimha too and also regarded as the servant of Vishnu, he deserves a place.

As the sage is still not satisfied Lord appearing alone, Narasimha appeared along with Lakshmi, the Goddess of fortune on his lap’, known as Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. It seems to be the largest in size and the last carved image overlaid with decorations in temples. His hand is raised in the Abhaya Dana Mudra, the granting of fearlessness where it has been given a golden glove densely studded with diamonds. As the sage couldn’t endure these three forms which are so fiery, it is said that they are worshipped inside the dark cave. Actually the cave forms a low arch almost grazing your head as you enter and believed to be the hand of the lord granting you the initiation by touching your head. Sages believe that the touching of the crown of the head by guru’s palm to be the most powerful form of initiation. The initiation would not have been a very gentle process, highly effective as the entire hill itself is supposed to be the volatile deity of Ugra Narasimha, the Fierce Man-Lion. Gandabherunda (Garuda Pakshi or the bird eagle) is the fifth form of the Lord who is invisible, is said to have been found sculpted in rock underneath the Anjaneya, known as ‘Kshetrapalaka’ and all these forms are known as “Swayambhu”.

It is said that the sage had been granted his wish that the place where the Lord appeared will be known by his name as Yadagiri (‘Giri’ means Hill in Sanskrit and ‘Gutta’ means a hillock in Telugu). As the Lord Narasimha was believed to have been worshipped by Sages, the region of Yadagiri Gutta has been reputed to be a “Rushi Aradhana Kshetram”. As Lord Vishnu brought all Vedas and believed to be kept on this sacred place, Yadagiri Gutta is renowned as “Vedagiri”.