->Samgariyen: /* Inscriptions */Idol being a derogatory term changed to icon. Icon is a sacred religious symbol

2021-05-25T08:21:36Z

Inscriptions: Idol being a derogatory term changed to icon. Icon is a sacred religious symbol

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| image = Madurai yoga narasimha moolavar Gaja Giri Kshetram.jpg
| name = Yoga Narasimhar Temple
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|9|58|00|N|78|11|20|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =

| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Madurai district|Madurai]]
| locale =
| elevation_m =
| deity = Yoga Narasimhar temple([[Vishnu]])
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Narasingam''' is a village located 8 km from [[Madurai]] on the road to [[Melur]], in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is named for the nearby cave temple dedicated to '''Yoga Narasimha Perumal''', at the foot of the [[Yanaimalai hills]]. This temple was constructed in 770 A.D. by Madurakavi alias Marankaari who was the minister of the Madurai King Parantaka Nedunjadaiyan . There is a front [[mandapam]] (court). The sculpture of Narasinga Perumal is carved out of the hill itself. The temple is a good example of the cave sculpturing of the [[Pandyan Dynasty|Pandya Kingdom]]. In front of this there is a stone temple for the goddess Narasingavalli. This place, though not a [[Divyadesam]] sanctified by [[Azhwar]]s' hymns, is situated between two holy places — [[Alagar Koyil]] in the north and Thirumohur in the east.

== Legend ==
According to the [[Sthala Purana]] for the Madurai [[Koodal Azhagar Temple]], sage [[Romasa]] had installed the Narasimha icon in a cave in the hill. And the 87th chapter of the [[Uttara Kanda]] of the [[Brahmanda Purana]] says the sage did penance on the banks of the Padma Thadagam, as it was filled with lotus flowers, near the Gajagiri [[Kshetram]] (the present Anaimalai) seeking progeny, and wanted the Lord to appear in His [[Narasimha]] [[avatar]]. The Lord appeared as Ugra Narasimha and the heat that emanated from Him was unbearable. Even the celestials were affected by it and they all came to Gajagiri Kshetram and prayed to the Lord to calm down. The Lord could not be pacified and then they sought the help of [[Prahlada]], whose arrival quietened Him to some extent. They prayed to the Goddess [[Mahalakshmi]], who also took Her abode in Him as Narasingavalli, after which He became Yoga Narasimha. The Lord later granted the boon sought by the sage.

According to another legend, [[Shiva|Lord Siva]] was afflicted by Brahma Hathi Dosham (a curse that descends upon a Hindu if he murders a [[Vedic]] [[Brahman]]) after He plucked one of the five heads of [[Lord Brahma]]. He was relieved of it after He took a bath in the holy water source there, also known as Chakra Theertham, and He worshipped [[Lord Narasimha]]. It is believed that taking a dip in the Chakra Theertham, which is near the temple, rids one of all sins.<ref name=dinamalar>{{cite web|title=Sri Yoga narasimhar temple|url=http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=698|publisher=[[Dinamalar]]|year=2014|accessdate=24 November 2015}}</ref>

===Thiruvilayadal Purana===
The ''[[Thiruvilayadal Purana]]'', written by Perumbatta Puliyur Nambi and later amended by Paranjothi Munivar, says that the [[Chola Dynasty|Chola]] king, who could not win the battle against the Pandya ruler, sought the help of [[Jain]]s. They created a giant elephant using their mystic powers and directed it to kill the Pandya king and destroy his capital. But the Pandya prayed to Lord Siva to save him and his capital. The Lord sent to him the "Narasinga Asthram" (the eight lettered word Namonarayana), which turned the elephant into a hill. To commemorate this event, a stone elephant was installed in Madurai near the [[Vaigai]] facing the north, which is found near the Yanaikkal bridge even today. Inscriptions in the cave temple say that Maran Kari, the minister of the Pandya king, started the construction of the temple in 770 A.D., which remained unfinished, either due to his death or due to some other calamity, and was completed by his brother Maran Eyinan later. He also built the Muka [[Mandapa]] and consecrated the temple.<ref name=hindu>{{cite news |title=The cave temple at Yanaimalai |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/08/22/stories/2003082201690600.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031118205214/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/08/22/stories/2003082201690600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 November 2003 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=22 August 2003 |accessdate=21 October 2015 }}</ref>

==Architecture==
The fort around Azhagarkoil is also known as Iranyan Kottai, and even now a stone icon of Lord Yoga Narasimha is found atop its entrance. A big icon of Yoga Narasimha, found in the outer [[prakaram]] (closed precincts of a temple) of the Azhagarkoil temple, known as "Jwala Narasimhar", is said to be ferocious. To pacify Him, regular Thirumanjanam (a bathing ritual) is performed with [[gingelly oil]]. A hole is found in the ceiling above the icon which is believed to let out the fire emanating from it.

The foot of the hill, where the Narasimha temple is located is known as Narasingam or Hasthigiri or Gajagiri. There one may find the Maha Mandapam, [[Garuda]] Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam of the Pandya period. The shrine of the Goddess Narasingavalli faces south, at the entrance. Inscriptions say that there was also an [[agraharam]] for Vedic Brahmins, but there is no trace of it now. The temple bustles with activity during the Narasimha Jayanthi festival, and on [[Masi Maham]] day, when Sri Kalamega Perumal of Thirumohur visits this place for the [[Gajendra Moksha]] festival. The temple is unique for its [[utsava]] icon of Narasimha in a standing posture with the [[Sudarshana Chakra|Sudarsana]] and [[Panchajanya]] in His upper two hands while the left lower hand holds the ''Gathai'' (club weapon) and the right is in the [[Abhaya Hastha]] posture (blessing pose).<ref name=hindu/>

== Inscriptions ==
The inscriptions at the temple are in ancient [[Tamil script|Tamil]], [[Brahmi]] and [[Vattezhuthu]]. There are two inscriptions of Srivallabha Pandya (1101-1124 A.D.), which speak about the gifts made to the temple. There are also inscriptions of later Pandyas and one of them, belonging to the rule of [[Maravarman Sundara Pandyan|Sundara Pandya]], (1216-1238 A.D.) gives details about his conquest of the Chola country. Another inscription says that land gifts were made at Iyakkimangalam village for conducting the festival in the Anaimalai Temple. Later inscriptions are mostly incomplete. The Yoga Narasimha icon at the temple is six feet high, sculpted on the hill itself.<ref name=hindu1>{{cite news |title=Slice of purana laced with grandeur |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/slice-of-purana-laced-with-grandeur/article5811496.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=21 March 2014 |accessdate=21 October 2015|last =S.P.}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040117024550/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/08/22/stories/2003082201690600.htm The Hindu (8/23/2003) Story on the cave temple, with photograph]
*[http://www.maduraionline.com/index.htm Maduraionline.com]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File: Yoganarasingaperumaltemple1.jpg|
File: Yoganarasingaperumaltemple4.jpg|
File: Yoganarasingaperumaltemple3.jpg|
File: Yoganarasingaperumaltemple2.jpg|
File: Yoganarasingaperumaltemple5.jpg|
File: Yoganarasingaperumaltemple6.jpg|
File: Yoganarasingaperumaltemple7.jpg|
</gallery>

[[Category:Hindu temples in Madurai district]]
[[Category:Narasimha temples]]

Narasingam Yoga Narasimha Perumal Temple - Revision history

->Samgariyen: /* Inscriptions */Idol being a derogatory term changed to icon. Icon is a sacred religious symbol