Narasingam is a village located 8 km from Madurai on the road to Melur, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

This temple was constructed in 770 CE by Madurakavi alias Marankaari who was the minister of the Madurai King Parantaka Nedunjadaiyan.

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.

[1] The Thiruvilaiyadal Purana, written by Perumbatta Puliyur Nambi and later amended by Paranjothi Munivar, says that the Chola king, who could not win the battle against the Pandya ruler, sought the help of Jains.

They created a giant elephant using their mystic powers and directed it to kill the Pandya king and destroy his capital.

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.

[2] 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.