Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam

As per the temple's legend, Vishnu manifested in this form (lion's head and human body) after saving his devotee Prahlada from a murder attempt by the latter's father Hiranyakashipu.

Narahari Tirtha, a Dvaita philosopher and Eastern Ganga minister converted the Simhachalam temple into an educational establishment of renown and a religious centre for Vaishnavism.

Apart from those by well-known poets, the temple is found in many literary references and lyrical works (dedicated by anonymous writers), which are preserved in the Government Oriental Manuscripts Library, Chennai.

[6] According to Dr. V. C. Krishnamacharyulu, the legends of Simhachalam and other Hindu temples in Andhra Pradesh were written in the 14th century after the attempted establishment of Islam in the region.

[8] In their first demonic lives during the Satya Yuga, Jaya-Vijaya were born as Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha to sage Kashyapa and Diti(a daughter of Daksha) in an inauspicious time during a sunset.

To tease lord Brahma and other gods, Hiranyaksha ensured that earth loses its vitality and sinks into the rasatala, the lowest level in the cosmic universe.

[14] In another life cycle, king Pururava of lunar dynasty acquired Pushpaka Vimana (divine air car) from Brahma as a boon.

[15] Urvasi was instructed in the dream that the idol of Varaha Narasimha should be covered with sandalwood paste for the whole year except on the third day of the Vaisakha month.

[28] An inscription dated 1293 CE refers to the addition of sub shrines by the Gangas in the temple, which were dedicated to manifestations of Vishnu: Vaikunthanatha, Yagnavaraha, and Madhavadevara.

[33] A solitary inscription dated 1604 CE records gifting the lands and resources of Narava village as a sarvamanya by Sarvappa Asraraya with a view to restore the regular religious practices and offerings.

[38] The temple is situated on Simhachalam Hill Range 800 metres (2,600 ft) above the sea level at a distance of ten miles to the north of Visakhapatnam.

[41] Due to the soil nature, rainfall and the climatic conditions influenced by the sea level, the growth of flora is abundant on the hill range.

The three-tier vimana, called pidha deula in Odia silpasastra, is similar to that of the Konark temple, is shaped like a stepped pyramid with proper carving of sculptures.

[44] There are only four main ornaments used in the temple: a Thirunamam made of diamonds and rubies, a chain of emeralds, a 100-tola gold bracelet, and a golden crown.

[69] The laghvarchana (preliminary worship) is performed; priests offer jaggery and coconut after which the mangala harathi (incense) is provided to the deity.

[74] Kalyanotsava, the annual celestial marriage of Varaha Narasimha, is celebrated on the 11th day of the first quarter of the Indian lunar Chaitra month.

[79] However, an inscription dated 1401 CE records the gift of a flag staff named the Garudaroha Kamba for celebrating the Divya mahotsavas (sacred key festivals).

[80] The procedure of this utsava consists of the following events in succession: Ankurarpanam (the formal start), Rathotsava (chariot ride festival), Avabhruta snana (purification ceremony), Bhaktotsava (rewarding a devotee), and sayana seva (sleeping ritual).

[80] Ankurarpanam happens on the 14th day; Brahma and the eight guardians of the directions are invoked by chanting hymns and sowing nine kinds of seeds in specially-made earthen pots.

[73] Followers of Sri Vaishnavism consider Kamadahana as a self-purification ceremony; it bears no relation with the legend of Shiva burning Kamadeva to ashes.

[91] An inscription dated 1233 CE records a gift of 100 cows to provide milk to the temple's deity from that year's Janmashtami onwards.

[91] After completing the bathing formalities and prayers, the chapter related to Krishna's birth in Bhagavata Purana is read aloud along with few sections of the Dravida Prabandha.

[80] An inscription dated 1270 CE records Chittana Gopala's gift of 50 cows, two akhandadipas (perpetual lamps) and stands supporting them.

[95] Grama pradakshina is believed to be based on Faith; people hoped that the utsava idol's entry would bring prosperity to the village and its inmates.

[98] In the temple tank, the scenario of the Hindu legend Gajendra Moksha is recreated with the help of a mock crocodile hunt by the utsava idol.

[98] Simhachalam is one of the 32 Narasimha temples in Andhra Pradesh which are important pilgrimage centres alongside Ahobilam, Antarvedi, Kadiri and Mangalagiri among others.

[101] Diana L Eck, the author of India: A Sacred Geography (2012) noted that at Simhachalam, Narasimha's "frightening" violence is softened by worshipping him in conjunction with Varaha, who is usually considered as a peaceful deity.

[106] Simhachalam temple found many literary references and lyrical works dedicated by anonymous writers; some of the latter are preserved in the Government Oriental Manuscripts Library, Chennai.

These vachanas also inspired many other poets to compose similar devotional prose including Pothana and Srinatha; the latter introduced 12 laudatory pieces showing Krishnamacharyulu's impact in his works Bhimeswara Purana and Kasikandham.

[107] The story of Muslim invaders attacking Simhachalam and their defeat was documented in a satiric way by Kurmanatha Kavi in his work Simhadri Narasimha Satakam.

A blue skinned four armed Human with a boar's head decapitates a demon with a sword besides balancing a piece of land on the tusks.
A 1740 Chamba painting showing the slaying of the demon Hiranyaksha by lord Vishnu as Varaha with four hands. Varaha is also shown balancing the earth on his tusks.
An idol made of black stone dressed in orange robes, with a flag in a hand and Thirunamam on the forehead, throat, chest and hands.
An idol of Ramanuja in the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple .
An inscription written on a black slab in Telugu language.
An inscription on the way to the temple complex written in Telugu language.
Simhachalam locality from hill top
A view of a pond with a hall like structure built in the middle, surrounded by green trees and the hills in the background.
A view of Gangadhara, the temple's tank below the hill. It is also referred to as the Varaha Pushkarini.
A far view of a temple complex with its gate, the sanctum, the gateway towers and a small garden being viewed.
A view of the temple's complex in which the rajagopuram and the vimana can be seen adjacent to each other.
A three-tier pyramid like structure with a golden dome on its top.
The vimana of Simhachalam temple with a gold plated dome featuring a Vaishnavite icon.
A three-tier yellow coloured pyramid like structure with sculptures and carvings to the left and a five tier tower to the right.
The sanctum sanctorum (pidha deula) of Simhachalam in which the temple's deity is housed. The rajagopuram can be seen towards the right.
A man with 16 hands and two cross legs standing inside a circle and holding different weapons with his hands.
A painting of Sudarshana Chakra with 16 hands. He serves as the bali bera (guardian idol) of Varaha Narasimha and forms part of the Baliharana (pacification) ceremony.
The metal idol of a man decorated with jewellery and flower garlands on whose thigh a woman is seated.
Bhaktotsava event of Kalyanotsava is dedicated to Thirumangai ( pictured ), one of the 12 Alvars.
A painting showing a small idol covered with sandalwood paste. Two women are seen standing beside the central figure.
A painting at the Bhadrachalam temple depicting both the original form of the moolavar and the Lingam-like one after applying sandalwood paste.
A man lion kills a demon by ripping his intestines.
A statue of Narasimha killing Hiranyakashipu on the walls of the temple's sanctum. Kalinga-style sculpture.
Five children steal a pot of butter as a woman watches from behind.
A painting depicting one of Krishna's childhood pranks of stealing butter.
A four armed man with weapons rushes to save an elephant from a crocodile as a man-bird watches.
Makaraveta festival, which occurs on a day after Makar Sankranti, celebrates Gajendra Moksha ( pictured ), the legend of Vishnu saving an elephant devoted to him from a crocodile.