Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/Sq92NOVeIuw
Location: "Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Vari Devasthanam, Antervedi Pallipalem, Andhra Pradesh 533252"
Rerference: https://eastgodavari.ap.gov.in/temples/sri-lakshmi-narasimha-swamy-temple-antharvedi/
http://www.inkakinada.com/topstories/antarvedi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi_Narasimha_Temple,_Antarvedi
Antharvedi is located at a distance of 130 Kms from Kakinada, 100
kms from Rajahmundry and 65 Kms from Amalapuram. Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is
situated in temple town named Antarvedi of Sakhinetipalle Mandal,
located in the Konaseema district of the Andhra Pradesh state
in India. The temple is situated at the place where the Bay of Bengal and
Vashista Godavari, a tributary of the Godavari River,
meet. It was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. Few accounts say 1744
AD.
Legend:
Sage Sounaka and his colleagues
gathered in Naimisaranya to conduct Satrayaga. In the their Leisure time, they
used to learn about the distinguished and significant historical India Shrines
from Suta, a quaranic narrator. One day, they asked him to tell about the
greatness and significance of Antarvedi Shrine and of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha.
Suta was pleased to tell the story which was once told by Lord Brahma to Sage
Narada.
Once Narada asked Lord Brahma to tell about the historical back-ground of
the Antarvedi, Lord Brahma spoke as follows.
Sage
Vasista, after mingling the Goutami branch of the Godavari into the Sea,
established his Ashram there. Lord Brahma, to get freed from the sins he had
committed against Lord Sankara, performed Rudrayaga and installed Lord Neela
kantheswara there. As that place was made a stage or “Vedik” to perform the
Yaga, it was named as “ANTARVEDI”. It is the place between the Vasishta river.
After some time, Raktavilochana, the son of Hiranyaksha, did tremendous penance
for ten thousand years on the banks of Vasishta river, to please Lord Siva and
to get his grace. Lord sankara was very much pleased with his penance and
appeared before him.
He
promised to bless him with Whatever he would desire. Raktavilochana asked him
that the number of sand particles drenched by the blood drops falling from his
body on to the ground at war, would produce equal number of Rakshasas as strong
and vigorous as himself after and they would assist him at war and become one
with him after killing all the enemies. Lord Sankara was astonished at the
demon’s uncommon desire, but as per the promise, being impressed of his penance
had concerned to his desire. Then the rakshasas pride know no bounds. He
started harassing the brahmins, the Gods, the saints and the cows and
obstructed Yagas and Vedic-recitals.
Sage
Viswamitra found opportunity to take Vengeance against sage Vasishta and
provoke Rakta-vilochana to kill Vasishta’s hundred sons in his absence. The
Demon did so, causing an irreparable loss to Arundhati and Vasishta. Arundhati,
Vasishta’s wife, wept a lot for the death of her son and prayed to Vasishta who
was then at Brahmaloka. The sage by his divine vision, could come to know of
what all happened at this hermitage. He returned to his ashram and prayed for
Lord Narasmiha’s grace.
“Prahlada
varadam Vishnum Nrusimham Paradivatam. Saranam Sarvalokaanaamaapannaarti
Nivaaranam.”
Then
to save his devotees, Lord Nrusimha along with Goddess Lakshmi, Charioted on
Garuda Vahana and appeared before Vasishta. Vasishta after singing his glory,
appealed about the arrogance of the demon and his cruelty in killing his sons.
He then prayed to the Lord to descend at his ashram, after killing the demon,
so that he would worship him always.
Lord Narahari blow the ‘Panchajanya’ inviting the demon to the war.
Raktavilochana heard the thundering noise of the panchajanya and like a cyclone
enveloped the Lord and engulfed him to fight with him. He shot all types of
weapons at the Lord. Lord Narahari could attack and smash them with his only
weapon the ‘Sudarsana’ the chakrayudh wounded the sensitive parts of the
demon’s body. As a result of which blood-shed took place. The soil particles
drenched by the blood drops falling on to the ground from his body, produced
equal number of demons as strong and vigorous as Raktavilochana. Demons having
been thus generated, began hurting garuda who attached them in such a way that
they could not with stand him. The demon-king saw this and throw his weapons
one after another at Garuda which could not do any thing against him, as Lord
Narahari destroyed them on the way with his Sudarana Chakrayudha.
In
addition to that he created “Maya Sakthi” to manage stopping the fall of blood
drops from Rakta Viliochana body to the ground. At last, after a tough fight
with the demon, Lord Narahari killed by cutting his hand with chakrayudha, with
the same Sudharsana chakra, he killed the demons also. Then the blood stopped
by Maya Sakthi from falling on to the ground, was released by her as a reddish
river, know as the “Raktakulya”. This river can’t be passed over even Bhetala
and the devils. Maya sakti rode a horse, and so called as ‘Aswarudhamba’ or
‘Gurralakka’. The place where the Lord after killing the demons washed his
chakrayudha, become popular as chakrateertham. A dip at the place washed away
all the sins. When the Lord wiped of the troubling demon, Vasishta expressed
his desire of establishing his Holiness at his hermitage. The Lord was pleased
to agree to fulfill his desire. Sage vasishta on an auspicious day, in the
Presence of all Gods and angels with all Vedic formalities, erected Lord
Narahari at Antaravedi all of them said their prayers to the Lord and
sang
his glory. Then the Lord told them about the significant greatness of the
shrine in future. He described Antarvedi in many ways as the easiest means for
achieving the ultimate Mukti. Later on, Suta, at the request of the sages,
explained in detail about the sacred and splendid power of the Lord of
Antarvedi, the affects of doing any harm to it and the remedy for it. He told
them the story of Santhana as an illustration. Once Santhana by mistake lost
his divinity and was cursed as unworthy to ascend the divinity. Indra’s sons
used to take away all flower from a garden cultured by “Ruchi” at Antarvedi
Ruchi
was much worried about this.Lord Narahari appeared to him in dream and advised
him to keep the flowery remnants of worship of the temple around the garden. He
did so on the next day. As usual, Indra’s son descended on to the earth in his
chariot, he could not find them there, as he lost his divinity by passing over
the flowery-remnants. Then his driver told him the cause for it. He at his
master’s request, before returning to the Heaven, also advised him to perform
Mahasatrayaga for twelve years and to eat the food left over after being tasted
by the Brahmins. Indra’s son did so the Brahmins Learned from him about the
purpose of doing so and blessed him. Then he regained his divinity and returned
to the Heaven, ascending his divine chariot. Santhana was adivsed by Narada to
follow Indra’s son also did so at Antarvedi and regained divinity.
For
some time after commencement of Kaliyuga, Antervedi was a Jungle where
kesavadas, a cow-herd used to graze his cows daily. A reddish brown cow of the
herd to go lonely in the jungle and used to shed her milk on the hill behind a
bush. On her returning home, Kesavadas was not given milk by the cow. One day
he watchfully followed that cow and astonished to see the scene that was daily
happening. He could not get sleep that night. At last when he could some how
merge himself in to sleep, Lord Narahari appeared on him in dream and said to
him to build a temple for him there. The next morning kesavadas told this to
the Villagers. A brahmin scholar of the village, who had a sound knowledge of
the sastras, could guess the God appeared to kesavadas in dream to be Lord
Narasimha who was once erected and worshipped.
By the sage vasishta. The Villagers made a survey of the ant-hill area, where
the cow daily used to shed her milk, and dug the area after offering coconuts
to the Lord. They found a stony sculptured form of the Lord Narasimha. They
build a temple there and that place become one of the most popular shrines in
the later ages. The daily rituals and annual fair have been conducted since
then. The village where kesavadas lived is named after him as
‘kesavadasupalem’.
After
sometime the temple was ruined. The sri Narendra Lakshmi Narasimha Rao, wealthy
generous gentleman of that area took initiative in re-erecting the temple. He
donated some money and his men to Bhadrachalam to purchase timber for the
construction of the temple. His men went to Bhadrachalam, selected the logs and
marked them with the Lord’s name paying the money. But there was no conveyance
to convey the timber then to Antarvedi, the water contents in the Godavari
being low because of failure of monsoon. They appealed to Narasimha Rao about
the situation. That gentleman did tapas in devotion of the Lord at the
sea-shore without food continuously for three days, but the Lord didn’t shower
his grace. So he got angry and standing in Sea water said that the Lord was
destitute lion who could not come and see logs of wood even arranged for the
construction of his temple. The same night there was heavy rain which brought
all the logs of wood that were marked with the Lord’s name, to the gantaghat of
Antarvedi. The sri Narasimha Rao ordered that all the wood could reach
Gantaghat in a single leap. Later on, temple was ree rected by the notale
initiative of Sri Narasimha Rao with the Villager’s cooperation. Again all the
rituals were celebrated as usual.
After sometime, the temple was again ruined then some devotees were in plans of
re-constructing the temple. One night Lord narahari appeared to a devotees of
Lord who had two sons Ranganatha and Krishna residing at Bendamurulanka. The
villagers, on hearing the devotees dream, approached a sri Adinarayana and
sought his financial contribution. Adinarayana denied to help them as he was in
a desperate need because of his missing seven of his ships.
Then
his son Ranganatha said to him that some body appeared to him in dream and
asked him to construct a temple as tower and canopy for him.So that they would
be blessed with every you and wealth. Adinarayana was thrilled to hear his sons
words and a canopy spending the whole money present in his seven ships, if they
would be back to shore without any damage by the grace of the Lord on the third
day all the seven ships returned to the shore without any loss. Adinarayana was
pleased to hear the news and executed his oath. He ordered his sailors to get
the required stone equipment for the construction of the temple, the tower and
the canopy. On a auspicious day the foundation stone was laid on a first step
for the reconstruction of the temple in 1923. The reconstruction work that
initiated by Adinarayana, was completed by the combined effort of his sons
Ranganatha and Krishna. This is historically evident from a stone inscription
in the temple even today.
Some
time later once a fisher man was fishing his net in the Raktakulya river. He
found a marble saligrama instead of fish. He carelessly threw it back into the
water and again spread his net. He found the same stone as many times as he was
fishing at different spots in the river he found the same stone coming again to
him. Being afraid of this incident, he angrily dashed it to the ground then
there was a strange continuous blood flow from the stone with surprise and
fear, he prayed the Lord and fell senseless there. The Lord appeared to him in
dream and said that he only appeared in the waters of Raktakulya river as
Kurmavatra in marble and asked him to take him to the temple and install him at
the Abode of Lord Narasimha telling the priests as his works to celebrate the
“Nityabhisheka” formalities to him along with Lord Narasimha there. The
fisherman did so. This stony form Kurma incarnation of the Lord can be seen
available even today at Antarvedi Devasthanam.
Culture and Traditions
There are five
important spots of this Holy shrine namely.
1.
The Sea
2.
The Sagar Sangam
3.
The Vasishta River
4.
The Raktakulya River
5.
The Chakrateertham
It is said that
there will be no re-birth on taking a dip at these places and on offering
charities there. Performing ceremonial formalities to the ancestors at this
holy-shrine is equivalent to these done at Gaya and Ganges. One on nearly
visiting this place, will be blessed from with multitudes. People from distant
place, like Varanasi, also visit this place, especially to participate in Lord
Narasimha’s Chariot procession in the month of Phalguna (January) and
dolepournami celebration in the month of Phalguna (March). Then the lord is
worshipped with panchamrita abhishekam. This shrine blesses the pilgrims with Mukti,
and so it is also called the Mukti Kshetra. Antarvedi is also named after the
Lord as ‘Narasimhakshetra’.
Antarvedi has the
sea in the East and the South the Godavari in the West and the Raktakulya river
the North. It covers a distance of about four square miles. It is in the Razole
Tq. of the East Godavari District. Special conveyance facilities are arranged
for the convenience of the pilgrims coming from distant place to attend the
annual Mela there. At the time of Mela, Antarvedi seems to be kaliyuga
Vaikuntha. The Mela run for about nine days. It is One hundred and eight
shrines of Lord Narasimha.
Antarvedi is said to be the second Varanasi by the grace of the Lord. The
residents of the shrine have a fear of the floods or of the drought. A more
wish to visit this holy place, will bless the devotees with desired results.
Thus the great glory of the shrine is boundless.
Architecture
A typical Dravidian structure with a
main Gopuram and a central Vimana containing the Garbagriha. There are 3 other
smaller gopurams too on the 3 directions. The entire temple is enclosed in a
compound a typical characteristic of Dravidian style of temples.
The temple is called as an island
temple because of its confluence. This temple is among the rarities as the main
Deity i.e. Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy(one of the ten incarnations of Lord
Vishnu) who faces towards West instead of East (usual direction of other
temples in India) constructed between the 15th and 16th centuries. This is 32
kshetra of 108 Narashima kshetrams. It is a temple of 5 storeyed Vimana
Gopuram. As one enters the temple one can Garuda on one side and Bhaktha
Anjaneya on the other side of temple entrance. While approaching "Garbha
Gudi" (Sanctum Sanctorum) one can see an adorable "Vatapatra
Sayi" (Lord Krishna on a palm leaf) on its roof. The idol is made from a
single stone. In the Garbha Gudi, one can have a darshan of the magnificient
Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy with his Consort Goddess Lakshmi Devi on his
lap.
Popular Festivals
·
Kalyanamohasthavams Magh sudda
Sapthami to Magha Bhhula Payamis
·
Sri Swamy Vari Kalyanam (Magha Sudda
Dasami)
·
Rathayatra Magha Sudha Ekadasi
·
Sri Venkateswara Swamy kalyanam, Jasta
Sudha Ekadasi.
·
Sri Narasimha Jayanthi (Vysakha Sudha
Chaturdasi)
Every year on the day before Bhishma
Ekadashi i.e. Dashami, which is observed Magha Shukla Ekadashi (Eleventh Day)
in Magha Masam (February) Lord Sri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Kalyanotsavam
(divine wedding of Lord Sri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy and Goddess Lakshmi
Devi) is celebrated with much enthusiasm. On the Bhishma Ekadashi, the Rath
Yatra is celebrated. Devotees in huge number attend to watch the Celestial
Wedding and take holy dip at the sangamam (Saptha Sagara Sangamam).During the
month of November, throngs of devotees come to the temple premises to witness
the Deity of Narasimha Swamy without any of the ornaments, garb, or chandanam
(sandal paste) that normally adorn the Lord's Form. In the month of Phalguna
(January), the Lord's chariot procession is held. Dole pournami celebrations
are also held, when the Lord is worshipped with panchamrita abhishekam. Sri
Venkateswara Swamy kalyanam, (Jyeshta Sudha Ekadasi)., Sri Narasimha Jayanthi
(Vysakha Sudha Chaturdasi) are the other festivals celebrated here.
For tourists as well as pilgrims one
can hire ferries(boats) which are available to visit the small island that is
on the other side of the river and also to the point where the river and the
ocean actually meet. On off seasons, one avail the ferry service for a nominal
fee whereas in the peak seasons the fee rises alarmingly. The cost varies
depends on the number of people. If limited a number of people are willing to
visit the island, a nominal amount of INR 350 will be charged. If a more number
of people are available, INR 50 will be charged for each person.
Parking and Photography
Dedicated Parking available and I did
not find any restriction on photography too.
Antharvedi Beach is near, drone can be
used from there.
Few more important informations:
Route and Stay
For good hotels, Amalapuram or
Palakollu can be destinations. We stayed in Palakollu and covered few
destinations from there. Here is the route we followed for Antharvedi:
