Sri Lakshmi-Narasimha Temple, Dharmapuri

Legend has it that long ago there was a woman named Satyavati whose handsome husband turned into a snake upon curse of a sage. Satyavati visited several temples and holy placed to perform pujas in order to cure the curse of his husband. Finally she reached the Lashminarasimha temple at Dharmapuri, took a dip in the Godavari and worshiped the Lord with immense devotion. Soon after, her husband turned into his original form. While the couple returning home, people thought that she betrayed her husband due to the snake form and married a new one. Satyvati on hearing this, to prove her purity brought four fist full of sand from the bank of the river and threw high into the air and wished the sand to stand still in air, if she is chaste. The sand then formed as a pillar and remained in air. This made people astonished and they immediately expressed their guilty for blaming her.

Satyavati and her husband stayed in the place for the rest of their life on the request of the villagers. After death, a temple was raised in her name around the sand pillar, which can be even seen today. Since then, the town was called as Dharmapuri, as it upheld the Dharma, proven by Satyavati.

In another saying, the one who visits the Dharmapuri temple gets exception from the ‘Yamapuri’, the residence of Yama i.e. Naraka-loka.

The temple was built in 1018 CE under the patronage of Kalayani Chalukyas attested by an inscription found in the temple. The temple received gifts and donations from various rulers, chiefs and military generals.

The temple was razed by army generals of Bahmani Sulthans between 1422-33 CE and the temple was renovated in 17^th century by a local chieftian.

Architecture:

The temple complex consist of the main shrine dedicated to Lord Lakshminarasimha enclosed in a prakara on all four sides. The prakara has two entrance ways in the east wall, one in front of main shrine and other in front of Gopalaswami shrine. Both entrance ways are surmounted by recent built gopuras made of brick and decorated with stucco figures.

The main shrine consist of a garbhagriha, arthamandapa and mukhamandapa. The inner chambers are closed structures with walls on all sides and having only doorway in the east face. The mukhamandapa is a pillared hall (now closed with iron frames on sides).

There are subsidiary shrines dedicated to Venugopala, Sadananda, Venkateswara, Ugra Narasimha and Yoga-narasimha. There are pillared mandapa attached to the chambers of those shrines. There is a mandapa in front of the main shrine having four beautifully carved and ornate pillars.

Art & Sculpture:

The sculptures and carving found in the temple exhibit the skill of the sculptors of the Kalyani Chalukyan period.

The main idol of Lord Narasimha is of life -size depicted in seated pose with legs crossed. Lord is holding Shanka and Chakra in upper arms and lower arms are placed resting on the knees. Beside the Lord, is an idol of Lakshmi devi, his consort depicted with four arms holding lotuses in upper arms. The frames of both idols were incarnate and well-polished.

The four pillar mandapa has most attractive figures carved on the bottom block and upper portions carved with ornate elements and miniature carvings. The figures include the depictions of Vishnu being carried by garuda, Ganesha, Gaja-samhara murti, Vishnu and Trivikrama.

The most celebrated festivals are Nursimha Navarati Ustavam, Mukoti Ekadasi and Dasara. Every year on the day of Kartika-Purnima is celebrated by lightening 5000 deepas in the temple tank to which people attend in huge number.

Annual Brahmostavam is also conducted on grand scale which include the events like Kalyanostavam, Dolostavam and Radhostavam.

6AM-12.30PM, 4.30PM-8PM