Among the several shrines of Lord Laxmi Narasimha Swamy that
flourished on the holy banks of the river Krishna, Vedadri is
an important one. It is situated only 10 km from Chillakallu on the National
Highway No.9 from Vijayawada to Hyderabad.
Here the Lord exists in five different forms known as Pancha
Narashima Moorthy, namely Jwala Narashima on vedasikara of the mountains,
Saligrahma Narashima in the River Krishnaveni, Yogananda Narashima erected by
sage Rishya Sringar, as Lakshmi Narashimar on his own peetam and Veera
Narashimar on garudadri situated at a distance of 5 km from east to
Vedadri.
The temple structure is conventional, being brightly colored
and ornamented with a variety of images. This temple is a testimonial for the
architectural skills of Vishwakarma sculptors. A beautiful form of
Narasimha Swami in yoga pose greets devotees on the outside of the temple. The
Lord is joined by murtis of Lord Varaha, Laksmi devi, Garuda, Hanuman, and
other transcendental personalities and figures. The utsava idols are
extraordinarily high and impressive, and the dwajasthamba of imposing girth and
height. In the waters of the Krishna River, Lord Narasimha can also be found in
Salagram form.
Bramhanda Purana
"Bramhand Purana" says that Somaksura, a demon of
yore, stole the four Vedas from Lord Bramha and hid himself in the Ocean. Lord
Bramha then approached his father Lord Srimannarayana Murthy and prayed for the
restorain of Vedas. Lord Srimannarayana murthy in 'Matsyavathara'(fish) entered
the Ocean, killed the demon somakasura and brought back the Vedas intact. The
Vedas, in human form thanked the lord for his kind gesture in saving them,
prayed to stay with them on their heads. There upon the lord munificiantly
granted their prayer but said that the would do that only after killing another
demon Hiranya kasapa and saving his son prahalda. The Lord also assured the
Vedapurushas that he would stay with them as Panchamurti only. So saying the
Lord bid them till such time to remain in the river krishnaveni as Saligrama
mountain. Lord bid them that krishnaveni also prayed to allow her to worship
him every day and that he granted her the boon. He assured the Vedapurshas that
both the prayers would be granted simultaneously. According to the bid of the
Lord the Veda purashas remind in Krishnaveni as Saligrma mountain.
Later the Lord incarnated himself as 'Narasimha' killed the
mighty demon Hiranya kasapa and served Prahalda and ever since stayed as Jwala
Narasimha on the mountain head at Vedadri in fulfilment of the inclination of
Veda Purushas. Then Lord Bramha requested Jwala Narasimha to stay in Sathya
Loka as Saligrama Narsimha so the Lord went to Sathya Loka as Saligrama
Narasimha at the request of Lord Bramha. But even before Bramha offered his
worship to the Lord in Sathya Loka, the Sathya Loka was consumed in flames.
There upon Lord Bramha personally brought Saligrama Narsimha Murthy to the
river krishnaveni and erected the Saligrama Murti on the Saligram Mountain.
Thus Lord Laxmi Narasimha Swamy the incarnation of Lord Srimannarayana
fulfilled the desires of both Veda Purushas and the river krishnavenim
simultaneously.
Later on, the Lord, at the request of Rishis like Rishya
Srugna and Kings like Mann, stayed in the middle of the mountain as Yogananda
Narasimha Swamy and at the request of the Garudas the Lord stayed as verra
Narasimha and as per the Prayer of Vana Devatha the Lord is prevading the
mountain as Laxmi Narasimha Murthi. Thus this holy place is sanctified by the
presence of all devotes who descended from the heavens to worship the Lord who
enriched the mountain with several holy spirits. The facts were revealed by
Suta Mahamuni to Sownaka and others who acclaimed the efficacy of Vedadri as a
unique deity in the entire world. It is the only place where Pancha Narasimha
Murtis are existing.
The Lord is staying as Jwala Narasimha on Vedasikhara of the
mountain, as Saligram a Narasimha in the river krishnaveni and as Yoganada
Narasimha, having been erected by Saga Rishya Srunga and in his own Peetam as
Laxmi Narasimha Swamy. The Lord Sreemannarayana has incarnated himself as Veera
Narasimha on the Garudadri, situated at a distance of 5 km. east of
Vedadri.
Thus the Lord is existing in the five forms different from
each other called Pancha Narasimha murthis namely (Jwala, Saligrama,
Veera,Yoganandac and Laxmi Nrusimha). This holy shine is called Laxmi
“VEDADRI”.
Several lakhs of devotees visit this holy shrine to seek the
Lords blessings. Nyasa said, that at the beginning of Kallyuga all the rishis
approached him and implored about the evil effects of Kali and prayed for a way
out of it. He was just about to sit for penance after finishing holy dip in
Ganges, grasped the purpose for which the rishis have come to him Vyasa told
them that the people of Kali are singularly fortunate because they need not
perform any situals like Yagnas or deep penances as in other Yugas. He said
that simple chanting of the holy name of the Lord is Sufficient. i. e., mere ‘
Smarana ‘ which bestows salvation.
Kalav Smaranan mukthi. It means in kaliyuga mere smarana is
enough for mukthi. The rishis having got the information from veda vyasa began
searching for a suitable place for their penance and at last they found Vedadri
as the most suitable place, as the Lord is staying there in five forms (Panchamurthi).
Further the rishis while searching, for a suitable place heard recitals in
perfect swaras being emanated from the holy mountain they named as ‘Vedadri’
the mountain of Vedas. The rishis were enchanted by the chanting of Vedas by
the Mountain, especially the same veda (music) the Gandharva Swara and its
varied moorchans. They have been in mensely satisfied by the holy recitals and
have settled there for penance. They took a holy dip in the River Krishnaveni,
had a pradakshan of the mountain and then settled in Penance. During their deep
Penance in their Samadhi., they heard a divine voice saying “Holy rishis this
is Vedadri or Vedagiri where Lord Sreemannarayana has taken the avatara of
Nrusimha Swamy”. After the holy words the rishis discovered a Luminous light
discerning the path upwards the mountain by which the rishis have scaled it and
found Yogananda Nrusimha Swamy in a temple on the top of the mountain. The
rishis, who were overwhelmed with joy, praised the Lord, chanting his holy
name.
Namasthe Narasimhaya Smasaranava Setave I
Namh Kalyana Roopaya Veda Seershyathe Namha II
Then the Lord gave them darshan as Jwala Nrusimha in the
shape of fire, as Saligrama murti in the river, as Yogananda Nrusimha (Laxmi
Nrusimha Murti), as Veera Nrusimha murti in Garudachala. The rishis after
Visiting all the shrines came back to Vedadri and sat for Penance.
This mountain has been enriched in its spiritual splendor
not only by the Pancha Murtis but also due to the Penance of several rishis.
The adage is “Theerthi Kurvanthni Theerthami”. This holy shrine has been
embellished with glory historically also. The boundary walls have been built by
Reddi kings about eight or nine hundred years ago. They have maintained the
holy shrine with all its prettier purity and spiritual splendor.
One of the Poet trinities Yerrapragada and great Kavi
Sarvabhouma Sreenadha hae Visited this shrine. Vaggeya Kara Narayana Teerthulu
worshipped, this Lord four days and worte the Tarangas in praise of Laxmi
Nrusimha, Yerrapragada of the renowned Kavithraya (Trinity ) wrote the stotra
Dandakam enlogising the deity. Kavi Sarvabhowma Sreenadha in his epic ‘ Kasi
Kandam’ referred to this great deity.
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