Sri Prasanna Venkata Narasimha
Perumal is a
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
temple in
Saidapet
Saidapet, also known as Saidai, is a neighbourhood in Chennai, India, situated in the northern banks of the Adyar River and serves as an entry point to Central Chennai. It is surrounded by West Mambalam in the North, C.I.T Nagar in the North- ...
,
Chennai
Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...
, in the Indian state of
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of India ...
. It is dedicated to
Venkateswara
Venkateswara, also known by various other names, is a form of the Hinduism, Hindu god Vishnu. Venkateswara is the presiding deity of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, located in Tirupati, Sri Balaji District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Etymology ...
, an
incarnation
Incarnation literally means ''embodied in flesh'' or ''taking on flesh''. It refers to the conception and the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form or the appearance of a god as a human. If capitalized, it is the union of divinit ...
of the Hindu deity
Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within t ...
. It was constructed during the 15th century, but, according to historical records and inscriptions found within the temple, may consist of elements dating back more than 1000 years. The temple was constructed during the era when the South India was under the rule of the
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire, also called the Karnata Kingdom, was a Hinduism, Hindu empire based in the region of South India, which consisted the modern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and some parts of Telangana an ...
.
The temple is also known as "Prasanna Venkata Narshimar" due to the visit of Theliyasingher who is kovthugar of the temple.
Hindu Mythology states that Sri Prasanna Venkata Narasimha is
incarnated with his divine consorts
Sridevi
Shree Amma Yanger Ayyappan (13 August 1963 – 24 February 2018), professionally credited with her stage name Sridevi, was an Indian actress who worked in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada language films. Cited as the "First Female ...
and
Bhudevi
Bhumi ( sa, भूमि, Bhūmi), also known as Bhudevi and Vasundhara, is a Hindu goddess who is the personification of the Earth. She is a consort of the god Vishnu. According to Vaishnava tradition, she is the second aspect of Vishnu's consor ...
, facing east, in the Garbha Graha (''
sanctum sanctorum
The Latin phrase ''sanctum sanctorum'' is a translation of the Hebrew term ''קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים'' (Qṓḏeš HaQŏḏāšîm), literally meaning Holy of Holies, which generally refers in Latin texts to the holiest place of th ...
'') of the temple.
Important features
Deities
* The greatest of
Sri Rama's devotees,
Anjaneya
Hanuman (; sa, हनुमान, ), also called Anjaneya (), is a Hindu god and a divine ''vanara'' companion of the god Rama. Hanuman is one of the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He is an ardent devotee of Rama and one ...
is incarnated opposite to Sri Ramar Sannidhi and called Baktha Anjaneyar.
* Senai Mudhalaazhwar (
Vishwaksena
Vishvaksena ()Nayar p. 103 or Vishwaksena, is the commander-in-chief of the army of the Hindu deity Vishnu, additionally serving as a gatekeeper and chamberlain of his celestial abode of Vaikuntha. As the embodiment of the tantras, Vishvaksena is ...
r) The divine commander of the forces of Sri
Mahavishnu
Mahavishnu (Sanskrit: महाविष्णु) is an aspect of Vishnu, the principal deity in Vaishnavism. In his capacity as Mahavishnu, the deity is known as the Supreme Purusha, the absolute protector and sustainer of the universe, th ...
.
*
Nammaazhwar and
Thirumangai Azhwar
The Alvars ( ta, ஆழ்வார், Āḻvār, translit-std=ISO, lit=The Immersed) were the Tamil poet-saints of South India who espoused ''bhakti'' (devotion) to the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu, in their songs of longing, ecstasy, and ...
incarnated in a Sannidhi adjacent to Sri Ramar.
* Sri Ramanujar, Sri Pillai Lokachariyar and Sri Manavaala Maamunigal.
* Also installed nearby is the king of Serpents, Aadhi Sesha, who removes the "Sarpa Dosham" of devotees.
* Sri Alarmelmangai Thaayar Sannidhi, situated on southern side; the installed idol is supposedly obtained from a "Paambu Puttru" as
a Swayambhu Moorthy.
* Sri
Andal
Andal ( ta, ஆண்டாள்), also known as Kothai, Nachiyar, and Godadevi, was the only female Alvar among the twelve Hindu poet-saints of South India. She was posthumously considered an avatar of the goddess Bhudevi. As with the Alv ...
Sannidhi situated on the northern side of Perumal Sannidhi, facing east
*
Pushkarani (Holy Tank) situated near the temple premises
* Unjal
Mandapa
A mandapa or mantapa () is a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture.
Mandapas are described as "open" or "closed" depending on whether they have walls. In temples, ...
m, where Unjal seva of the temple is performed during Brahmohsavam
Vahanas
Vahana
''Vahana'' ( sa, वाहन, or animal vehicle, literally "that which carries, that which pulls") denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical, a particular Hindus, Hindu God is said to use as a vehicle. In this capacity, the vahana ...
s in the temple include:
[All these vahana’s are 300 years old.]
* SuryaPrabhai / ChandraPrabhai
* Hamsam Vahanam
[For these particular vahanas, the eyes are made of Belgium stone to replicate
the exorbitant glory and liveliness.]
* Karpagavriksham
* Garuda Vahanam
[
* Hanumantha Vahanam
* Sesha Vahanam
* Simma Vahanam][
* Pallakku
* Yaali Vahanam][
* Gaja Vahanam
* Thirutther
* Mangala Giri
* Kudhirai Vahanam
* PunniyaKodi Vimanam
]
Utsavams (festivals)
* Maasi Magam - celebrated in Maasi
Maasi is a village in Saaremaa Parish, Saare County, on the eastern part of Saaremaa Island, Estonia. It is located just northwest from Orissaare, the administrative centre of the municipality. Maasi is bordered by Väike väin Straits on its no ...
* Thotta Utsavam: Maasi
* Panguni Uththiram: Panguni
* Sri Rama Navami: Panguni
* Brahmotsavam: Cittirai
* Vasanthotsvam: Vaikāci
* Thiruadippooram: Aadi
Aadi or Aadhi or AADI may refer to:
Calendars
* Aadi, the fourth month of the Tamil calendar. Media Film
* ''Aadi'' (2002 film), a 2002 Telugu film.
* ''Aathi'', a 2006 Tamil film.
* ''Aadi'' (2016 film), a 2016 Bengali film.
* ''Aadhi'', ...
* Pavithrothsavam: Aippasi
* Pagal Pathu and Era Pathu: Mārkaḻi
* Azhwar and Acharyar's Thirunakshattrams
Other observances
On all Fridays, the statue of Sri Alarmelmangai Thaayar is taken for a procession inside the temple premises.
Also Sri Prasanna Venkata Narasimha Perumal and the Alwars and Acharyas are taken in a procession inside the temple on the Thirunakshattras which are special and specific to them.
Once a year, Sri Paarthasaarathy Perumal from Triplicane visits this temple in the month of February, during the Thotta Utsavam festival.
Also Mylapore Sri Aadhi Kesava Perumal visits this temple. During this visit a special Thirumanjam is performed for him.
References
{{Places of worship in Chennai
Hindu temples in Chennai