Simhachalam Temple

About Simhachalam Temple:

• Simhachalam Temple, originally known as Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, is a Hindu temple located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• It is dedicated to the incarnation (avatar) of Vishnu known as Narasimha
  (the man-lion).
• History:
  • It was constructed in the 11th century by the Gajapati rulers of Odisha.
  • Kulottunga Chola I of Tamilnadu, made endowments to this temple, as evidenced from inscriptions dating back to the year 1087.
  • The Vengi Chalukyas of Andhra Pradesh renovated the original shrine in the 11th century.
  • Much of the structure as it stands today is the result of renovation by Narasimha I, of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in the second quarter of the 13th century CE.
  • Krishna Deva Raya, the Vijayanagar monarch, visited this temple in the year 1516, as seen from inscriptions here. 
• Architecture:
  • The temple’s architecture is a blend of Kalinga and Dravidian styles, with its main sanctum adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures.
  • The presiding deity, Lord Narasimha, is depicted with a human torso and a lion’s face, exuding a sense of divine power and grace.
  • It boasts of a beautiful stone chariot drawn by horses.
  • The Kalyana Mandapa within the temple has 16 pillars with bas reliefs depicting the incarnations of Vishnu. 
  • The outer walls of the sanctum depict images of a royal personality (said to be King Narasimha) in various postures.

Q1: Who was Krishnadevaraya?

The greatest emperor in the Vijayanagar empire’s history was Krishnadevaraya(17 January 1471-17 October 1529). He presided over the Tuluva Dynasty as its third king. By overthrowing the sultans of Bijapur, Golconda, the Bahmani Sultanate, and the Gajapatis of Odisha, he rose to power.

News: Ancient Telugu inscription discovered at Simhachalam temple