Located 2 kms West of Thavalai Kuppam off the Pondicherry-Cuddalore National Highway is the Lakshmi Narasimha temple in Singiri Kudi, Abhishekapakkam where Lord Narasimha is seen in an angry sitting posture facing the West towards the other two Narasimha temples at Parikkal and Poovarasankuppam.
This is the only Narasimha temple in Tamil Nadu where he is seen with 16 hands.
Prahalada’s darshan at Singiri Kudi
Subsequent to his visiting Thiru Vahindrapuram Divya Desam for a darshan of Lord Devanathan, Prahalada is believed to have come North to Singiri Kudi to invoke the blessings of Ugra Narasimha.
Nimi Chakravarthy, who belonged to the Surya Dynasty, wanted to perform a Yagna invoking Indra and to gain further powers. Vashishta, the preceptor of the Surya Dynasty, was not too keen on this and backed out citing non availability on that day.
Nimi who had made up his mind to perform the Yagna reached out to Kousika Rishi to be present and lead this yagna. After its completion, Vashista returned only to find Nimi asleep.
Angered that Nimi had gone ahead and performed the Yagna despite him announcing his non availability and also with him not coming out to receive the Sage, Vashista pronounced a curse whereby the body and soul were separated.
On waking up, Nimi expressed unhappiness that his Guru had cursed him while he was asleep.
In an interesting twist, the King, who through his various yagnas had gained powers to curse anyone, cursed his own Guru separating his body and soul as well.
Nimi felt that having separated his soul from the physical body he need not revive his life and he expressed the wish that he should have darshan of the Lord through the devotees.
Vashista on the other hand sought the help of Brahmma to liberate him from the curse. As directed by Brahmma, he undertook penance at the Krishnaranya Kshetram of Singiri Kudi. Pleased with his prayers, Lakshmi and Narasimha provided darshan to him here and liberated him from the curse.
The three Narasimha temples of Parikkal (Near Villupuram off the Trichy National Highway), Poovaran Kuppam ( off the Panruti Highway) and Singiri Kudi are in a straight way from West to East. It is said that it is auspicious to visit all the three temples on the same day.
Quick Facts
Moolavar: Ugra Narasimha West Facing Sitting Posture
Goddess : Kanakavalli Thaayar
Priest : Jayakumar Bhattar @ 0413 2618759
Temple Time: 7am-12 noon and 430pm-9pm
Festivals
Chitrai Vaikasi Brahmotsavam
Chariot Festival on Narasimha Jayanthi
Puratasi Saturdays
How to reach there ?
Take the Pondicherry-Cuddalore bus. Get down at Thavalai Kuppam (10 kms from Pondy)
Auto is also available from here to Singiri Kudi
Source:
http://prtraveller.blogspot.com
