Simhachalam - Varaha Narasimha Temple

• Meditation: I meditate on the Sri Varaha Narasimha of Simhachalam.

• Simhachalam: Simhachalam is a famous pilgrimage of Sri Varaha Narasimha. Simhachalam is located on a hillock 18 km from Vishakhapatnam.

• Legend: According to legend, demon Hiranyakashipu tried to kill Prahlada by throwing him from the top of the mountain into the sea. It is also said that Hiranyakashipu tried to kill Prahlada by placing the hill over him. Lord Vishnu saved His ardent devotee. Hiranyakashipu was later killed by Lord Vishnu in the fierce form of Narasimha. Prahlada requested the Lord to show him both his Varaha and Narasimha avatara forms and abide in the hill. Lord Vishnu abided there as Varaha Narasimha, the combined forms of Varaha and Narasimha.

• Image covered with sandal-paste: The Lord assumed very fierce forms while killing the demons during both his Varaha and Narasimha incarnations. Therefore the image of Varaha-Narasimha is always covered with sandal paste except for a single day when the original form is revealed to the devotees. The day is the third day of Vaisakha (Akshaya Tritiya) during Apr-May, when the sandal paste is removed in a ritual called Chandana Visarjana.

• Simhachalam Temple is located in the Vishakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh.

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Meditations on Earth, Life and Dharma: >>

Om, May there be Peace in Heaven,
May there be Peace in the Sky,
May there be Peace in the Earth,

(Shanti Mantra of Upanishad)

Preserve Nature,
And Nature will preserve Us,
Simplify Life,
And help Nature thrive,
Plant Trees,
And make our planet Green.

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