Narasingam Yoga Narasimha Perumal Temple, Hindu temple with Dravidian architecture in Tamil Nadu, India
The Narasingam Yoga Narasimha Perumal Temple is a Hindu sanctuary displaying characteristic South Indian architectural elements and elaborately carved stonework. The structure features multiple towers and demonstrates traditional construction methods typical of Dravidian temples.
Inscriptions record that Maran Kari, minister of the Pandya king Parantaka Nedunjadaiyan, began building the temple in 770 CE; the work stopped unfinished, and his brother Maran Eyinan completed it and added the Muka Mandapa. Two inscriptions of Srivallabha Pandya (1101–1124 CE) record gifts to the temple, and one from the reign of Sundara Pandya (1216–1238 CE) details his conquest of the Chola country.
The temple's name comes from the Yoga Narasimha form of Vishnu carved into the hill. On Narasimha Jayanthi and on Masi Maham day, when Sri Kalamega Perumal of Thirumohur visits for the Gajendra Moksha festival, the site fills with pilgrims. The utsava icon shows Narasimha standing with the Sudarsana and Panchajanya in his upper hands, a club in the lower left and the right hand raised in blessing.
The temple lies at the foot of Yanaimalai, about 12 km from Madurai near Ya. Othakkadai village on the Madurai–Trichy highway. Buses and minibuses run from Madurai Mattuthavani bus stand. The main icon faces west and the goddess shrine faces south at the entrance; a pond sits in front of the temple.
The utsava icon of Narasimha here is unusual: he stands with the Sudarsana and Panchajanya in his upper hands, the club Gathai in the lower left and the right hand raised in the Abhaya blessing pose. The hill itself holds Jain beds, and the main icon, six feet high, is cut from the rock.
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