Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Kutumbam

Yagna Narasimha

Narasimha Temple, Puri

Narasimha Temple’ is situated in Puri, to the western side of Gundicha Temple and to the east of the Indradyumna pokhari.

Uniqueness

The temple is located just behind the Gundicha temple. puri narasimha

There are two deities of Lord Narasimha one behind the other.
It is an ancient temple, where Lord Narasimha manifested here before Lord Jagannatha and His temple.
Shantha Narasimha (peaceful) is in the front. Shantha Narasimha has human-like features: a sharp nose, curvy moustache and an outstretched tongue. By seeing Shantha Narasimha one will feel cool and relaxed; all anger, anxiety and frustration will vanish. Once a marauder named Kalapahad ransacked Puri and broke many Deities. Upon seeing Shantha Narasimha, his anger subsided and he did not touch the Deity. He saw Shanta Narasimha image and his anger subsided, hence he could not break the Deity as he had planned.
Deity behind is Ugra Narasimhadeva. He is in the angry mood of Narasimha, which is not usually seen and may be seen only with the help of the pujari’s lamp.

Detailed History:

In Puri town, to the western side of Gundicha temple and to the east of the sacred Indradyumna tank there is a temple known as the Yagna Narasimha temple. Devotees can approach the temple on the right side of the road leading from Gundicha temple towards matiapara sqaure. The temple is facing towards west and the height of the temple is about 60ft. Local people also called this temple as Nrusingha Temple and NrusimhaTemple.
The presiding deity is Lord Narasimha. There are two images of Lord Narasimha inside the temple, onebehind the other. The image in front is called Santa Narasimha. In local language ‘Santa’ means ‘Calm’ or ‘Sober’. Anyone who sees this image of Lord Narasimha will have his anger, frustration, and anxiety will vanish.
The Deity in the back is called Ugra Narasimha. In local language ‘Ugra’ means ‘Angry’. He is the internal mood of Narasimha. , Narasimha’s features are humanlike.
He has a sharp human nose, a large curly mustache, and an outstretched tongue. NonHindus are not permitted in the temple, but the Deities are visible from the door.

Sthala Purana:

There is a story behind the name of the temple as ‘Yagna Narasimha’. As depicted in the purana once KingIndradyumna stayed near Nilakantheswar temple to make arrangements to perform Aswamedha Yagna
(Horse sacrifice) for one thousand years. On the advice of Sage Narada, King Indradyumna made a Nrusimhaimage out of black stone and placed the image under black sandal wood tree and worshipped Him. It is believed that in front of this temple the Aswamedha Yagna took place and hence He known as ‘Yagna
Narasimha’. Devotees will earn more punya if they make a darsana of Sri Nilakantheswar, Yagna Narasimha and Panchamukhi Hanuman (Lord Hanuman image with five faced) after the sacred bath in Indradyumna
Festivals like Narasimha Janma, Satapuri Amavasya etc are observed in Nrusingha temple with great devotion.

Map:

Address: Puri, Odisha 752002

Divya Kshetra

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