Simhachalam Temple

GS1 – Art & Culture

Context:

The ancient Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple located at Simhachalam is facing structural deterioration due to its age.

Location & Deity

• Situated on the Simhachalam Hill Range in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• Dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his Varaha Narasimha (boar-lion) incarnation.

Architectural Style

• A remarkable blend of Kalinga and Chalukya architectural traditions.
• The exact date of origin is not clearly known.

Historical Significance

• Kulottunga Chola I (Tamil Nadu) made endowments to the temple, as per inscriptions from 1087 CE.
• The Vengi Chalukyas carried out major renovations in the 11th century.
• The current structure is largely attributed to Narasimha I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty (13th century CE).
• Krishna Deva Raya, the Vijayanagara king, visited the temple in 1516, as recorded in epigraphs.

Architectural Features

• Square sanctum (garbhagriha) with a tall shikhara (superstructure).
• A front mandapa (porch) with a smaller tower.
• A 16-pillared square mandapa and a covered circumambulatory path (pradakshina patha).
• Exquisite carvings of floral motifs and scenes from the Vishnu Puranas.
• The entire structure is supported by 96 black stone pillars.

Unique Ritual

• The idol is covered with sandalwood paste year-round.
• This covering is removed only once annually during the Chandanotsavam (Chandana Yatra) festival, revealing the original idol for public viewing.