Tourism

ANTARVEDI-SRI LAKSHMI NARASIMHA SWAMY

LOCATION:

Antervedi is located 24Kms from Razole by road,10Kms from Narsapur(by boat)in Rajahmundry.Antervedi is famous for the temple of "Sri lakshmi Narasimha swamy" built during the 15th-16th Century AD.

ACCOMODATION:

Devastanam Choultries

Accommodation is also available in the hotels at Narsapur.

ROUTEMAP:

RAIL:The nearest railway station are at Rajahmundry and Narsapur.

ROAD:Antarvedi can be reached by boat from Narsapur, which is 112-km south of Rajahmundry. There are buses from Razole that take pilgrims to this sacred place.

HISTORY:

Since Lord Brahma made this place as "Vedic" to perform Rudra Yaga to get free from his sins it is therefore called Antervedi. Raktavilochana son of Hiranyaksha with the boons granted by Lord Shiva unleashed terror in the region and also killed one hundred sons of Vasista. Vasista who was not present at the time of this horror, could witness the scene with his divine power in Brahmaloka. He therefore prayed Lord Narasimha to save further destruction in the hands of Raktavilochana. Lord Narasimha, therefore decended and fought fiercely with the ferocious demon. Since the demon was granted a boon, assuring that the number of sand particles denched by the drops of his blood take the form of his body, Lord Narasimha created Maya Shakti and chopped of the hands of Raktavilochana and ultimately killed him. Maya Shakti helped Lord Narasimha in preventing the blood of the demon falling on the ground, with the result no further bodies of the demon could be produced. Joyous Vasista, on an auspicious day, in the presence of all the gods consecrated the image of Lord Narasimha at Antervedi and all sang his glory. As the time passed, Antervedi became a Jungle, where a cow-heard called Keshavadas used to graze his cattle. On one day he found that one of his cows rained his milk at an anthill and returned home dry. To worried Keshavadas, Lord Narasimha appeared in his dream and asked him to construct a temple for him. The cow-herd with the assistance of the villagers constructed a temple at the anthill. The temple was further developed in 1923 by Sri Narendra Lakshmi Narasimha Rao in gratitude of the god in saving his ships from sinking in the sea.

FESTIVALS:

"The Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Kalyanam fair is celebrated each year on the Bhishma Ekadasi day during January-February". Lakhs of people attend the celebrations and the devotees come to take bath at the confluence of the sea at Vasishta Godavari. At the time of the nine-day mela, Antarvedi appears to be like a Kaliyuga Vaikuntha.

During the month of November, throngs of devotees come to the temple premises to witness the Deity of Narasimha Swamy without any of the ornaments, garb, or chandanam (sandal paste) that normally adorn the Lord's Form.

In the month of Phalguna (January), the Lord's chariot procession is held. Dolepournami celebrations are also held, when the Lord is worshipped with panchamrita abhishekam.