Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

Getting there

• By road

  Nira Narsingpur is a village in Indapur taluka of Pune district, Maharashtra. The temple is at the confluence of the Bhima and Nira rivers.

Why devotees come here

The Lakshmi Narasimha Temple stands at the confluence of the Bhima and Nira rivers in Nira Narsingpur, Pune district. It is one of the oldest Hindu temples dedicated to Narasimha, and a number of Marathi families worship here as their family deity. It lies at the south-eastern tip of Pune district, in Indapur taluka.

The temple is dedicated to Narasimha, an avatar of Vishnu. It is the Kuldaiwat, or family deity, for a number of Marathi families of different castes. Legend says the demon prince Prahlada bathed in the Bhima river and made an idol of Narasimha from its sand, then worshipped it. The temple sits at the confluence of the Bhima and Nira rivers.

The current structure was built in 1787 with the help of Sardar Vitthal Shivdev Dani. The ghat at the confluence was completed in 1527. The original idol was replaced by a duplicate out of fear of Aurangzeb.

The temple is built in Peshwa style in black stone. Three main doors face east, north and west. The west door is fortified, like Shaniwar Wada in Pune. Thirty three steps climb from it to the temple. A big bell hangs near that west door, and several small temples stand inside the complex.

Festivals

• Sixth to fourteenth day of VaisakhaVaisakha Navratri

  The biggest festival at the temple. It ends on Narasimha Jayanti, and on the fifteenth day the paduka of Narasimha is taken in procession. Dahi Handi follows the next day.

Tips for your visit

• The western door has thirty three steps leading up to the temple.
• The main temple holds two Narasimha murtis, one made of sand and one of black stone.
• The ghat at the river confluence was completed in 1527.
• A big bell hangs near the west door.
• Several small temples stand inside the complex.

Questions people ask