Malyadri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Renigunta International Airport is the nearest airport listed for the temple.

• By train

  Rapur, the nearby town, is a railway junction in Nellore district.

• By road

  The temple is about 26.7 km from Rapur town, in the Penchalakona valley. Penchalakona is about 70 km west of Nellore city.

Rules to know

• Local devotees abstain from non-vegetarian food for 15 days during the Brahmotsavams.

Why devotees come here

The Penusila Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple stands at Penchalakona in Rapur mandal, Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh. Its presiding deity is a self-manifested form of Narasimha. The shrine sits on a hill in the Eastern Ghats, about 70 km west of Nellore city.

The Penusila Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple is among the well-known Narasimha shrines of Andhra Pradesh. Its presiding deity is worshipped as a self-manifested, or swayambhu, form of Narasimha. The shrine is counted among the famed Nava Narasimha Kshetras, and it is the family deity, or Kuladaivam, of thousands of families in SPSR Nellore and neighbouring districts.

Local tradition and the temple's Sthalapurana link the area with the sage Kanva, who is believed to have performed penance here. The shrine stands nearly 3,000 feet up in the Eastern Ghats, beside a serpent-shaped hill formation. Forests, streams and waterfalls surround the temple.

The annual Brahmotsavams are held in Vaisakha and coincide with Narasimha Jayanti. The festivities run for several days, with Dhwajarohanam, Vahana Sevas, Tiruchi Utsavam and Chakra Snanam.

Festivals

• Vaisakha monthBrahmotsavams

  Daily rituals and trikala pujas mark the festival, which begins on Shuddha Ekadashi. The most recent schedule was for April 27 to May 3.

• April 30 in the most recent scheduleNarasimha Jayanti

  The festival ends on this day with the Golden Garuda Seva at 11 a.m.

• May 1 in the most recent scheduleKalyanotsavam and Rathotsavam

  Kalyanotsavam is held in the morning and Rathotsavam in the evening.

Tips for your visit

• Free meals are served under the Nitya Annadanam scheme at the temple.
• Free laddu prasadam is given at key Brahmotsavam events, including Hanumantha Seva, Garuda Seva and Kalyanotsavam.

Questions people ask