Sholingur Yoga Narasimha Temple

Getting there

• By train

  The nearest railway station is Banavaram-Sholingapuram, about 13 km away.

• By road

  Government and private buses run to Vellore, Ranipet, Arakkonam and Tiruttani. The town connects to major towns and cities such as Chennai, Vellore, Ranipet and Arakkonam.

Why devotees come here

Sholingur Yoga Narasimha Temple is in Sholingur, Ranipet district, Tamil Nadu. Vishnu is worshipped here as Yoga Narasimha, seated in a yogic posture, and the temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams. Ranipet district lies in the northern part of Tamil Nadu.

The Vishnu temple in Sholingur is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu shrines praised in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham. Here Vishnu is worshipped as Yoga Narasimha, shown seated in a yogic posture in an east-facing shrine. His consort Lakshmi is worshipped here as Thirumamagal. Devotees with mental illness visit, and they believe the presiding deity's grace helps them.

The place was first called Cholasimhapuram, and later it became Sholinghar. Legend says it became Simhapuram after Vishwamitra received his Brahmarishi title here. The temple tank, Brahmatheertham, is linked to Brahma, who is believed to have done penance here after Shiva cut off one of his five heads.

The temple has twin hills. The Yoga Narasimha hill, called Periya malai, is the bigger of the two and 750 ft tall. The temple was consecrated in September 2010. It follows the Tenkalai tradition of worship.

Festivals

• November to DecemberKarthikai festival

  The Karthikai festival is held during these months.

• Chittirai monthBrahmotsavam

  The temple car carrying Narasimhar and Amirtavalli is drawn around the streets of the temple.

Tips for your visit

• The top of the Yoga Narasimha hill is reached by a flight of 1,305 steps.
• The temple has three shrines: Narasimha, Bhaktavatsala Perumal and Hanuman (Anjaneya).

Questions people ask