Sri Lakshmi Narasimmar Temple Narasingaparam,Tamil Nadu

Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple is located about 55 km from Chennai and 21 km from Arakkonam, in Narasingapuram, Thiruvallur. The temple is dedicated to Hindu deity Narasimha, who is avatar of Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi. From the days of glory and grandeur that prevailed in South India the temple of Lakhsmi Narasimha at Narasingapuram still boasts the era of Cholas and Vijayanagara Rayas. The Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is situated in the village of Narasingapuram in Thiruvallur district.

History

In the early period of Cholas Saivism took prominence and Vaishnavism was suppressed by it. Even amidst the situation prevailed in South India the temple of Lakshmi Narasimha enjoyed patronage and was well governed. Later at the glorious era of Vijayanagara nayaks where Vaishnavism flourished and given much importance in both politics and as a religion, the Lakhsmi Narasimha temple became important along with Sriperumbudur(Ramanujar Temple) though both are not in 108 Divyadesam. And the temple is also nearer to sriperumbudur. Vijayanagara Nayak Emperors patronised it and gave many villages as charter to the temple’s development and as well as the religion.

The temple, a fine specimen of the Vijayanagar style of architecture with delicately sculpted and carved pillars . Architecture in the temple made one think that it belonged to the Vijayanagar period, there are inscriptions dating back to the reign of Chola kings. Archaeologists consider those inscriptions in the Andal shrine basement as more ancient and belonging to the period of Kulothunga Chozha I and Vikrama Chozha I. They speak about their constructing the Madurantaka Vinnagar temple in Madurantaka Nalloor (the present Madurantakam) and installing the idols of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana in it and the grants made by them for the daily conduct of poojas.