Namakkal Anjaneyar Temple - Narasimhaswamy Temple

Constructed in the Dravidian style of rock cut architecture, this temple is located exactly in the town and possibly the only sightseeing around. Adhiyamaans of the 7th Century and Madurai Nayaks made huge contributions for the birth of these temples. The legend of the temple is associated with lord Narasimha, one of the incarnations of lord Vishnu. The temple is believed to be built during the 8th century by the Pandya kings. In Krutha Yuga (one of the centuries as per Hindu mythology) the two gatekeepers of paradise were born as cruel Hiranya brothers, because of the curse they had with saints. Younger one Hiranyakshaka was killed by lord Vishnu in one of the incarnations, for his harmful deeds. The elder Hiranyakasipu was so determined and did thapas for so many thousand years. As a result of his tenacity, he got boons from Brahma Deva, that he will never meet the death of human beings, animals, earth and sky, by any instruments in and out of the houses etc.

Since he got the power of remaining immortal, he ordered everyone to accept him as God. Since it was not possible to deem a human towards God, all the holy rituals of the world were stopped. Then, worried Devas and saints with Brahma, prayed lord Vishnu to get relief from Hiranya. Thus happened the incarnation of lord Vishnu as lord Narasimha. In Treta Yuga (next century to Krutha Yuga), the period of Ramayana, lord Hanuman cured the pains of lord Rama and others with Sanjeevi herbs which were brought from the Himalayas by him. Then Hanuman replaced it in the Himalayas. On his return through the Sky, the lord Narasimha deity which he was bringing lost somewhere. In the meantime it was the beginning of the day with sun rise, forcing him to do the daily morning rituals to the sun, that made him to light here. After the rituals were over, he was astonished to see the same lord Narasimha deity was just opposite to him. He was about to start the trip but couldn’t lift it up. He comes to know that lord Narasimha wishes to stay here forever. As lord was here, he wanted to remain there itself. Hence, lord Anjaneya is still standing in the open air, worshipping in front of the Narasimha Swamy temple.