 |
| Entrance to the temple on the hill. Panakala Narasimha Swamy temple, Mangalagiri, Andhra.image credit:Ramakrishna Ananad |
In India, there are tales of scientific myth, riddles and superstitions, besides temple legends associated with pretty old Hindu temples. Numerous Hindu temples were built based on apparitions experienced either by kings or sages or common people whose devotion to God was exemplary.
 |
| Panakala Narasimha Swamy temple, Mangalagiri, Andhra. murpriya.blogspot.com |
 |
| Panakala Narasimha Swamy temple on the small hill, Mangalagiri, Andhra. www.yatrastotemples.com |
Panakala Narasimha Swamy temple located on an elephant shaped small hill in Mangalagiri town in Guntur district, Andhra State is a popular, but mysterious temple. It is about 16 km from Vijayawada cityand can be accessed by NH 5; Guntur is the other near-by town. At this temple the presiding deity - Lord Vishnu is fond of Panakam (in Tamil & Telugu it means sweet drink; jaggery juice) and is Swayambu - self-manifested. An interesting fact is there is no image of the god in the strict sense, but there is only an opening, presumably a mouth, widely opened to 15 cms. The mouth is covered with metal face of the god. It is indeed a rare image of god in Srikovil or Garbagraha.
 |
| A view of Mangalagiri town from the hill. image credit:Ramakrishna Ananad |
 |
| Panakala Narasimha Swamy temple on the small hill, Mangalagiri, Andhra. image credit:Ramakrishna Ananad |
On my recent visit to this temple, I spent quite a bit of time on the hill. Never had I experienced the menace of flies or other insects; nor did I find any trace of ants that are fond of sugary stuff. As for the highly weathered rocks on the hill, they seem to have been partly metamorphosed, probably caused by a minor volcanic extrusion from the magma chamber. The intrusive features become exposed and form part of the landscape due to continuous process of weathering and erosion through millions of years.
Since a new state capital is coming up about 36 km from here, the state Geological Survey is carrying out detailed study of this strange hill. The strange ritual of directly offering jaggery water to the presiding deity for several centuries and the fact that in the entire hilly area around the temple there are no flies and ants seem to remain as an enigma.
Tit-Bits:
Near the temple town of Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, at Ayyavadi village, there is a temple dedicated to goddess Kali - Pratyangara Devi. On a certain day every month, the pundits conduct special pooja by erecting Yaga gundam with big fire-pit. In the flame, they put as many as 96 items, including bags and bags of dry hot chilies. Strangely, it does not give out any pungent or unbearable odor. Nor does it cause runny rose and red-eyes. The mystery is yet to be solved. Myth and superstition, sometime overtake rationality!
Ref:
http://www.guntur.nic.in/mangalagiri_temple.html#