Sholingur Yoga Narasimhaswamy Temple: History, Timings, and Darshan

Known by another name, “Ghatikachalam,” Sholingur is situated on the Chennai-Bangalore Trunk Road. To reach Sholingur, which is around 27 kilometers west of Arkonam, one can board a bus after getting off at Arkonam Junction. Trains carrying passengers also call at Sholingur station. About nine kilometres separate the station and the temple. Buses go directly from Chennai City as well.

Names for this town exist. Some refer to it as ‘Ghatikachalam’. While ‘Achalam’ refers to something immobile, such a hill, ‘Ghatika’ refers to a length of time. It is said that during a Ghatika, Lord in the shape of Narasimha appeared before Prahladha and Saptarishis and bestowed upon them Moksha. As such, this location is called Ghatikachalam.

Another name for this site is “Sholingapuram.”. One of the Chola Kings is reported to have constructed the Sholesvara temple on a natural Sivalingam that he discovered here. This location was hence called Chola Lingapuram, which over time became corrupted to Chola-Singa Puram and then Sholingur. People cite a temple dedicated to Lord Siva in the center of the town as proof. Though extremely old, the town’s main significance comes from the temples of Anjaneya and Narasimha, which have gained greater prominence. As such, the Shiva temple is not as highly respected today. Since Sholingur is one of the 108 Divya desams, the Azhwars have sung in favor of this Lord, and Lord Narasimha is the town’s ruling deity, the name’s origins should be more closely associated with a Vaishnavite heritage. Maybe this area was first known as Chola singa puram, or the city of the Lion God, and over time it became corrupted into Sholingur.

Nothing in the sthalapuranam pertains to this temple. But one learns about the significance of this location and this temple from the pasurams of the Azhwars and from the lives of some of the significant devotees of the Lord.
The Azhwars call the Lord here Akkara Kani (sweet fruit), Mikkan, Thakkan, Pukkan, Ilamkumaran, and other names. The Lord is called Bhakthochithan in Sanskrit; that is, a Lord who, disregarding His own challenges, rushes to save His devotees.

The two hills are visible as soon as one enters the town. The first is called “Peria Malai,” or “Big Hill,” and it is a tall peak where Lord Narasimha lives. Lord Anjaneya is the presiding deity of the other hill, called “Chinnamalai,” or “little hill.” Kondapalayam is the village at the foot of these two hills. Hill is referred to as Konda, and town as Palayam. The mountain climbers start in this village. About 1000 stairs make up the Peria Malai. These are nicely kept and quite nice steps. One Rayoji is credited with building these steps initially.
The peak is a calm, breezy place that is reached via these flights of stone steps. A breath-taking aerial view of the plain region, interspersed with tanks and farmed fields, etc., is available from there.

Sholingur Yoga Narasimhaswamy Temple

According to legend, Lord Indra was irritated and commanded Balarama to push the hill down till it sank to its current height after it had risen out of the plains at Bairesvara’s command. In the area, there are supposedly fourteen sacred peaks. But the holiest is this hill, the residence of Lord Narasimha.

Nothing in the sthalapuranam refers to this temple. But one learns about the significance of this location and this temple from the pasurams of the Azhwars and from the lives of some of the significant devotees of the Lord.
The Azhwars call the Lord here Akkara Kani (sweet fruit), Mikkan, Thakkan, Pukkan, Ilamkumaran, and other names. The Lord is called Bhakthochithan in Sanskrit; that is, a Lord who, disregarding His own challenges, rushes to save His devotees.

One cannot miss the two mountains as soon as one enters the town. The first is called “Peria Malai,” or “Big Hill,” a tall hill where Lord Narasimha lives. Lord Anjaneya is the presiding deity of the other hill, called “Chinnamalai,” or “little hill.” Kondapalayam is the village at the foot of these two hills. Hill is referred to as Konda, and town as Palayam. The mountain climbers start in this village. About 1000 stairs make up the Peria Malai. These are nicely kept and quite nice steps. One Rayoji is credited with building these steps initially.
The peak is a calm, breezy place that is reached via these flights of stone steps. A breath-taking aerial view of the plain region, interspersed with tanks and farmed fields, etc., is available from there.

According to legend, Lord Indra was irritated and commanded Balarama to push the hill down till it sank to its current height after it had risen out of the plains at Bairesvara’s command. In the area, there are supposedly fourteen sacred peaks. But the holiest is this hill, the residence of Lord Narasimha.

People see the Lord as Yoga Narasimha and face east. That group has their own shrine, which is called Amri-tavalli.

The Moolavar figure is very large and is shown in a very calm pose. Thirumangai Azhwar called him “Thakkan,” which may mean the Lord is very patient and kind. The Azhwar was so amazed and happy with this form of the Lord that he called him Akkarakani, which means a very sweet fruit. Thirumanjanam, or “Holy Bath,” is only done for the Moolavar on Fridays and the day of Narasimha Jayanti. The utsavamoorthy of Lord Narasingha is kept in the Perumal Temple in Sholingur town, not on top of the Hil.

Yoga Anjaneya Swamy Temple

Yoga Anjaneya is the main god of Chinnamalai, or the small hill. This hill doesn’t look as fancy as its neighbor, but it has the same good name. The hill is about 200 feet high. The shrine faces west, making it look like Lord Anjaneya is looking at the shrine of Lord Narasimha.People say that there is nowhere else where we can see Lord Anjaneya with four hands holding Lord Narayana’s Sukh (Divine Conch) and Chakra in two hands. Some people think that Veera Anjaneya is seen in this strange form because he is always ready to do what his Lord tells him to do!
There is a claim that Indradyumna was the king of Vadamadurai. He was shooting one day when, all of a sudden, a deer ran across the road. He went after the deer and found a place with lots of other deer. He chased a deer that was tired and looked at the shooter with tears in its eyes because it knew its time had come. At that time, a female deer is said to have begged the king not to kill the deer. This made clear the senseless cruelty that shooting causes and moved hunters to tears. The king chose right away to stop hunting. This same king had previously killed a rakshasa by the name of Kumbhodara.
Lord Indra is said to have given the king his chariot and sword, Vajrayudha, to help him fight the rakshasa. The other gods also gave him all the weapons he asked for. At that point, Lord Narasimha asked Lord Anjaneya, who had four arms, to go help the king. A lot of people think that Anjaneya still helps his followers and gives them darshan in the same way that he helped King Indradyumna.

In Vishnu Sahasranamam, the Lord is said to have great healing power and to be able to heal the mental and physical illnesses of His devotees. In a similar manner, many people who are mentally ill or believed to be under the influence of evil spirits take a bath in the Hanumath teertham, climb the small hill, and enter Lord Anjaneya’s temple. Then they lose control, start to roll around in a crazy way, look messy, and start speaking incoherently. A little holy water is sprinkled on them after an hour or two.Then they fall asleep and lie down. They are completely normal when they wake up after some time. Many smart people still strongly believe in this wonder today. People also think that this place can heal a lot of other illnesses. People who are sick spend some days and nights in town. Every day, they go up the hill to the temple. People say that after a few days, the Lord shows up in their dreams and tells them they can leave because they are fully healed. These are the amazing things that happen when you have faith that isn’t asked for or questioned.

Sholingur Brahma Theertham’s Importance

The Brahma teertham is prominent. People believe that taking a bath in this Teertham on Thursdays is auspicious. Lord Siva is said to have cut off one of Brahma’s five heads. Brahma then came to this spot, dug a pool for himself to bathe in every day, and worshiped Narasimhaswami until the head grew back. That is why it is called Brahma teertham. Hanumanth Teertham is on his way to Lord Anjaneya’s temple. People think that Anjaneya dug this teertham. There are stories behind all of the other teerthams as well. People say that Valmiki Rishi did penance at one of the Teerthams for 87,000 years. After that, Lord Narasimhasami told him to write the Ramayana.

Sholingur Yoga Narasimhaswamy Temple History

The town of Sholingur has made a name for itself in history. Late in the 18th century, in 1781 A.D., the Second Battle of the Carnatic took place in this town. It was a fight between the British, who were ruling India at the time, and Hyder Ali, who was ruling Mysore. Sir Eire Coote was in charge of the English army. An honor stone for the Muslim soldiers who died in this fight can be found near Srinivasa Pushkarini.

People from Sholingur are known for two famous religious people who live there. One was called Erumbi Appa. His teacher, Manavala Rishi, looked up to him a lot. He lived in an area called “Erumbi” that was 2 km from Sholingur. That was his name: Varadachariar. But everyone called him Appa, which means “father.” He was called Erumby Appa, which means “the father who lived in Erumby.” He had a strong devotion to Lord Narasimha. He praised the Lord in Sanskrit poems called slokas. The name for this is Amirtha Palavalli Satakam. Because of the special trust that was set up in memory of Erumbi Appa, Hanumat Jayanthi is still marked with great pomp and show on the day of Pangunı Uthiram.

Dod-dachariar, an ardent devotee, loves this place. That person loved Kanchipuram Lord Varadaraja so much that he would always go to the Garudotsavam of Lord Varadaraja. He was getting old and sick one time, so he couldn’t go to Kanchipuram. Because of this, he was feeling very sad and down, and he kept drawing the Lord sitting on His holy vehicle, Garuda. He was in Sholingur, by the water of Thakkan Kulam. At that point, he sang five slokas that were nice to Lord Varadaraja. It’s called Devaraja Panchakam, and it’s the heartfelt expression of his grief over not being able to see Lord Varadaraja. Because he was divine, the Lord at Kanchi knew this and chose to make him feel better. It was during this parade that the Lord was taken out on the Garuda. He had the people carrying the palanquins stop for a moment at the entrance to the gopuram so that a devotee at Sholingur could see his divine form on the Garuda. Even now, every Garuda-seva day in Kanchi, the Lord stops for a minute near the temple tower so that followers can see Him clearly, even if they are far away. This is done to remember that historical event. There is a small shrine near the Brahma Teertham Tank in Sholingur where Lord Varadaraja can be seen sitting on the holy bird Garuda as proof of this event. The time that the Garudaseva for Lord Varadaraja starts in Kanchi is the same as the time that it starts in Sholingur.