Singirikudi Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Temple

Singarkudi is a famous temple of Lakshmi Narasimha situated between Pondycherry and Cuddalore. The temple is replete with puranic lore. Lets us catch a glimpse of its spiritual history. The presiding deity is Ughra Narasimha with 16 hands. Nimi Chakravarthy belonging to the solar race was endowed with a sharp intellect. A devout person he conducted many yagnas and secured many boons from the Devas. He wanted to perform Indra Yagna for the welfare of mankind. Thus the king approached his guru Vasishta and informed him about the yagna and also requested Vasishta to conduct the yagna. Since Vasishta was reluctant to perform yagna for Indra he expressed his inability to perform but assured that he would visit him the following day.

The king, however, decided to go ahead with the yagna with help of Sage Koushika, After conducting the yagna successfully he wanted to take rest and retired to his palace. He ordered his guards not to allow anyone to visit him. At this juncture, Sage Vasishta wanted to have a Rendez Vous with the king and asked the guards to allow him into the palace. The guards refused permission. Enraged at this act the Sage cursed the king to lose his identity and wander in the atmosphere without a body. The king knew about the Incident and for his part cursed the Sage likewise. The king felt that it is not proper for a Sage to curse anyone while he is asleep. Thus the sage and the king were roaming in the atmosphere without a body aimlessly. All sages assembled and wished to perform a yagna to redeem them of the curse. But the king did not want to assume his normal self instead he wanted to worship God through eyes of mankind.

Sage Vasishta approached his father Brahma and sought his guidance. The four headed Brahma at once asked him to proceed to Singarkudi and do tapas propitiating Narasimha. As suggested by his father the sage went to Singarkudi and attained salvation through penance. The God pleased with his devotion gave darshan to him. This place is called Singarkudi as the presiding deity is Singaperumal or Narasimha. The Lord has 16 hands and defies description. The Lords birth star Swathi is celebrated on a grand scale. This is a prarthana sthala.