Azhagiya Singaperumal Temple is a shrine dedicated to the Narasimha Avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Also known as Thiruvelukkai among the Vaishnavites, this temple is located in the ancient town of Kanchipuram, in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Lord Narasimha is housed here as Azhagiya Singar or Azhagiya Singa Perumal, and his consort as Amruthavalli Thayar.
Nara Simha is the unique man-lion incarnation that Lord Vishnu took to destroy the ruthless demon Hiranyakasipu and protect his devotee Prahlada and the world from his atrocities.
But this fierce Lord can be worshipped here in his wonderfully benevolent form as Azhagiya Singar. In this shrine, he is said to have manifested for sage Brihu.
PURANIC SIGNIFICANCE 1:
- As per Hindu legend, once there was an argument between Saraswathi, the consort of Brahma and Lakshmi on superiority.
- They went to Indra, the king of celestial deities. Indra judged Lakshmi as superior and not satisfied with his argument, Saraswathi went to her husband, Brahma.
- He also chose Lakshmi to be the superior one. Saraswathi was unhappy with the decision and decided to stay away from Brahma.
- Brahma did a severe penance praying to Vishnu and did an Aswametha Yagna.
- Saraswathi was still angry that the yagna, which usually is done along with consorts, was done alone by Brahma.
- She tried to disrupt the penance in various ways, but Vishnu interfered in all her attempts. After all the demons were killed by Vishnu, who were sent by Saraswati to destroy the yagna(penance) done by Brahma, she sent Kapalika, a demon.
- Lord Vishnu took the form of Narhari to kill the demon.
- The Lord, in this form, is believed to be housed here.
- It is also said that Saraswati understood her folly, sought Vishnu’s pardon and united again with Brahma.