Shtala Purama

Pushkara Khanda chapter of Padma puranas provides particulars of this temple. Suta Puranika narrated this mahatme on the request of Muni Pungavas.

The land mass offered by king Samudra Raja on the request of Parashurama ranging from the current Gokarna on the North to Kanyakumari on the south, hence known as Parashurama Kshetra.

This place has numerous important Thirta Kshetras and Thirta Sarovaras. Narada Muni visited this place between Seetha river and Kumbha Kashi kshetra where many Koota Muni Pungavas were meditating, after the holy dip in different theerta sarovaras and meditating at thirta kshetras.

During this period an unexpected event occurred at this place. Earth shook and there was deafening sound. All animals were scared and birds circled the sky. There were heavy winds which freightned Munis whoch came to Narada and requested for his protection. Suddenly they over heard Divya Vani with a sermon about Lord Narasimha incarnation.

The Divya Vani informed that an idol of Lord Narasimha, holding Shanka and Chakra in both hands and seated in Yogananda Posture which was worshiped by Brahma and Rudra is sitated between Shanka and Chakra thirta in middle of a Ashwatta (people) tree. This will be installed by Narada Muni. Narada agreed that he had realized the same during his meditation.

They searched and found the statue of Lord Narasimha and prayed to him. Narada then installed the statue of Lord Narasimha in between Shanka and Chakra Theertha. On Narada’s prayer Lord Narasimha appeared and as per his request agreed to be present in this location permanently.

This place in the middle of Koota Kshetra, where Lord Narasimha resides in Saligrama idol is called Saligrama. Devotees will acheive all their desires by worshipping this Saligrama idol ,With holy dip in Chakra Theertha purges devotees of all diseases and fear of enemy. Holy dip in Shanka Theerta clenses devotees from all their sins ,devotee with a holy dip in both theses theerthas and worships Narasimha will attain prosperity.

According to Skanda Purana Sahyadri Kanda, learned Brahmin families under the leadership of Bhattacharya, came to present day Saligrama from Ahichatra on the banks of Godavari river, on the request of King Lokaditya. King Lokaditya wanted to reinstate learned Brahmins in his kindgom for the prosperity of the kingdom. Maha Yagna’s like “Atiratra” were performed by these Brahmins on request of King Lokadithya. Before performence of these yagnas and to avoid obstacles” these learned brahmins prayed to Lord Ganapathi and obtained lords blessings to perform theses Maha Yagnas.

Bhattacharya was delighted to see elephants and lions living together, condition which he had already experienced during his meditation and thus named this place “Nirvairya Sthala” meaning “Enemy less abode”. This is signified by the symbolic representation of elephant in the form of Lord Ganapathi and Lion in the form of Lord Narasimha in this Saligrama temple. The idol is facing west and has chakra in right hand and conch shell in the left hand.

King Lokaditya allocated 14 villages to Brahmins who accompanied Bhattacharya and requested them to stay here and perform yagas and yajnas. While returning back to Ahichatra, Bhattacharya instructed his disciples staying back, to worship Lord Narasimha as both Guru and Lord.

Significance

The Deity of Guru Narasimha is self manifested out of the sacred Saligrama stone. It may be noted that this Deity was never carved by anyone, but is ""Swayambhu"". hence name of this place ""Saligrama"" owns to this legend.

The Deity has Shankha(conch) in one hand with Chakra(disc) in another. It is seated in yogic posture attributing to the name ""Yogananda Guru Narasimha"".

The Deity is seated on Mahaganapati yantra. The reason being of sage, Bhattacharya witnessed in this place lions and elephants lived in harmony which is quite contradictory to their normal behaviour of nature. As a result he named this place as ""Nirvairya sthala"" meaning ""the place of no enemity"".

The Deity faces west with 2 ponds which are located on either sides of his hands namely, the Shanka Teertha and the Chakra Theertha.

There is indentation on the top portion of the Deity. The story behind is that- Earlier the Deity of Guru Narasimha was facing east. Because of the ""Ugra"" nature of Narasimha, the crops in that direction of the eyesight of the Deity was burnt to ashes. An angry Brahmin once struck the Lords idol with plough and hence scar was formed on the Deity. It is deemed that the person who struck the Deity faced set of problems later in his life. Several citations of Shilpa Shastra can obsorved to prove that the Deity was once facing east.