Thirukadigai Divya Desam - Yoga Narasimha Perumal

• Meditation: I meditate on Sri Yoga Narasimhar at Thirukadigai (also known as Ghatikachalam) where Lord Narasimha gave darshan to Prahlada and the Saptarshis for a time period of one Ghatika.

• Thirukadigai Divya Kshetra: Thirukadigai is a Divya Desam whose glory was sung by Peyalvar and Thirumangai Alvar. Thirukadigai is situated around 27 km from the Arakonam junction. The Divya Desam is also known as Ghatikachalam which is derived from Ghatika (a period of time) and Achalam (non-moving signifying mountain). Lord Narasimha gave darshan to Prahlada and the Saptarshis here for a time period of one Ghatika. The place is also known as Sholingur or Sholingar or Sholingapuram. This is said to be a corrupt form of Chola Lingapuram where the Cholas once worshipped a Shiva temple with a natural Shiva Lingam (which till exists now). This is also said to be corrupt form of Chola Singapuram which signifies the worship of Narasimha by the Cholas. There are two hills in the town known as Periya Malai (or Big Hill) and Chinna Malai (or Small Hill). The temple of Lord Narasimha is on the Periya Malai and a temple of Sri Anjaneyar is on the Chinna Malai. This place is associated with two famous devotees, Erumbi Appar and Doddachariar.

• Lord Narasimha giving darshan for one Ghatika: This Divya Desam is also known as Ghatikachalam because Lord Narasimha gave darshan to Prahlada and the Saptarshis here for a time period of one Ghatika.

• Periya Malai and Yoga Narasimha Image: The temple of Lord Narasimha is on the Periya Malai or the Big Hill. It has around 1000 steps. The village in the foothill is known as Kondapalayam. The image of Lord Narasimha here is in the form of Yoga Narasimha in a peaceful pose. The Lord is facing East.

• Veera Anjaneyar facing Lord Narasimha: It is said that on the behest of Lord Narasimha, Sri Anjaneyar helped king Indradyumna during his fight with the demons.

• Chinna Malai and Veera Anjaneyar Image: The temple of Veera Anjaneyar is on the Chinna Malai (or Small Hill). The image of Sri Anjaneyar facing West, faces the image of Lord Narasimha. The image of Veera Anjaneyar has four hands with Sankha (Conch) and Chakra (Discus) on two of his hands.

• Association with Erumbi Appa: Sholingur is associated with devotee Erumbi Appa or Varadachariar (a disciple of Manavala Rishi). He lived in Erumbi, 2 km from Sholingur. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Narasimha and composed Sanskrit slokas on Lord Narasimha known as Amirtha Palavalli Satakam.

• Association with Doddachariar: Sholingur is also associated with devotee Doddachariar who was an ardent devotee of Lord Varadaraja of Kanchipuram. Sri Doddachariar used to visit Kanchipuram from Sholingur every year to attend the Brahmotsavam festival. During his old age when he was unable to do so, one day he was standing on the bank of Thankankulam tank of Sholingur during the Brahmotsavam festival. Lord Varadaraja during the Garudaseva procession, made the priests hold the umbrellas in a slanting position to enable Doddachariar to have the darshan of the Utsavar image from Sholingur.

• Brahmotsavam: During Brahmotsavam of Sri Varadaraja temple of Kanchipuram, the custom of slanting the umbrella is followed even today, to remind the devotees of this incident.

• Thirukadigai is located in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu.

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