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Location:
10-km
From Narsapur, East Godavari District
Presiding
Deity: Lord
Narasimha
Famous
Places: The
Sea, The Sagar Sangam, The Vashista River, The Raktakulya River, And The
Chakra Theertham
Antarvedi is 10-km from Narsapur (West Godavari District) by boat and
24-km from Razole by road. This village is situated at the confluence of
the sea and the Vasishta Godavari, one of the seven branches of the
Godavari. Antarvedi is an important pilgrim centre in Andhra Pradesh and
draws people from distant places. This place is considered to be very
scared, and the place of confluence is called the "Sapta Sagara
Sangam Pradesam". Antarvedi is the last and the most important of
the seven sacred bathing places. On account of the sanctity attracted to
this place it is "Dakshina Kasi".
The Legends
Since Lord Brahma made this place as "Vedic" to perform Rudra
Yaga to get free from his sins it is therefore called Antarvedi. 'Raktavilochana'
son of Hiranyakshapu killed one hundred sons of 'Vashista'. Vashista,
who was not present at the time of this horror, could witness the scene
with his divine power in Brahmaloka. Vashista prayed Lord Narasimha to
save further destruction in the hands of Raktavilochana.
Lord Narasimha therefore descended and fought fiercely with the
ferocious demon. Since the demon was granted a boon from Lord Siva,
assuring that the number of sand particles drenched by the drops of his
blood take the form of his body.
Lord Narasimha created 'Maya Shakti', which would prevent the blood of
the demon falling on the ground, and chopped of the hands of
Raktavilochana and ultimately killed him. Joyous Vashista, on an
auspicious day, in the presence of all the gods consecrated the image of
Lord Narasimha at Antervedi and all sang his glory.
As the time passed, Antarvedi became a Jungle, where a cow-heard called
"Keshavadas" used to graze his cattle. On one day he found
that one of his cows rained his milk at an anthill and returned home
dry. To worried Keshavadas, Lord Narasimha appeared in his dream and
asked him to construct a temple for him. The cowherd with the assistance
of the villagers constructed a temple at the anthill. Sri Narendra
Lakshmi Narasimha Rao further developed the temple in 1923 in gratitude
of the god in saving his ships from sinking in the sea.
It is an island temple and one among the thirty-two of the most reputed
Narasimha Kshetras of Andhra Pradesh. The Lakshminarayana Temple at
Antarvedi is dedicated to Lord Narasimha - the half man and the half
lion form of Lord Vishnu. According to the local legend, Lord Narasimha
manifested himself in an anthill. The idol of Lord Narasimha stands
installed in the place where he is supposed to have emerged in the form
of the stone.
There are many other temples over here too like 'Nilakanteswara', 'Sri
Rama, and Anjaneya' etc. This place has glorious past, connected with
several 'August Munies' such as 'Brahma' among celestials, Sri Rama
among the incarnated and Vasishta among Maharshis.
FESTIVALS
LakshmiNarasimha Swami Kalyanam celebrated on the Bhimsa Ekadasi day
during January-February is attended by thousands of pilgrims.
HOW TO GET THERE
Rail: The nearest railway stations are at Rajahmundry and
Narsapur.
Road: Antarvedi can be reached by boat from Narsapur, which is
112-km south of Rajahmundry. There are buses from Razole that take
pilgrims to this sacred place.
WHERE TO STAY:
Devastanam Choultries
Accommodation is also available in the hotels at Narsapur.
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