Simhachalam, on a hill near Visakhapatnam, is the abode of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. For most of the year the deity is covered in a thick layer of sandalwood paste and looks like a linga. Only on one day, Vaishakha Shuddha Tadiya, that is Akshaya Tritiya, is the sandal removed for nijaroopa darshanam, the vision of the Lord's true form. This festival is the Chandanotsavam.
Why is the Simhachalam deity unique?
The Lord here combines the Varaha and Narasimha avatars. Traditional descriptions speak of a boar's face, a human body and a lion's tail, standing in tribhanga posture. The Varaha who slew Hiranyaksha and the Narasimha who slew Hiranyakashipu are present in one idol. Devotees call Him Varaha Narasimha and, with affection, Simhadri Appanna.
How is Simhachalam connected to Prahlada?
According to the sthala purana, Hiranyakashipu, unable to turn Prahlada away from Hari, ordered that he be thrown into the sea and a mountain placed over him. Sri Hari rescued him here. Prahlada prayed to see together the Varaha form that killed his uncle Hiranyaksha and the Narasimha form that would end his father, and the Lord appeared as Varaha Narasimha. Prahlada asked Him to stay in that form and, devotees believe, built the first temple.
Pururava and the sandal covering
Over time the temple was neglected and the idol was buried under earth and an anthill. King Pururava of the lunar dynasty, travelling through the sky with Urvashi, was drawn to the hill and discovered the Lord. A divine voice told him to cover the deity with as much sandal paste as the earth removed and to reveal the true form only on Vaishakha Shuddha Tadiya. That instruction is the root of today's Chandanotsavam.
What happens during Chandanotsavam?
On Akshaya Tritiya, in the early hours, priests carefully remove the old sandal coating. Devotees then have nijaroopa darshanam through the day, and later the deity is covered again with freshly ground sandal.
- Grinding the sandal: for days beforehand, temple staff and sevakas grind sandalwood in the traditional way.
- Chandana visarjana: the old paste is removed before dawn on Akshaya Tritiya.
- Nijaroopa darshanam: devotees queue all day to see the true form.
- Chandana samarpana: at night the fresh coating returns the Lord to His usual form.
By temple tradition, sandal is offered again in instalments on the three Pournamis that follow, so the Lord stays covered through the year.
| Occasion | What is done |
|---|---|
| Vaishakha Shuddha Tadiya (Akshaya Tritiya) | Sandal removed, nijaroopa darshanam, first fresh coating |
| Vaishakha Pournami | Sandal offering |
| Jyeshtha Pournami | Sandal offering |
| Ashadha Pournami | Sandal offering |
Why is the Lord covered in sandal?
Narasimha is an ugra (fierce) form. Devotees believe that His fierceness did not subside even after Hiranyakashipu's end, and cooling sandal is offered to calm it. Covered in sandal, He is the gentle, compassionate Appanna. That the festival falls in hot Vaishakha masam fits this idea beautifully.
Akshaya Tritiya means the tithi whose merit never diminishes; dana, japa and darshan on this day are believed to bear lasting fruit. For families of north coastal Andhra, seeing Appanna's true form on this day is a blessing to seek at least once in life, and the sandal prasadam distributed during the festival is carried home and kept reverently in the puja room. Names like Appalanaidu and Appalanarasamma in the region show how close Simhadri Appanna is to local homes.
What else is special at the Simhachalam temple?
- Architecture: the temple reflects the Kalinga style and carries inscriptions of several dynasties; Sri Krishnadevaraya is recorded as having visited and made offerings.
- Kappa Stambham: devotees embrace this pillar while praying for their wishes, especially for children.
- Gangadhara: a sacred stream on the hill whose water is treated as theertham.
- Giri pradakshina: around Ashadha Pournami, thousands of devotees walk around the Simhachalam hill.
Tips for devotees attending Chandanotsavam
- Lakhs of devotees come for nijaroopa darshanam; be ready to wait for hours.
- Vaishakha heat is intense; carry drinking water and take special care of elders and children.
- Get darshan tickets, timings and transport details only from official devasthanam announcements.
- Anyone planning to fast, especially with health conditions, should do so only with a doctor's advice.
- If you cannot go, offer sandal, tulasi and panakam to Narasimha Swamy at home on Akshaya Tritiya.
Key points
- At Simhachalam the Lord is worshipped as Varaha Narasimha, Simhadri Appanna.
- The sthala purana links the temple to Prahlada, who is said to have built the first shrine.
- Pururava rediscovered the idol and covered it with sandal, the origin of Chandanotsavam.
- Nijaroopa darshanam happens only on Akshaya Tritiya; sandal is offered again on three Pournamis.
- Kappa Stambham, Gangadhara and the giri pradakshina are other highlights.