ensures

narasimha-kavacaṁ vakṣye prahlādenoditaṁ purā |
sarva-rakṣā-karaṁ puṇyaṁ sarvopadrava-nāśanam ||

Located about 1 km from the famous Sriranganatha Temple in Srirangam towards the East, in Trichy, this is believed to be even older than the Sriranganatha Temple. The presiding Deity is Shri Narasimha in this form along with His consort Shri Lakshmi. I was surprised because in so many visits to Srirangam, no one mentioned or suggested this amazing Temple. Everyone asked not to miss, temples like Uchi Pillaiyar Temple (Rockfort Ganapati Temple), Shri Varahi Amman Temple, Vayalur Muruga Temple, Thiruvanaikaval Shri Jambukeshwara Temple and so on. We were blessed to make a Pilgrimage this time after offering our prayers in Shri Ranganatha Temple in June 2023. Thanks to Shri Soumyanarayan ji who insisted we visit this temple. Ever grateful to him for introducing us to this place. It shall remain a must visit place henceforth whenever we are in this part of the world

The Temple

Son of the Chief Priest who conducting the sevas, was kind enough to spend his valuable time with us to explain the Sthala Purana. The day we were in Srirangam was the last day of Vasantotsavam and every Bhattar would be busy for the Ceremonial Procession and yet he spent time explaining about the temple, the Murti and brief History of the place.

Shri Narasimha is seen in the sitting posture with His consort Shri Lakshmi on His left lap. The 8 feet tall Murti is Svayambhu (self manifested) and sits facing the West (facing Sri Namperumal Ranganatha). This temple is Ekantamam Koil referred to temples where there is total calm and peace pervading all over. Shri Singperumal and Shri Lakshmi is believed to grant all boons to a sincere seeker and hence also called Varaprasaadi. The temple was built during the Pandian era by King Vallabadevan (9th Century). Local folklore has some reference that it could be of 5th Century and where it is believed to be even older than the famous Sri Ranganatha Swami Temple.

The Legend

What is now a town, was a dense and dangerous forest thousands of years ago. Srirangam was an island town, surrounded by the two rivers- Kaveri in the South and Kollidam in the North. Due to its inherent divinty, many Rishis inhabited this place despite the dangers of a forest life. Quite often wild animals used to attack both humans and domesticated animals living with Rishis and their families. Rishis despite their powers to reduce any object to ashes believed that their Tapas would become futile due to sins of killing any living being. Moreover it was considered waste of those powers to use it on a lesser cause like this and reserved for larger good of humanity. One of the Rishis then had a vision telling them to take a voew and undergo Tapas to invoke Shri Narasimha (Half Lion-Half Man Avatara of Bhagwan Vishnu, Avatara to kill Hiranayakashipu) to protect them from these wild animals, especially the Elephants who were destructive.

Pleased with the penance, Shri Narasimha along with His Consort Lakshmi appears before them and assures that He will stay here in the forest (Kaadu) and protect them from any dangers. Thus the name Kaattu Azhagiya Singa (Lion) Perumal.

Unlike most other temples, the Utsava Murti (Ceremonial Idols) of the Deities are not kept in this temple since it was in the middle of a forest with very less human and thus considered unsafe for keeping here. It was decided by the Rishis that the same would kept in Shri Ranganatha Temple which had come up by then. They built a special premise Koorathazhvan Sannidhi in the premise and even to this day, the Utsava Murties are kept here

That tradition has come to stay and today one finds the Utsava idol of Lord Narasimha not at the Kaattazhagivya Singa Perumal Koil but at the Srirangam Ranganatha temple and brought to this temple only on special occassions and returned back to its place in Shri Ranganatha temple after the rituals.

Another interesting tradition is Utsava Murti of Shri Ranganatha (Namperumal) being brought to this temple on the evening of every Vijayadashami day in a grand procession on a Palanquin along with a Divine Bow and Arrow. This bow and arrow is believed to have been given to Nam Perumal after 9th day of Navaratri. Once the procession reaches Singaperumal Temple, a Tirumanjanam (Ceremonial Bath is given), Shri Ranganatha uses Ashwa Vahana (Horse) and shoots an arrow to the Shammi/Banni Vruksha (Vanni) signifyin destruction of evil forces and protection of Devotees.

garjantaṁ garjayantam nija-bhuja-patalaṁ sphoṭayantaṁ hatantaṁ
dipyantaṁ tāpayantaṁ divi bhuvi ditijaṁ kṣepayantam kṣipantam |
krandantaṁ roṣayantaṁ diśi diśi satataṁ saṁharantaṁ bharantaṁ
vīkṣantaṁ ghūrṇayantaṁ kara-nikara-śataiḥ divya-siṁhaṁ namāmi ||

Om Shri Lakshmi Narasimhyayi Namaha