Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
The Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Antarvedi, in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh, stands at one of the most sacred spots of the Godavari delta – where the Vasishta Godavari river meets the Bay of Bengal. This meeting of river and sea, the Sagara Sangamam, makes Antarvedi a place of holy bathing as well as worship. The Lord here, seated with Goddess Lakshmi, is lovingly worshipped across the Godavari districts, and his Kalyanam and chariot festival draw lakhs of devotees every year.
Main Deity
The presiding deity is Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, the man-lion form of Lord Vishnu, seated in a peaceful, gracious form with his consort Sri Rajyalakshmi. Unusually, the Lord faces west – according to tradition, he chose to stay here at the request of Sage Vasishta. Antarvedi is also counted among the important Narasimha kshetras of the Telugu lands.
Sthala Puranam
Tradition explains the name Antarvedi – "the inner altar" – by saying that Lord Brahma once performed a great sacrifice here, making the land itself a sacred altar. The temple's main legend involves Sage Vasishta, whose hermitage was on the banks of this river:
- A powerful demon named Raktavilochana had won a boon that every drop of his blood falling on the earth would give rise to a new demon. Urged on by the rivalry between the sages, he attacked Vasishta's hermitage and killed the sage's sons.
- Grieving, Vasishta prayed to Lord Vishnu, who appeared as Narasimha to destroy the demon.
- To stop the demon's blood from touching the earth, Goddess Lakshmi appeared as a divine power riding a horse – Ashwaroodhambika, lovingly called Gurralakka – and ensured that no new demons could be born.
- The place where the demon's blood flowed is remembered as the Raktakulya tank, and devotees still visit it and the shrine of Ashwaroodhambika near the temple.
History and Architecture
Worship at Antarvedi is ancient, and the shrine has been rebuilt more than once over the centuries. The present temple was completed in 1823 by the devotee Kopanathi Krishnamma, as recorded in a stone inscription at the temple. Built in the South Indian (Dravidian) style, it has a tall gateway tower and spacious courtyards, with the sea breeze of the nearby coast sweeping through the complex.
Festivals
- Kalyana Mahotsavam (Magha month, January–February): the main festival. The celestial wedding of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy is performed with great splendour, and lakhs of devotees gather.
- Rathotsavam (on Bhishma Ekadasi, during the Kalyanam festival): the Lord and the Goddess are taken around the village in a tall wooden chariot drawn by devotees chanting "Govinda".
- Magha Pournami: devotees take a holy dip at the Sagara Sangamam.
- Narasimha Jayanthi (April–May), Vaikuntha Ekadasi (December–January), Ratha Saptami and Karthika Pournami are also celebrated.
The Temple Chariot
The temple's old wooden chariot, more than sixty years old, was destroyed in a fire in 2020. A new seven-tier wooden chariot, about 41 feet tall, was built and consecrated, and the Rathotsavam has been held with the new chariot since the 2021 festival.
Temple Timings
- The temple is generally open from morning until midday and again in the evening.
- Timings change during the Kalyanam festival and on special days; please check locally.
How to Reach
By Road: Antarvedi is about 10 km from Sakhinetipalli, about 60 km from Amalapuram and about 100 km from Rajahmundry. APSRTC buses run from Rajahmundry, Amalapuram and Razole. From the West Godavari side, Narasapuram is connected by road via the Chinchinada bridge, and ferries also cross the river at Sakhinetipalli.
By Train: Narasapuram is the nearest railway station; Rajahmundry is the nearest major station.
By Air: the nearest airport is Rajahmundry Airport (RJA), about 100 km away.
Visitor Information
- Dress code: traditional dress is recommended.
- Sagara Sangamam: visit the point where the Vasishta Godavari meets the sea; take care while bathing, as the currents can be strong.
- Nearby places: the Ashwaroodhambika (Gurralakka) shrine, the Raktakulya tank and the Antarvedi lighthouse.
- Konaseema temples: combine your visit with the Vadapalli Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple and the Sri Jaganmohini Kesava Swamy Temple, Ryali.
- Crowds: the Kalyanam and Rathotsavam days are extremely crowded; plan travel and stay in advance.
- Pancharama nearby: the Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Palakollu (Ksheerarama), with its 120-ft Rajagopuram, is a short journey away across the river.
