Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
Sri Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple stands on the sacred hill of Mangalagiri – "the auspicious hill" – in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, between Vijayawada and Guntur. It is one of the most celebrated Narasimha shrines in South India and is counted among the important Narasimha kshetrams of the Telugu lands. The temple is famous above all for its unique offering of panakam, a sweet jaggery drink, poured directly into the mouth of the Lord.
Main Deity and the Panakam Offering
On the hill, Lord Narasimha is worshipped as Sri Panakala Narasimha Swamy. There is no full idol here – the Lord is present as a self-manifested (Swayambhu) open mouth in the rock, covered with a metal face, with the mouth left open.
Devotees offer panakam – water mixed with jaggery and spices – and the priest pours it into the Lord's mouth using a conch. As the panakam is poured, a gurgling sound is heard, as if the Lord were drinking. Remarkably, only about half of each offering is accepted; the rest flows back and is given to the devotee as prasadam. Devotees also marvel that, despite the large quantities of sweet jaggery offered every day, ants and flies are not seen around the shrine. Offering panakam here is believed to bring relief from difficulties and to fulfil sincere wishes.
The Temples at the Foot of the Hill
At the foot of the hill, in Mangalagiri town, stands the temple of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, with its famous Gali Gopuram – a tall, slender gateway tower of eleven storeys, one of the tallest temple towers in Andhra Pradesh. It was built in the early 19th century by Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Naidu. A temple of Goddess Rajya Lakshmi stands at the top of the hill, near the Panakala Swamy shrine. Pilgrims usually climb the steps to the hilltop for the panakam offering and then visit the lower temple.
Sthala Puranam (Legend)
According to tradition, Goddess Lakshmi performed penance on this hill, which is why it is called Mangalagiri – the hill blessed by the auspicious Goddess. The Lord is said to have taken his place here as Narasimha after destroying a demon who troubled the gods and sages. The hill itself is traditionally said to resemble the shape of an elephant, and devotees regard the whole hill as sacred.
It is believed that the hilltop shrine belongs to the gods in the evening and night, so the Panakala Swamy temple on the hill is open to devotees only during the day.
Festivals
- Annual Brahmotsavams (Phalguna, February–March): the grandest festival, celebrated over several days with vahana sevas, the Lord's Kalyanam and a chariot festival.
- Narasimha Jayanti (Vaisakha, April–May): the appearance day of Lord Narasimha, celebrated with special pujas.
- Vaikuntha Ekadasi (December–January): special darshan of the Lord.
Temple Timings
- The hilltop Panakala Swamy shrine is open only from morning until afternoon; it does not open in the evening.
- The lower Lakshmi Narasimha temple is open in the morning and again in the evening. Timings change on festival days, so please check locally before your visit.
How to Reach
By Road: Mangalagiri is on the Vijayawada–Guntur highway, about 12 km from Vijayawada and about 20 km from Guntur. APSRTC buses run very frequently between the two cities and stop at Mangalagiri. A flight of steps and a ghat road lead up the hill to the Panakala Swamy shrine.
By Train: Mangalagiri has its own railway station on the Vijayawada–Guntur line, and Vijayawada Junction is close by.
By Air: the nearest airport is Vijayawada International Airport (VGA), about 30 km away.
Visitor Information
- Dress code: traditional attire is recommended.
- Plan for the morning: visit the hilltop shrine early, since it closes in the afternoon; panakam can be bought on the hill for the offering.
- Climbing: wear comfortable footwear for the steps to the hilltop.
- Shopping: Mangalagiri is also famous for its handloom cotton sarees and fabrics.
- Nearby places: Sri Kanaka Durga Temple (Indrakeeladri), Vijayawada, the Undavalli Caves, Amaravati, and Sri Trikoteswara Swamy Temple, Kotappakonda.
- Also near Vijayawada: the hilltop Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy Vari Devasthanam, Yanamalakuduru, on the banks of the Krishna.
