|
|
At Akiripalli, near
Vijayawada there is a temple on
top of a hill dedicated to Vyaghra Narasimha, called "Sobhanachala
Swami". There is also a Shiva temple called 'Malleswaraswami temple'
on the hill. Lord Vishnu as Vyaghra Narasimha is said to have incarnated
in a cave on top of the hill here.
A Place Of Temples
This place also has temples of the Goddess 'Rajyalakshmi' and temples
dedicated to all the 'Alwars' or the Vaishnavite devotees. This place has
gained importance on account of the adjacent hill called "Sobhanadri"
or Sobhanachala, which presents picturesque scenery.
The Legend
A king called Subhavratha meditated upon Lord Vishnu for a long time, and
was carrying on his austerities with great perseverance. Lord Vishnu,
pleased with his penance, appeared before him, and granted him a boon.
Subhavratha requested the Lord Vishnu to incarnate in him, with the
Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi. Lord Vishnu instructed him that he should do
penance for Lord Siva also.
The king conducted severe penance for both the Lords 'Hari' and 'Hara'.
The king turned to a hill at the end of the penance and the hill came to
be known as Sobhanadri or Sobhanagiri. To keep the promise made to King
Subhavratha Lord Shiva and 'Keshava' took their permanent residences at
the top of the Sobhanadri.
The huge tank in the temple called "Varahapushkarini",
stretching to almost a hundred acres, is said to have been dug by Lord
Vishnu in his incarnation as a boar ('Varaha'). The temple has got a
temple car, which is dragged every year on 'Rathasaptami' day. It has a
'Pushpavanam' of seven acres extent from which flower is taken for the
worship of the Lord.
Road: To get to Akiripalli, one can take a bus from Vijayawada.
There are public choultries at the
Akiripalli that provide convenient accommodation for pilgrims.