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Antarvedi is 10-km from Narsapur (West
Godavari District) by boat and 24-km from Razole by road. This village is
situated at the confluence of the sea and the Vasishta Godavari, one of
the seven branches of the Godavari. Antarvedi is an important pilgrim
centre in Andhra Pradesh and draws people from distant places. This place
is considered to be very scared, and the place of confluence is called the
"Sapta Sagara Sangam Pradesam". Antarvedi is the last and the
most important of the seven sacred bathing places. On account of the
sanctity attracted to this place it is "Dakshina Kasi".
The Legends
Since Lord Brahma made this place as "Vedic" to perform Rudra
Yaga to get free from his sins it is therefore called Antarvedi.
'Raktavilochana' son of Hiranyakshapu killed one hundred sons of
'Vashista'. Vashista, who was not present at the time of this horror,
could witness the scene with his divine power in Brahmaloka. Vashista
prayed Lord Narasimha to save further destruction in the hands of
Raktavilochana.
Lord Narasimha therefore descended and fought fiercely with the ferocious
demon. Since the demon was granted a boon from Lord Siva, assuring that
the number of sand particles drenched by the drops of his blood take the
form of his body.
Lord Narasimha created 'Maya Shakti', which would prevent the blood of
the demon falling on the ground, and chopped of the hands of
Raktavilochana and ultimately killed him. Joyous Vashista, on an
auspicious day, in the presence of all the gods consecrated the image of
Lord Narasimha at Antervedi and all sang his glory.
As the time passed, Antarvedi became a Jungle, where a cow-heard called "Keshavadas"
used to graze his cattle. On one day he found that one of his cows rained
his milk at an anthill and returned home dry. To worried Keshavadas, Lord
Narasimha appeared in his dream and asked him to construct a temple for
him. The cowherd with the assistance of the villagers constructed a temple
at the anthill. Sri Narendra Lakshmi Narasimha Rao further developed the
temple in 1923 in gratitude of the god in saving his ships from sinking in
the sea.
It is an island temple and one among the thirty-two of the most reputed
Narasimha Kshetras of Andhra Pradesh. The Lakshminarayana Temple at
Antarvedi is dedicated to Lord Narasimha - the half man and the half lion
form of Lord Vishnu. According to the local legend, Lord Narasimha
manifested himself in an anthill. The idol of Lord Narasimha stands
installed in the place where he is supposed to have emerged in the form of
the stone.
There are many other temples over here too like 'Nilakanteswara', 'Sri
Rama, and Anjaneya' etc. This place has glorious past, connected with
several 'August Munies' such as 'Brahma' among celestials, Sri Rama among
the incarnated and Vasishta among Maharshis.
LakshmiNarasimha Swami Kalyanam celebrated on the Bhimsa Ekadasi day during January-February is attended by thousands of pilgrims.
Rail: The nearest railway stations
are at Rajahmundry and
Narsapur.
Road: Antarvedi can be reached by boat from Narsapur, which is
112-km south of Rajahmundry. There are buses from Razole that take
pilgrims to this sacred place.
Devastanam Choultries
Accommodation is also available in the hotels at Narsapur.