Presiding deity : Yoga Narasimmhar
Mother Goddess : Narasingavalli Thayar
Antiquity : 1700 years
Place : Yanaimalai Othakadai
District : Madurai
General information:
Yanaimalai Othakadar is 5 kilometers from the Mattuthavani bus stand in Madurai on the Chennai-Madurai route. From here, the devotee may take the mini-bus to the temple. Autos are also available. The temple priest can be contacted on mobile 98420 – 24866
Nearest railway station and the airport – Madurai,
Speciality of the temple:
The presiding deity Yoganarasimmhar with Mahalakshmi appears facing west and Narasingavalli Thayar facing South. There is no flag post in the temple. Flag post is one constructed in temples based on measurements of the vimanam. But as Yanaimali is taller than the Sanctum Sanctorum, Kodimaram-flag post is not constructed in the temple, it is said. This is a Kudavari temple. The Sanctum Sanctorum, Artha Mandap, Installation of Sri Ramanuja and Nammalwar are in the Kudavari model.
Festivals:
The Gajendra Moksha festival (An elephant relieved from the clutches of a Crocodile by Lord Vishnu) is celebrated during Masi Tamil month (February-March) on the Poornima day. The Girivalam is very important in this temple as in Thiruvannamalai. Pradosham also is followed here as in Shiva temples, because this incarnation took place during the new moon period Pradosha day. Yoga Narasimha grants good education to his devotees. No fear of enemies. No fear of death. Narasingavalli Thayar helps avoidance of hurdles in marriage proceedings. An angry husband becomes calm holding his wife in the heart. The Narasimha Pradosha Puja is performed with all devotion.
History:
Those desirous of witnessing a Pradosha Puja in a Vaishnava Temple as in the Shiva temples, should not miss the opportunity in the Othakadai Yoga Narasimha Temple.
Sage Romasa, after a dip in the Chakara Theertha commenced a yaga seeking a boon for a son. He wanted to have the dharsan of the Lord in the same form when he appeared as Narasimha for his devotee Prahlada. Perumal also appeared in the same furious form. The world could not bear the heat that emanated from the Narasimha then. All approached Prahlada to help to calm down the Lord and he came to the place. But he too could not calm down the Lord fully, hence Mahalakshmi came to free the Lord completely from his anger. At the sight of Mahalakshmi, the lord calmed down. He became Yoganarasimha and continues to bless the devotees approaching him.
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