Sri Penusila Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple - Penchalakona

Penchala Kona is an ancient and sacred place which is located in Nellore District. This place is dedicated to the Lord Narasimha Swamy. The Lord Maha Vishnu took the form of Narasimha Avatar (Body of Hanuman and head of Lion) to kill the demon Hiranya Kasyapa.

Goddess Chenchu Lakshmi is the consort of Narasimha Swamy. Lord Anjaneya Swamy is Kshetra Palaka of this temple.

SRI PENUSILA LAKSHMI NARASIMHA SWAMY TEMPLE is the name of this temple.  Here Two stones are joined together and twisted to form a top with a lion's head. The name of the Lord is "PENUSILA LAKSHMI NARASIMHA SWAMY" in Telugu because "PENU" indicates twist and "SILA" denotes stone. The temple was constructed in the Vijayanagara architectural style and faces north. This temple's magnificent five-tiered Rajagopuram has five kalas on top of it and is covered in stunning carvings of gods and goddesses. The pillars in Mukhamandapam are exquisitely crafted. Within the temple grounds, in the northeastern part, there is an 80-square-foot square foot Pushkarini.

 

After killing Hiranya Kasipa as Narasimha, Lord Vishnu married Chenchu Lakshmi in Bhairagikona, a place at a short distance from Penusilakonda, and killed the Rakshas who were torturing Rishis. The Lord, Vishnu used to visit the lake every Saturday and as evidence, a Silver Umbrella rose from the Lake. The deity here is very powerful and renowned as the savior of chaste women. Every day Gollaboyadu used to go to the Kona to graze his cattle regularly from Gonupalli. One day Boyadu saw an old man who told him that Penusila Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy established himself in Kona. He asked the voyage to go straight to the village head and inform him of this miracle. He asked Boyadu to instruct the villagers as well. But as inclination pinched him, he turned back to see the old man. To his astonishment, the old man transformed himself into a rock. After some time the village head dreamt of the situation and accepted that the miracle was true. Then, the village head proceeded to build a temple and appointed Archakas to perform Pooja to the Deity regularly.

 

Lord Maha Vishnu manifested as Narasimha Swamy (Human body with Lion’s Head) to kill the demon. Even after killing Hiranyakasyapa, he could not control his anger and he came to the forest. To cool him down, Goddess Lakshmi approached him in the form of a tribal lady named ‘Chenchu Lakshmi’. Chenchu Lakshmi hugged Lord Narasimha Swamy at this place. The word ‘Hug’ means ‘Penu Vesukonuta’ in Telugu. Hence the place got the name ‘Penusila’, which was later on changed to Penchalakona. It is said that the Lord married Chenchu Lakshmi and subsequently manifested himself as a huge rock. This Temple was built in16th century.

Brahmostavams are observed during Vaishaka month for five days

Temple Timings :

04.30 am to 12.30 pm 

3.00 pm to 7.30 pm 

Pooja Schedule

5.00 am – Suprabatham

5.15 am – Gopuja

5.30 am – Abhishekam

6.30 am – Sarva Darshanam

7.30 am – Sahasra Namarchana, Mantra Pushapam, Bala Bhoga Nivedana

8.30 am – Veda Parayanam

10.30 am- Sri Vari Nitya Kalyanotsavam

11.30 am – Maha Nivedana

4.00 pm – Sahasra Namarchana 

 

How to reach the temple :

 

80 km from Nellore.

 

59 km from Venkatagiri Railway Station.

 

27 km from Rapur.

 

Nearest Temples

 

Panchalingalakona Panchalingala Temple - 36km

 

Venkatagiri Sri Kasi Viswanatha Temple – 60 km

 

Vedagiri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple – 70 km.