Matsyavatara

[Guest guest]

om namo naaraayanaaya

 

Namaste friends,

 

Today I had the good fortune to visit a rare temple of Lord Vishnu in

Matsyavatara, and just felt like sharing the details with you.

 

Nagalapuram village, about 60 kms from Tirupati, boasts of this temple, which

was built by Sri Krishnadevaraya. The sthalapuranam of the temple narrates

that the demon Somakasura stole the Vedas and hid them in the depths of the

ocean. Then Sri Narayana took the form of the Great Fish and killed the demon

and rescued the Vedas, and the same were duly restored to Brahma Deva. The

Sthalapurana says that the present Nagalapuram is none other than Vedapuri,

where the restoration took place, and the Lord here goes by the name Veda

Narayana Swamy. I don’t know of any other place where a form of Matsyavatara is

worshipped.

 

Another interesting point about the “swayambhu” idol of Veda Narayana Swamy is

that the sudarsana chakra held by the Lord with his right hand is called

“prayoga chakra”. The chakram is not horizontal, it is linear but its face is

not fully visible. Only one side of the chakra is seen and the priest explained

that this particular stance symbolizes the chakra which is ready to be unleashed

any moment on the dark elements, so that dharma could be upheld. I also had

great pleasure in bowing my head in reverence before the idols of Lord

Hayagreeva and Dakshinamurthy (dressed in yellow clothes), the Gurus of the

universe. The fact that I could go to such a temple on a Thursday only deepened

my pleasure.

 

Talking about the “dark elements” reminds me of another interesting

architectural feature of the temple. On March 26th every year, the rays of the

setting sun (temple faces West) touch the feet of the Lord, on 27th they move

to the naabhi, and on 28th they touch the head of the Lord. Like in all Surya

temples at Konark and Arasavelli?

 

Again I am reminded of the inevitable link between Surya and the Vedas and of

Matsya Narayana -Ketu the mokshakaraka - opposing west (7th house / maraka

sthana), who alone can show the way out of the fathomless depths of “samsaara

saagaram”.

 

Thanks for bearing with me and btw, does any one know of a temple for Lord Parasurama?

 

Regards,

Lakshmi