Mangalgiri Temple

Of the three well known temples of Andhra Pradesh that enshrines Pankala Narasimha, the Mangalgiri Temple is situated at a short distance from the city of Vijayawada. Mangalgiri is divided into two shrines. The one located atop the Mangalgiri hill is dedicated to the worship of Pankala Narasimha. The other shrine is located at the foothills of the Mangalgiri hill and is dedicated to the worship of the consort of Pankala Narasimha, Lakshmi Narasimha.

It is believed that the temple was founded by the epic hero Yuddhisthira. The temple dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi Narasimha has been constructed architecturally to support the 11 storeyed Raja Gopuram that was constructed by the chieftain of the region. The interiors of the temple have inlaid inscriptions that reveal that the famous King of the Vijaynagar Empire, Krishna Deva Raya had visited this temple. The temple tank placed adjacent to the temple is believed to be created by the Gods and is named Lakshmi Pushkarini.

A unique feature of this temple of Pankala Narasimha in Mangalgiri is the magical disappearance of the jaggery solution offered to the shrine. Half the liquid poured into the mouth of the deity is believed to be regurgitated by the shrine. This miraculous act rekindles faith and spiritualism in the tourists who visit the temple.

The Mangalgiri Temple is placed at the summit of the Mangalgiri hill that is shaped in the form of an elephant. Other than the temples in Simhachalam and Ahobilam, the Mangalgiri Temple is one of the only temples dedicated to the worship of the Pankala Narasimha and is one of the primary travel attractions in Vijayawada.