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The Hindu
8 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Visakhapatnam gears up for ‘Giri Pradakshina'
The district officials are gearing up for the annual 'Giri Pradakshina' festival of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy of Simhachalam scheduled for July 9. The event is expected to draw a massive turnout of around three to four lakh devotees, who will undertake the 32-kilometre pilgrimage on foot. The authorities, who had organised the International Yoga Day (June 21) after a month of tireless efforts and seamless coordination, are once again gearing up to ensure a smooth conduct of the event. District officials, city police, and Simhachalam Devasthanam representatives had organised few meetings several weeks ago to plan the logistics. Given the recent wall collapse at the Devasthanam during the 'Chandanotsavam', officials have decided to take additional care on the safety measures for this event. While monitoring traffic, crowd management and crime prevention will be overseen by the city police, providing essential services such as drinking water, street lighting, and bio-toilets for the devotees is the responsibility of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC). 'A few public representatives had expressed dissatisfaction over last year's arrangements during a council meeting,' a senior GVMC official stated. Areas like night-time worker deployment and better street illumination were flagged for improvement. So yes, the pressure is definitely on, he added. Road conditions, including lighting, drainage, potholes, and other infrastructure, for the 32-km route, spanning Tholi Pavancha, Adavivaram, Mudasarlova, Hanumanthawaka, Appughar Beach, MVP Colony, HB Colony, Seethammadhara, Narasimha Nagar, Port Quarters Road, Madhavadhara, and NAD, needs to be evaluated and addressed before the festival. More than 1,500 police personnel, over 2,000 sanitation workers, and around 1,000 medical staff will be deployed for the event. Additionally, 20 to 30 trained swimmers will be on standby. Coordination among the fire department, RTC, EPDCL, and other agencies is also crucial to ensure the event's success.
The Hindu
14-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Traditional construction techniques to the rescue of Simhachalam Temple
The Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Visakhapatnam's Simhachalam has been drawing devotees from across Andhra and beyond for centuries. Steeped in history and myths, the architectural wonder has stood the test of time and elements, a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the ancient architects who built it. Many of its construction techniques continue to puzzle modern engineers, and this lack of understanding became evident two decades ago when an attempt was made to arrest leaks on the temple roof using cement concrete. When the leaks reappeared, however, the temple management turned to IIT-Tirupati and the Archaeology Department for help. As per their suggestions, a plan was hammered out to repair the roof of the main temple, the old Kalyana Mandapam and the 'Nivedhanasala' using traditional techniques and materials at ₹4 crore. Funds for the work would come from Lord Venkateswara Charitable and Religious Trust of Pune under the donor scheme. On February 11, Executive Officer V. Trinadha Rao and trust representative Vishal Limkar exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to undertake the repairs, and the work, which began in April, is currently under way. According to K. Muniratnam Reddy, Director-Epigraphy, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), scientific repairs can ensure longevity for ancient rock structures. 'We have suggested the use of traditional materials—lime, Arabic tree gum, hirda, jaggery, okra, jute and urad dal,' he added. Muniratnam Reddy was visiting Simhachalam temple to participate in the MoU exchange programme. On the preparation of the traditional mortar, he said that materials like Arabic tree gum, jaggery and jute would be boiled and kept in tanks for about a month and a half. After that, lime and surkhi would be mixed to form a concrete of sorts. Around 80% of the restoration work, being carried out by Uttaradevi Charitable Trust-Pune, has been completed, he added. The main temple has a common roof for both Sri Swamy Varu and Ammavaru. Leaks have developed on the temple beda mandapams on the four sides (north, south, east and west), the Asthana mandapam, Kalyana mandapam, pakasala-1 and pakasala-2 (the lord's kitchen). The common roof is spread over 24,000 according to the temple management. The roof is made of hard black stone slabs, which is not locally available. These slabs are overlaid with brick jelly (second layer), surki lime (third layer) and cement concrete and mortar (fourth layer). Age of the temple Though the exact age of the temple remains unknown, an inscription found at the temple has been dated to 1098-99 CE. It is believed to have been commissioned by Chola Emperor Kulottunga-I, who conquered the Kalinga territories. It could be deducted that the temple must have been a place of importance even at that period. Another inscription shows that a queen of the Velanandu chief Gonka III (1137-56 CE) gilded the idol in gold. The central shrine, the mukhamandapam, the natyamandapam and the enclosing veranda were built in the later half of 13th century using black stone. The temple also has inscriptions commissioned by Vijayanagara Emperor Krishna Devaraya, recounting his successes and narrating how he and his queen presented the lord with a necklace of 991 pearls and other costly gifts. The government epigraphist's lists for 1899 shows that the temple has at least 125 such inscriptions, making it a repository of the the district's history. 'Sthalapurana' Local legend has it that the temple was built by demon king Hiranyakasipu's son Prahlada. Hiranyakasipu and brother Hiranyaksha were mighty demons bent on disturbing world peace. When Lord Vishnu slayed Hiranyaksha by assuming his boar incarnation (Varaha Avatara), Hiranyakasipu swore revenge. He propitiated Lord Brahma and secured a boon that he could not be killed by either animal or a man, neither in the morning nor at night, by any weapons and neither in sky nor on the earth. Much to Hiranyakasipu's chagrin, however, his son Prahlada became a devotee of Lord Vishnu right from his birth. When his attempts to mend the ways of his son failed, Hiranyakasipu asked his servants to throw him into the sea. His servants chose to drop Prahlada at sea near Mount Simhadri, but he was saved by Lord Vishnu. Simhadri is thus the place where the Lord rescued Prahlada. According to the Stalapurana, Prahlada built a temple for the deity. At the end of that life-cycle (Krita yuga), however, the temple was neglected and fell into disrepair. At the beginning of another life-cycle, the temple was discovered by Emperor Pururava of the Lunar Dynasty. He worshipped the deity and rebuilt the temple. Architectural grandeur The temple has a square shrine surmounted by a high tower, a portico in the front with a smaller tower above it, a sixteen-pillar square mandapam (mukhamandapam) facing this and an enclosed veranda, all made of dark granite richly and delicately carved with ornamental floral designs and scenes from Vishnu Puranas. One of the pillars is called the kappa stambham or 'tribute pillar', which devotees believe has the ability to cure diseases. In the veranda is a stone car with stone wheels and prancing stone horses. Outside this inner enclosure, to the north of the temple, is a Natyamandapam, where the Lord's wedding is performed. This is supported by 96 pillars of black stone arranged in sixteen rows of six each. Each pillar is embellished with unique carvings but has the general capital of an inverted lotus. The idol remains covered in sandal paste, which is ritualistically removed once a year (on Akshaya Thritheeya day). Celebrated as Chandanayatra or Chandanotsavam, this occasion gives devotees a glimpse of the idol's true form; it is the most important festival in this temple. The temple is supervised by the family of the Vizianagaram Samsthanam and is being run under their trusteeship. According to their resolutions, necessary activities are taken up for the temple administration. The Commissioner of Endowments is the final authority for all the decisions and rulings on temple maintenance.
The Hindu
31-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Simhachalam ‘Giri Pradakshina' to be held in Vizag on July 9
The annual 'Giri Pradakshina' of the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy will be held at Simhachalam on July 9, temple Executive Officer V. Trinadh Rao announced at a meeting on Friday. He conducted a review meeting to discuss the arrangements to be made for the annual festival, which witnesses the participation of lakhs of devotees from various parts of Andhra Pradesh every year. As a part of the rituals, devotees walk along a 32-km stretch from Tholipavancha at Simhachalam foothills and cover Adavivaram, Hanumanthawaka, Jodugullapalem, MVP Double Road, HB Colony, Seethammadhara, NGGOs Colony, Murali Nagar, Madhavadhara, Gopalapatnam before returning Simhachalam. During the meeting, Mr. Trinadh Rao directed Executive Engineer B. Rambabu to coordinate with various departments, including police, health, fire, APEPDCL, APSRTC, and the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), as well as with various NGOs, to initiate the works. He stated that officials must ensure that all basic amenities are provided to devotees participating in the trek. The temple EO said that the Simhachalam Devasthanam will arrange stalls surrounding the hill for the convenience of devotees. 'The temple officials should take the help of the GVMC to maintain sanitation during teh festival, he said. He stated that another meeting would be conducted soon to discuss the arrangements for teh festival.
Hans India
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Axing posts of negligent officials indicates a serious warning
Visakhapatnam: The decision taken by the state government on Simhachalam wall collapse incident indicates a stern warning against negligent officials irrespective of the positions they hold. A week after the incident that took place at Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple during the 'Chandanotsavam' festival on April 30, the state government suspended seven officials following a preliminary investigation report submitted by a three-member committee constituted to find out facts. The committee, led by Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Suresh Kumar, Elite Anti-Narcotics Group for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) director Ake Ravi Krishna and engineer-in-chief, irrigation department Venkateswara Rao, spoke to the contractors, engineers and officials concerned before submitting the report. The fatal accident that occurred for the first time at Simhachalam where scores of devotees congregated to witness 'nijarupa' darshan of Lord Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy claimed seven lives and injured a few others. Earlier, when such major incidents took place, the action used to be against either mid-level or low-level cadre. But this time, the NDA government took serious action against the Executive Officer of Simhachalam Devasthanam and other officials from endowments and tourism departments. Executive Officer of Simhachalam Devasthanam K Subba Rao, temple executive engineer DG Srinivasa Raju, junior engineer K Babji and APTDC executive engineer K Ramana and assistant engineer P Madan Mohan along with temple deputy executive engineers KSN Murthy and ABVLR Swamy were suspended over the incident. Meanwhile, contractor Lakshmana Rao, who executed the wall construction, was blacklisted and criminal proceedings were initiated along with other two officials. When enquired, the contractor told the committee members that he was in a rush to build the wall before the festival. So far, the three-member committee submitted only a preliminary report to the state government. However, with the committee set to submit a detailed report in a month's time, there is a scope for axing a few more officials' posts. Following the wall collapse mishap, the attention is not just on probing its cause in various angles but also focusing on the works related to endowments plus tourism departments that are in progress at the temple. In the meantime, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation corporator Peethala Murthy Yadav forwarded a letter to Central and state Chief Vigilance Commissioners, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and AP Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh stating that there is an apparent misuse of funds related to the project works taken up as part of the PRASAD scheme. He further mentioned in the letter that the quality of works carried out by the engineers call for a detailed scrutiny as well. In line with the PRASAD scheme, a number of works have been taken up at Simhachalam Devasthanam to the tune of Rs.54 crore. For months, these works are being carried out and are in different stages of completion. As part of it, a queue complex at Utharagoparam, a four-floored commercial-cum-kalyana mandapam complex uphill, among others, were proposed by the Devasthanam officials. Apparently, after the wall collapse incident, what needs a larger attention is not just accelerating the pending works that are in progress but also the quality of works carried out.
New Indian Express
01-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Thousands witness Nijaroopa Darshanam at Simhachalam during Chandanotsavam
VISAKHAPATNAM: The annual Chandanotsavam festival was observed with traditional fervour at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Simhachalam on Wednesday. Celebrated on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, Chandanotsavam is the only day in the year when devotees are allowed to have the Nijaroopa Darshanam of the deity, as the thick layer of sandalwood paste covering the idol is ceremoniously removed. Despite intermittent rainfall, thousands of devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and neighbouring states gathered to witness the Nijaroopa Darshanam, where the deity was presented without the customary layer of sandalwood paste. As per temple tradition, hereditary trustee P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, along with his family, participated in the early morning rituals and offered silk vastrams to the deity. Temple Executive Officer K Subbarao received the trustee's family and extended temple honours. Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad, along with priests from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), also presented silk robes and offered prayers on behalf of the State government. The first darshan was given to the hereditary trustee's family at around 3.30 am, after which general devotees were allowed into the queue lines. Earlier, rituals including Suprabhatam Seva, Viswaksena Puja, Punyavachanam, Ritwikvaranam, Panchakalavahanam, and Chananottaram were conducted from 1 am onwards.
