Chandanotsavam: Devotees throng Simhachalam for Appanna’s nijaroopa darshanam

SIMHACHALAM: Lord Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, the presiding deity of Simhachalam temple near Visakhapatnam, appeared in his ‘nijaroopa darshanam’ or original countenance, in the wee hours of Sunday. Devotees thronged the temple in hordes from 3 am to get a glimpse of the Lord’s original look as part of the annual Chandanotsavam.

Devotees consider ‘nijaroopa darshanam’ of the presiding deity as a great blessing. This is the only time when Lord Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy appears in his original look. The Lord’s idol is smeared with sandalwood paste all through the year.

The priests performed the suprabhat seva (early morning service) to the deity Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy in the wee hours of Sunday followed by ‘vishvaksenaradhana’, ‘punyahavachanam’, ‘rutvigvarana’ and panchakalasha vahanam rituals.

Later, the temple priests performed ‘prabhata aradhana’ after removing the sandalwood paste covered on the deity's idol and applied the new sandalwood paste which was prepared last week. The priests gave the first darshanam of the presiding deity’s ‘nijaroopa darshanam’ to the temple trustee Pusalapati Ashok Gajapati Raju and his family members.

On this occasion, Endowment minister Kottu Satyanarayana presented silk robes to the deity on behalf of the State Government while Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Chairman YV Subba Reddy offered silk clothes to Lord Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy on behalf of the TTD.

Meanwhile, Sahasra Ghatabhishekam will be performed at night and the first phase of sandalwood paste is offered to God. With this, Swamy appears to resume his 'nithya roopam'. Sandalwood is offered in four phases during Poornima (full moon) days, including Jyeshta, Ashada and Sravana Poornima.