Narasiṃha, the Supreme Deity of Andhra Pradesh: Tradition and Innovation in Hinduism—An Examination of the Temple Myths, Folk Stories, and Popular Culture

Abstract

Narasiṃha is the most popular Vaiṣṇava deity of Andhra Pradesh, with numerous temples found across Andhra Pradesh. Narasiṃha is the only theriomorphic deity to achieve this status, most commonly ascribed to anthropomorphic deities, such as Krishna (Gujarat), Rāma (North India), Murugan (Tamilnadu), and Kāli (Bengal). In order to understand the overall image of Narasiṃha and his rise to supreme status in Andhra Pradesh, I will examine the sthalapurāṇas and folk traditions of Narasiṃha and include a demonstration of how the local traditions inform and interact in the religious experience and practice of society. The article is divided into two sections. The first section examines the sthalapurāṇas (local temple myths) and ritual practices of selected Narasiṃha temples. The discrepancies are highlighted between the classical purāṇa representation of Narasiṃha and the actual cultic praxis in contemporary Andhra Pradesh. The second section analyzes the folk mythology of Narasiṃha to understand the features which establish him as the most popular Vaiṣṇava deity/avatāra of choice in Andhra Pradesh. Considered also are themes of Narasiṃha from popular culture. Apart from shedding light on the Vaiṣṇavism and Narasiṃha, this study contributes to the understanding of popular Hinduism in India.

Notes

NOTES

1. The first is the Venkateśwara temple of Tirupati. Venkateśwara of Tirupati is commonly regarded as the most significant deity of Andhra Pradesh and Tirupati as the most sacred pilgrimage center of South India. However, the popularity of Venkateśwara is localized in Tirupati (see Pidatala, Venkateśwara).

2. Hacker notes two themes in the Narasiṃha mythology. While the incarnation myth is brief, the addition of the Prahlāda myth has resulted in expanding this myth with bhakti theology.

3. I use the terms ‘tradition’ or ‘religion’ in connection with the phenomenon of changes associated with Narasiṃha in Andhra Pradesh studied here.

4. This word literally means ‘hill of the lion spear’. The lion spear is the principal weapon of Murugan/Kārthikeya, a major deity of Śaivism. This name may indicate the Śaiva Vaiṣṇava synthesis noticed in the temples in Ahobilam.

5. Although there are twelve temples here, there are nine forms of Narasiṃha. The Ahobilam sthalapurāṇa mentions these as Jwālā, Ahobala, Mālola, Kroḍha, Karanda, Bhārgava, Yogānanda, Chatravāta, and Pāvana. This list misses Prahlādavaradanarasiṃha (represented in two temples), Guhā Narasiṃha, and Ugra Narasiṃha temples (located in the dense forests).