Limbadri Gutta Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple Timings, History

Nimbachala or Limbadri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is an ancient and popular temple in Puranipet Village, Bheemgal Mandal, Nizamabad, Telangana State. Nimbachala Narasimha Swamy Temple is a cave temple located on a hill named ‘Nimbachalam’, which means a hill full of Neem trees. The main deity is Lord Narasimha Swamy, an avatar of Sri Vishnu with his consort Sri Maha Lakshmi sitting on his left thigh is accompanied by Naranarayana (Krishna, Arjuna) and Parama Vaishnava Hanuman, Bhagavathothama Garuda and Shri Man Madhwacharya. Bheemgal is 61.3 km from Nizamabad city, 171 km from Hyderabad, 103 km from Siddipet and 92.5 km from Karimnagar.

Nimbachalam is one of the few temples where Nara-Narayana is worshipped, and here, the deities are said to be Swayambhu. Because Badrinath is another place where Nara-Narayana is worshipped, Limbadri is also known as Dakshina Badrinath. Residing in the sanctum sanctorum at Nimbachalam are also Hanuman, Garuda, and a murti of Sri Madhvacarya. Here at Limbadri, Nara-Narayana appears as Krishna and Arjuna, sitting on the left side of Sri Narasimhaswamy.

“That Nara-Narayana Rsi, who is a partial expansion of Krsna, has now appeared in the dynasties of Yadu and Kuru, in the forms of Krsna and Arjuna respectively, to mitigate the burden of the world.”
(Srimad Bhagavatam 4.1.59)

After Sri Krsna departed from this planet, leaving Yudhistira and Arjuna in grief, Krsna is said to have appeared before Yudhistira, saying “Dharmaja! I am not disappearing from this mortal world. I along with Arjuna (with ‘Amsha Bheda’) in the form of Naranarayana will be at Badrinath and Nimbachalam. You go to those places and worship me”.

According to Nimbachala Mahatmayam, by the order of Lord Rama, Anjaneya (Hanuman) underwent tapasya here at Nimbachala. Then, by the order of Sri Laksmi-Narasimhaswamy, he settled at the foot of the hill, on the bank of Chintamani-kunda.

Brahmotsavams in Karthika Masam, Narasimha Jayanti Utsavams in Vaishakha Masam, Pushya Saptahotsavam in Pushya Masam and Vasantotsavam on Phalguna Pournami are the festivals celebrated in Limbadri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple in a grand manner.

Limbadri Gutta Laxmi Narasimha Temple Sthalapurana:

This Sthalapurana, with the name of Shriman Nimbachala Mahatmyam, is in the “Brahma Vyvarthaka Puranam” which is one amongst the “Ashtadasa Puranas”. According to Sthalapurana, this hillock is two yojanas (26 Kmts) away on the south side of Goutami river. This Puranam says that Lord Nrusimha was pleased by the penance of Brahma and Prahlada and upon their prayer, he has conceded their wish to stay back on that sacred hill.

It is the second temple in India after Badrinath where Swayambhu Nara Narayana are worshipped at one place. In order to serve His Holiness, the gods from heaven have taken the shapes of rocks and trees on the hillock. In the early days, this Puranam (sthala Puranam) was told by the great Rishi Sutha to Shounakadi rishis, by Shri Vedavyasa deva to Janamejaya raja, Markandeya to Maharaja Chandragupta, by Vashishtha Mahamuni to Mandhata Maharaja as katha-parampara in detail. The word Nimbachalam is the combination of two Sanskrit words “Nimba” and “Achalam”. “Nimba” literally means “Neem” tree and “Achalam” means “one that does not has movement or life i.e. a hill”. As it was covered by Neem trees it got this name.

Limbadri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple Timings: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Nimbachalam The Tapobhoomi:

1. At the time of wedlock between Shiva and Parvathi, Vidhata Brahma, who performed this ritual happened to see the feet of Parvathi and due to that unholy glance had to lose his Brahma Charya, By this Lord Shiva turned furious and decapitated Brahmas fifth head. In order to get rid of his sinful thought, Brahma performed penance over here. Lord Shiva also performed penance to get rid of the sin of decapitating (Brahma hatya Pataka). With the order of Shri Nrusimha Swamy Lord Shiva took the form of “Jodulingalu” (Dual Phallic) on the hill.
2. The king of Kambhoja province Dharmapala took holy dip in the Chintamani lake, which is on the western side of the hill and performed Tapasya for thirty thousand years for which he was gifted with the Darshan of Shri Nrusimha Swamy.
3. A Brahmin from Kashi, out of his ignorance, had physical interaction with his daughter for which he did penance for twelve years and got relieved of his sin and attained salvation.
4. At the time of Narasimhavatara, Shri Maha Laxmi could not stand in front of Shri Nruhari because of his furious anger and fuming, raging, the stormy roar of Nrusimha. She had to hide in the lotus (Kamalam) for a few moments, due to fear, in the Pushkarini (or temple pond) for which it is named as ‘Kamala Pushkarini’.
5. Prahlada in order to pacify Nrusimha performed Tapasya over the hill, which was serene, and with perfect tranquility. Nrusimha Swamy was gratified with his meditation and accepted to stay back on the hill as per the wish of Prahlada.
6. King of Suras, Devandra, along with his wife Shachi did a pooja of Swamy Varu with ‘Suvarna Pushpalu’ and ‘Aanthana Pushpalu’
   With the order of Vashishtha, Raja Harischandra did penance over here to get rid of the non righteous act of selling his wife and got relieved of his wrong doing.
7. In Tirtha yuga, Sri Rama along with his consort Sita Mata and brother Laxmana visited this temple shrine on his way to South India (Dakshinapatha). With the orders of Shri Rama, Hanuman performed Tapasya and with the command of Shri Varu, he stayed back at the bottom of the hill towards the west.
8. With the direction of Brahma, Yamadharma raja performed Tapasya at the hill and with the orders of Shri Swamy Varu stayed back in the form of ‘Bilwa Vruksham’ or ‘Pathri Vruksham’ because of which in this temple ‘Pathri leaves’ are offered to Shri Swamy Varu which is unique throughout the world as nowhere pathri leaves are offered to Lord Vishnu.
9. The two river goddesses ‘Chintamani’ and ‘Viraja’, with the order of Sri Vishnu, took the shape of lake and river respectively. Chintamani Lake is at the foot of the hill towards the west. Viraja River flows 7km away from the hill shrine. This river is 2 Kmts away from Bheemgal towards the south, flowing from east to west.
10. Once when Bhrugu Maharshi visited Kailasam, he was stopped by Nandi at the entrance due to which Bhrugu got enraged and cursed Nandi to become an animal for his misbehavior. Nandi, in turn, approached Lord Shiva who has asked him to do penance at the bank of a lake situated in Bheemgal, which later on has come to known as Nandi Tataka’
11. After the end of Krishna Avatar, Yudhistira and Arjuna were in grief. Krishna appears in front of Yudhistira and says “Dharmaja! I am not disappearing from this mortal world. I along with Arjuna (with “Amsha Bheda”) in the form of Naranarayana will be at Badrinath and Nimbachalam. You go to those places and worship me”. Saying thus Lord Krishna disappeared. The Almighty is being worshipped by scores of devotees every day.

Limbadri Gutta Laxmi Narasimha Temple Address:

Limbadri Gutta,
Puranipet Village,
Bheemgal Mandal,
Nizamabad District,
Telangana – 503307.