The serene ambience at the centuries-old Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Maha Kshetra at Mattapalli on the banks of the Krishna came alive on Saturday with the celebrations of Sri Mukkur Lakshminarasimhachariar’s 70th birth anniversary. Large number of devotees, including those from United States, Dubai and Australia, participated in the celebrations.
Mukkur Swamy is known for performing over 100 Sri Swathi Narasimha ‘Mahayagnams’ at various Lakshmi Narasimha Kshetras (temples) across the country. Mattapalli Kshetra at Huzurnagar in Nalgonda district is significant as Mukkur Swamy conducted several yagnams here.
Swamiji’s birthday is celebrated on Purvashada Nakshatra of Ashada month every year. The festivities commenced 11 months ago with the recitation of Kanninun Siruthambhu (Divya Prabandham) verses 32,000 times. A team of six Ghanapatis recited the verses from Krishnayajurveda in ‘Ghana’ form for 30 days commencing on June 13 at the temple, says Challapalli Venkata Subrahmanya Ghanapati, who led the team. Coinciding with the completion of the recitation of 32,000 verses on Saturday, 32 Nrusimha stambhas (pillars) with carvings depicting different forms of the Lord will be installed around Sri Mukkur Swamy Yagna Vatika on the temple premises. Each pillar is about eight feet in height and was specially made in Tirupati. Special pujas were performed by M.L. Srinivasan, son of Mukkur Swamy and chairman of Sri Swathi Narasimha Maha Yagna Trust.
