Srila Prabhupada’s journey:

On 27th December 1930, Srila Prabhupada caught the Madras Mail (now Chennai Mail) from Kurma-kshetra. He reached Waltair via Chicacole. From there he reached Simhachalam by motor-bus. The distance from Chicacole to Waltair station is about 100 km by train. That is why Srila Prabhupada installed the footprint of Lord Chaitanya at Simhachalam on the same day i.e. 27th December.

Geographical Location of Simhachalam:-

In South India, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, there is a prosperous city called “Visakhapatnam” on the east coast of the sea. At one end of this city there is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Nrisimha called “Simhachalam”. The field is only 4 km from the Simhachalam station on the South Eastern Railway. But usually long-distance trains do not stop at this station. So one has to go to this place from Visakhapatnam station. From there after about a 16 km bus journey one can reach “Simhachalam” or ‘Simhachalam temple’. The temple of Lord Sri Nrisimha is located on top of the mountain called “Simhadri” or “Simhachala”, also known as “Jiyar Nrsimha”. There is a good bus system to go there. Again there are about 1100 steps of beautifully built stairs for pilgrims.

Ascension at Simhachalam mountain and visiting the temple:-

Srila Prabhupada ascended mount Simhachalam sitting on the palanquin and all the associates on foot. Everybody chanted the victory sound in the name of Guru & Gauranga and did sankirtana. Reaching at the top of the mountain, all the associates performed the circumambulation while loudly chanting the verse “ito nrisimha parato Nrisimha yato yato yami tato nrisimha” with khola and cymbals as per the will of Srila Prabhupada. This temple has a very beautiful ancient architecture.

Srila Prabhupada’s entry in the main temple:-

Following Srila Prabhupada, all the Vaishnavas entered the main temple and prostrated while singing the “nrsimha stava”. The first sight upon entering the temple was the functional deity i.e. festival deity of Sri Nrsimhadeva: “Sri Govindaraja Jiu” with His consorts “Sri” and “Bhu”. Following Srila Prabhupada, everyone went in front of that vijaya vigraha and bowed to Him. Then everyone performed parikrama and offered obeisances again. Then everyone followed Srila Prabhupada and finally came before the main deity of Sri Nrsimhadeva. The priest honoured Srila Prabhupada with garlands of roses and tulsi leaves, which was offered to Sri Nrsimhadeva earlier. Here too, all the vaishnavas followed Srila Prabhupada and  offered obeisances to Sri Nrsimhadeva, had charanamrita and accepted the mercy by touching the paduka of the Lord at head.

Description of the deities present in the temple:-

Inside the temple, Sri Nrsimhadeva is enthroned facing west. His entire body is covered with sandal paste and He looks exactly like a Shiva Linga. This sandalwood coating is removed only once a year for one day during the “Akshaya Tritiya” of Vaishakha month. For that day, Sri Nrisimhadeva mercifully gives His darshan to all throughout the day. From the next day the His body is covered again for one year with sandal pulp. This is because by the will of Lord Sri Nrsimhadeva Himself. His body has been covered with sandal wood pulp since ancient times. Only on the prayer of king Pururava, Lord Nrisimhadeva ordered to keep His deity open for the darshan of the devotees on the day of Chandana yatra or Akshaya Tritiya. The local devotees call this Nrsimhadeva as Sri “Varaha-Narasimha” or Sri Simhachala Varaha-Lakshmi-Narasimha Swami” (a combined form of Lord Varaha & Lord Nrisimha). An image similar to the main deity is carved on the wall on one side of the stairs at the foot of a mountain. Here Sri Nrisimhadeva is in His two handed form and facing west. In a small room on the south side outside the chamber of Sri Narasimha Deva, there is a deity of Alavara Godadevi facing north. A little in front of Nrsimhadeva, in a chamber on the left side, there are the deities of the associates of Lord Vishnu like Visvak-sena, four handed Sri Lakshmi Devi.

Installation of Sri Chaitanya footprint by Srila Prabhupada:-

Srila Prabhupada returned to the Sri Caitanya footprint temple after visiting Sri Nrisimha deva’s temple. He arranged the masons to place the large stone on which Chaitanya’s footprints were carved. After some time, when the tulsi, sandalwood pulp, water and fruits were collected, Srila Prabhupada worshipped the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya along while singing the pancha-tattva and mahamantra. Then the other sannyasis and devotees worshipped the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

The history of appearance of Lord Nrisimha at this place:-

When the demonic king Hiranya-kashipu could not kill Prahlada in any way, he finally ordered his demonic officials to throw Prahlada into the sea full of crocodile and makara (ferocious aquatic animal) and put a huge mountain load on him; so that he could not return to the demon kingdom. The demons did so. But the ocean made the place empty of water and kept the mountain floating in the water when he found Prahlada who was always remembering Lord Hari. Meanwhile, Shri Hari immediately descended from Vaikuntha to this place ascending on the Garuda. Then first He raised the mountain and placed it in its proper place. After that He rescued Prahlada. He took him to this mountain and removed all his miseries. At that time Sri Hari informed him how He killed Hiranyaksha in the form of Sri Varaha and His decision to kill Hiranya-kashipu in the form of Nrsimha. The Lord showed him His combined form of Varaha-Narasimha. In order to perpetuate this place related to Prahlada, He said that He would be worshipped at this place in the form of Sri Varaha-Nrsimha from at the top of this mountain. From that time this mountain and place came to be known as “Simhachalam”.

The history of the beginning of the worship of Sri Nrsimhadeva in Simhachalam:-

Prahlad Maharaja later, after his retirement from the kingdom, came to this Simhachalam. He constructed a temple by finding the deity of Sri Hari and started the daily worship since then. For a long time, Lord Sri Nrsimhadeva received service from Prahlada Maharaja at this place. After the disappearance of Prahlada, the temple was lost. The deity was covered by anthills.

The Lord accepted the service from Pururava:-

After many years, one day when king Pururava was passing over this place with Urvashi in his plane, he was forced to land on that mountain by a divine charm. He found this place in a dream. Then the king washed away the anthills with copious showers of milk and discovered the deity; But in spite of frequent showering of milk, the lotus feet of the deity remained invisible under the ground. It did not become visible. When the king was very saddened by this incident, the celestial announcement was heard.

Instructions through celestial announcement:-

“The lotus feet of the deity will not be visible to anyone. Because only by seeing them salvation is guaranteed. Your Majesty! Perform the puja by bathing the deity with pancamrita and offering 16 upacaras. After that, cover the entire deity with fragrant sandalwood pulp. Worship the deity on a daily basis but keep the deity covered always with sandalwood pulp.In the year, only in the month of Vaisakha, the sandal pulp coating will be unveiled on the Akshay-Tritiya Tithi. At that time, whoever will have the vision of Him, will attain the absolute Truth. On that day a grand ceremony of bathing with pancamrita and offering foodstuffs will be performed. At the end of the ceremony the deity should be covered again with sandalwood pulp.”

Construction of temple by king Pururava and the tradition of service:-

King Pururaba followed the divine order. He then hired many famous architects and constructed the big temple. He invited Brahmins who are skilled in agama and arranged their residence. Since that time, the services of the deity have been going on regularly with the full cooperation of the kings of various states. The kings of Vijayanagara have served as chief trustees of the temple for the past two centuries.

Arrival of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at Simhachalam and His pastimes at this place:-

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu made His auspicious visit in Simhachalam ie “Jeeyar Narasimha kshetra” during His tour of South-India. This is described in Chaitanya Caritamrita, Madhya Lila Chapter VIII, verse 3-5: 

pūrva-rīte prabhu āge gamana karilā

‘jiyaḍa-nṛsiṁha’-kṣetre kata-dine gelā

Translation: According to His previous program, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went forward on His tour and after some days arrived at the place of pilgrimage known as Jiyaḍa-nṛsiṁha.

nṛsiṁha dekhiyā kaila daṇḍavat-praṇati

premāveśe kaila bahu nṛtya-gīta-stuti

Translation: Upon seeing the Deity of Lord Nṛsiṁha in the temple, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered His respectful obeisances by falling flat. Then, in ecstatic love, He performed various dances, chanted, and offered prayers.

“śrī-nṛsiṁha, jaya nṛsiṁha, jaya jaya nṛsiṁha

prahlādeśa jaya padmā-mukha-padma-bhṛṅga”

Translation: “ ‘All glories to Nṛsiṁhadeva! All glories to Nṛsiṁhadeva, who is the Lord of Prahlāda Mahārāja and, like a honeybee, is always engaged in beholding the lotuslike face of the goddess of fortune.’

ugro ’py anugra evāyaṁ

sva-bhaktānāṁ nṛ-keśarī

keśarīva sva-potānām

anyeṣām ugra-vikramaḥ

Translation:“ ‘Although very ferocious, the lioness is very kind to her cubs. Similarly, although very ferocious to non devotees like Hiraṇyakaśipu, Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva is very, very soft and kind to devotees like Prahlāda Mahārāja.’ ”

ei-mata nānā śloka paḍi’ stuti kaila

nṛsiṁha-sevaka mālā-prasāda āni’ dila

Translation: In this way Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recited different verses from the śāstra. The priest of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva then brought garlands and the remnants of the Lord’s food and offered them to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

pūrvavat kona vipre kaila nimantraṇa

sei rātri tāhāṅ rahi’ karilā gamana

Translation: As usual, a brāhmaṇa offered Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu an invitation. The Lord passed the night in the temple and then commenced His tour again.