Limbadri Gutta

Limbadri Gutta or Nimbachalam is a very sacred Narasimha Kshetra in Andhra Pradesh. This is also the second temple in Bharata where Nara and Narayana are worshiped in Their Swayambhu vigraha forms.

Nimbachalam is also known as Limbadri Gutta or Nimbachala. It is near the Bheemgal Town in Andhra Pradesh, around 53 kms from Nizamabad. Nimbachalam Narasimha Temple is in the cave which is situated on a sacred hillock. This is one of the prominent temples of Lord Narasimha in Andhra Pradesh. The word Nimbachalam means the hill resplendent with Neem trees.

The Origin of Limbadri Gutta Nimbachalam Temple

Brahma Vaivarta Purana glories Limbadri Gutta to be a major pilgrim center. Two yojanas away from the south bank of Godavari River, Bhakta Prahlada and Lord Brahma performed tapasya. Lord Narasimha was pleased by their austerities and agreed to stay on the hill to bless His devotees. To serve Lord Narasimha, devatas assumed the forms of rocks and trees on this sacred hillock.

During the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati, Brahma mistakenly saw the feet of Mother Parvati, while performing the wedding rituals. Lord Brahma lost his brahmacharya due to this glance which made Lord Shiva furious, who in turn plucked the fifth head of Brahma. To get rid of this sin, Brahma performed tapasya in this kshetra.

Lord Shiva also performed tapasya here to get rid of brahma-hatya-dosha which caught hold of him due to plucking of Brahma’s fifth head. Lord Narasimha, being pleased by the austerities of Lord Shiva, asked him to take the form of jodulingalu – a twin linga.

Bhakta Prahlada performed austerities atop the hill to please Lord Narasimha. At that time this hill was very serene and tranquil. Lord Narasimha was satisfied with the austerities of Prahlada and agreed to stay on this sacred hill to bless devotees.

Limbadri Gutta Nimbachalam Temple is home to many divine lilas

There are many lilas which took place on the sacred hill – Limbadri Gutta. Vasishtha Muni had ordered Harishchandra Maharaja to perform tapasya on this hill to get rid of the sin borne out of his non-righteous act of selling wife.

During the Treta-yuga, Prabhu Ramachandra along with Lakshmana and Mother Sita had visited Nimbachalam Narasimha Temple. Lord Rama asked Hanuman to perform tapasya here. Lord Narasimha then asked Hanuman to stay back on this hill and continue to bless devotees.

On the advice of Lord Brahma, Yama performed tapasya on Limbadri Gutta. Lord Narasimha blessed him and asked him to stay back in the form of bilva-vriksha on the hill. Even today, Lord Narasimha in Nimbachalam Narasimha Temple is worshiped with bilva leaves. Nowhere else, Lord Vishnu is worshiped with bilva leaves.

Two personalities of rivers named Chitamani and Viraja took the form of a lake and a river respectively, on the order of Lord Mahavishnu to serve Lord Narasimha. Chintamani Sarovar is on the base of the hill towards west. River Viraja flows a little far from the temple now.

The King of Kambhoja province – Dharmapala took holy dip in Chintamani Sarovara and performed tapasya for 30,000 years. Pleased by his austerities Lord Narasimha gave him darshan and blessed him.

Once, Bhrigu Muni visited Kailasha Parvata. He was stopped by Nandi at the entrance itself which enraged Bhrigu Muni, who cursed Nandi to become an animal. Nandi surrendered to Lord Shiva and asked for a solution. Lord Shiva advised him to visit Bheemagal and perform Tapasya on the banks of a lake which later became Nandi Tataka.

At the end of Dwapara-yuga after Lord Krishna returned to His abode, Maharaja Yuddhishthira and Arjuna were in great grief. Lord Krishna appeared to Maharaja Yuddhishthira and informed him that Lord Krishna would always be present in Badrinath and Nimbachalam, along with Arjuna.

The Divine Cave at Limbadri Gutta Nimbachalam Temple

The garbha griha of this temple is in the natural cave. Within the garbha griha one can behold the form of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha. The vigraha of Lord Narasimha is in the padmasana mudra. He is seated and has four hands. On the left thigh is Mahalakshmi seated. This vigraha is not carved by anyone and very charming to behold. Lord Brahma and great devatas have worshiped Lord Narasimha here.

On the left-hand side of Lord Narasimha, there is a swayambhu vigraha of Nara Narayana Rshis. Hanuman, Garuda and Srila Madhvacharya are also worshiped. Outside the garbha-griha, on the north-western side one can have darshan of Jodu Lingalu.

One can also have darshan of Ganapati and Kalabhairava. Kalabhairava is the guardian Deity of Nimbachalam’s treasury and assets. Hence it is important to have darshana of Kalabhairava.

The utsavar vigraha of Sri Nimbachalam Narasimha is worshiped in Bheemgal. Only during the Brahmotsava festival, the utsavar is brought to the hill. The worship in this temple is based on the Padyamala by Jayatirtha Swamiji of Uttaradi Mutt. Lord Narasimha offered Shodashopachara Seva daily.

Temple Timings of Limadri Gutta Temple

The temple follows the standard temple timings as in the other Vaishnava Temples.

Morning – 5 am to 12 pm

Evening – 4 pm to 8 pm

How to reach Limadri Gutta?

Limadri Gutta is in the Nizamabad District. To reach this temple without any difficulty, travel with Tirtha Yatra on its Telangana Tours. All the arrangements are well taken care of.

If you wish to join on your own, then you may explore as follows:

By Air – Reach Hyderabad International Airport, which is the nearest airport to Limadri Gutta. From Hyderabad travel to Nizamabad either by train or road.

By Rail – Nizamabad Railway Station is the nearest railway station. From Nizamabad Railway station. Either hire taxi or local buses to reach Limadri Gutta Temple.

By Road – State Transport buses to Bheemgal are available from Nizamabad. Between Nizamabad and Hyderabad there is an ample connectivity of State Transport Buses. From Bheemgal either take taxi or auto to reach Limbadri Gutta.