CHENNAI: Velachery, one of the most ancient regions of present-day Chennai, dating back to the Pallava times has a history to be proud of. In the subsequent Chola era and later too, Velachery was a hub of activities. Inscriptions mention the name of this place as Velicheri also known as Jinachintamani Chaturvedimangalam.
There are many ancient temples in Velachery, one of which is the Vishnu temple deidcated to Yoga Narasimha Svami. It is located on Velachery Main Road close to the bus-stand. The entrance to the temple, as well as the principal sanctum enshrining Yoga Narasimha Swami, faces west. The main stone deity, large in size, is seated in a yogic posture with the upper arms holding the sankha and chakra and lower arms stretched in front and resting on the knees. The superstructure over the main sanctum is called ‘Vedapuri Vimana’. According to the legend connected with this temple, Narasimha gave a darshan to his ardent devotee Prahlada in this sacred place. This temple also has an image of Vedanarayana Perumal. The chakra in the hand of this deity, called the prayoga chakra, is not held in the usual way, showing the full face of the discus to the devotee, but with the rim pointing outward, as though being hurled at enemies.
Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped as Amritabalavalli Thayar. A Rama shrine is also seen here. There are two entrances on the east and west, with the three-tiered gopuram on the west being a modern construction. A few ancient and historic inscriptions, one belonging to the 10th century AD and another datable to the 12th century A.D. of the Chola era were etched in this temple.
(The writer is a historian who focuses on temple architecture)