Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Temple - Ambasamudram

Site Name: Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Temple

Site Type: Hindu temple

Location:  Ambasamudram, near Tirunelveli city, Tamil Nadu state, India

Highlights: An important temple in Ambasamudram with few rare idols

Nearest Railway Station: Ambasamudram

Nearest Airport: Tirunelveli

How to reach: Well connected as the temple is located within the center of the town

Hotel: Few options within the town; more options in the nearby city Tirunelveli

Restaurants: Only few options within the town

Ambasamudram is a picturesque town located on the banks of the beautiful Tamraparni river and on the foothills of the Western Ghats. The nearest city of Ambasamudram is Tirunelveli. It is located in Tamil Nadu state in South India.The town has a lot of scenic spots and temples. Let us explore a temple having few rare idols, Lakshmi Narayana temple, in this article.

Highlights:

• Vishnu with Lakshmi on his lap - a rare form in the main shrine
• Narasimha with Shiva and Brahma on his either sides 
• Hanuman with Shiva Linga on his head
• Vilva which is usually meant for Lord Shiva is the holy tree in this temple of Vishnu
• God - Narayana
• Goddess - Lakshmi
• Holy Tree (Sthala vruksha) - Vilva

Legend:

As per the legend, some seers who wanted to meet seer Agastya in Podhigai hills were passing through this town. They got a doubt if Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are one and the same. In that period, this temple was apparently dedicated to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Vishnu and Lakshmi to those seers. Based on that memory, this temple of Lakshmi Narayana was built.

Temple Layout:

The east facing temple is located at the center of Ambasamdura town. It is located in a lane near 200-300 meters from the famous Agasteeswarar temple.

The temple is small in size; it does not have tower or flag staff. 

Although the temple is supposed to be very old as per the legend, the current structure cannot be dated more than half a century. Perhaps it could have been renovated multiple times.

Main Shrines:

In the sanctum sanctorum, Lord Narayana (Vishnu) is in the sitting posture and holds the Goddess Lakshmi on this left lap. It's a rare form for a presiding deity and cannot be usually found.

Other Shrines:

The idols of Ramanuja, Nammalvar and Desikar are found in the maha mandapa.

The front side mandapa has the sub-shrines of Vishwaksena and Sudarshana with 16 arms.

Garuda is facing the main shrine.

Special Shrines:

Lord Narasimha is found at the back side of Sudarshana. He is found holding discuss in all his four arms and is sitting on Adi Sesha, the divine serpent. On his both sides, small images of Shiva and Brahma are found. It is a rare idol.

Lord Hanuman is found in the maha mandapa. He has Shiva Linga on his head. This is again a rare form.

Happy travelling.

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