History

Also known as "Dakshina Kashi (Kashi of the South), Antarvedi, is an important p

ilgrim centre in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh state in India, si
tuated at the interior part at East coast. Lord Brahma, in order to get freed fr
om the sins he had committed against Lord Sankara, had performed Rudrayaga and i
nstalled Lord Neela kantheswara there. As that place was made a stage or "Vedik"
to perform the Yagam, it was named as "ANTARVEDI" It is a small village in Sakh
inetipalle Mandal which is located close to Narsapur near the Bay of Bengal Coas
t and Vashishtha River. This river is said to have been brought by Maharishi Vas
hishtha, one of the Sapthrishis(seven great sages) of Hindu Mythology. It draws
people from far off places throughout the year because of its unique rarity: the
confluence or mergence of Bay of Bengal and Vashishtha River, a tributary of Ri
ver Godavari. The place of confluence where the mighty ocean Bay of Bengal meets
the Vashishtha River is called the "Sapta Sagara Sangam Pradesam" and also as "
Anna Chelli Gattu". One can even taste the water here as it is not salty but qui
te
sweet!!!! Unbelievable but true!!! This place is the last and the most important
of the seven sacred bathing places. It is popularly believed that the Tretha Yu
gam episode of Ksheera Sagara Mathanam took place here.
Temple
The temple is called as an island temple because of its confluence. This temple
is among the rarities as the main Deity i.e. Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy(on
e of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu) who faces towards West instead of East
(usual direction of other temples in India) constructed between the 15th and 16
th centuries. This is 32 kshetra of 108 Narashima kshetrams. It is a temple of 5
storeyed Vimana Gopuram. As one enters the temple one can Garuda on one side an
d Bhaktha Anjaneya on the other side of temple entrance. While approaching "Garb
ha Gudi" (Sanctum Sanctorum) one can see an adorable "Vatapatra Sayi" (Lord Kris
hna on a palm leaf) on its roof. The idol is made from a single stone. In the Ga
rbha Gudi, one can have a darshan of the magnificient Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha
Swamy with his Consort Goddess Lakshmi Devi on his lap.
After the darshan, one has to go around the sanctum, as there are different deit
ies. On the east side of the prakaram(wall), is Goddess Rajyalakshmi and Lord Ve
nkateshwara, to the north side is Bhoodevi and Ranganadha Swamy, to the west sid
e of the prakaram is Santhana Gopala Swamy and Keshava Swamy, and finally to the
south side of the prakaram is the Acharyas and Alwars sannidhi(small temples) a
nd Chaturbhuja (four-armed) Anjaneya. Apart from the presiding Deity, Lord Naras
imha Swamy, there are also Deities of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. A temple of Nee
lakanteshwara (Lord Shiva) is also present which is located at the other side, a
lmost nearer to the bank of Godavari, also called, Vasishta Godavari is a must s
ee. This deity was installed by Lord Sri Rama and is said to be worshipped by Br
ahma himself.