Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple

Dharmapuri Village is located along the banks of the Godavari River. The historical name of this village, Dharmapuri, is mentioned in the Kurkiyala inscription of Jinavallabha, which dates back to the year 945 CE. In this inscription, the village is referred to as Dharmavura or Dharmapuramu. Dharmapuri is home to several ancient temples, with the most prominent being the Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy temple.

The Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy temple has a rich history. It was initially constructed during the rule of the Chalukyas and later expanded by the Kakatiyas. This temple, which was built between the 11th and 13th centuries, is dedicated to Lord Narasimha, who is worshipped in the form of Yoga Narasimha. The main temple mandapa boasts 48 pillars adorned with sculptures depicting stories from Hindu mythology, including depictions of Matsya (the fish avatar), Kurma (the turtle avatar), Varaha (the boar avatar), dancing Shiva, and other Puranic narratives.

This temple is one of the Nava Narasimha Kshetras, and it currently houses three forms of Lord Narasimha. The first form is that of Yoga Narasimha, followed by the fierce Ugra form, in which Lord Narasimha defeated the demon Hiranyakashipu. The third form is the peaceful (Saumya) avatar, which is associated with Tirupati Balaji. Additionally, there is a small temple dedicated to Sri Venugopal, with deities Rukmini and Satyabhama. At the entrance of the temple stands an idol of Yama, the lord of Dharma, and it is customary for devotees to offer their first prayers to him when visiting Dharmapuri. They then pay their respects to Lord Aanjaney Swamy, the Kshetra Swamy and the primary devotee of Lord Vishnu in this sacred place.