Joshimath Narasimha Temple is located on the National Highway 7 on the way to Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand. Also known as Narsingh Badri Temple, this is an ancient temple of Ugra Narasimha with the striking man-lion form of Lord Vishnu at Jyotirmath, the earlier name of Joshimath. Of all the temples in the region, this temple is the most magnificent.
Carved from the Saligrama, the murti of Ugra Narasimha at the Joshimath Mandir was supposedly crafted in the 8th century AD during the reign of King Lalitaditya Yukta Pida of Kashmir.
Short History Of Joshimath Narasimha Temple
As in Badrinath, Lord Narasimha gives darshan to devotees in padmasana (sitting) posture. Devotees believe that the murti is not crafted but self manifested from the Shaligram shila. The murti is about 10 inches high and remarkably detailed, sitting in a lotus position.
To the right of Narasimha we can have darshan of Mata Sita, Rama, Hanuman and Garuda.
Against the left wall of the sanctum sanctorum is a murti of Goddess Chandika.
The sanctum also has murtis of Kubera, Uddhava and Badri Vishal. There is an altar for Goddess Lakshmi just outside the door of the temple.
Wrist Of Narasimha Getting Thinner
An interesting feature of the Narasimha Murti worshipped in the temple is that its left wrist is getting thinner day by day. It is believed that the day the arm completely breaks from the murti, the Nara and Narayana Mountains would unite and the path to Badrinath would be blocked forever.
Badrinath Dham will cease to exist once the wrist completely disappears and the arm of the murti falls down. Badrinath will be re-established in a place called Bhavishya Badri, in the Tapovan Valley, which is about 17 kms from Joshimath.
Story Of Joshimath Narasimha Temple
Hiranyakashipu, the demon king, worshipped Vishnu and received from him a boon that made him invincible and invulnerable to man and beast. The boon also protected him from death during day and night, indoors and outdoors.
Thus assured of immortality, the demon king showed his true colors and declared himself to be God. His end came in the form of his son Prahlada, who declared it was Lord Narayana who was God and not his father. In a fit of rage, Hiranyakashipu told Prahlada that he was going to kill him and see whether his Narayana, whose name he constantly chants, will come and save him. To end his tyranny, Vishnu assumed the form of Narasimha (half-man and half-lion) and emerged out of a palace pillar in great anger. He then slew Hiranyakashipu.
The Ugra Narasimha murti worshipped in the temple depicts Narasimha in his most fierce form.
This murti is worshipped to overcome all kinds of negative thoughts and difficulties in life.
When Badrinath closes during winter annually, the priests from the Badrinath temple come to Joshimath and continue to worship at the Narasimha Temple.