Mangalagiri is located 13 km southeast of Vijayawada in Guntur District in Andhra
Pradesh. The holy and auspicious hill is a famous Vaishnava center. Mangalagiri Temple
is dedicated to Narasimha Avatar of Vishnu and is popularly known as Panakala Narasimha Swamy
Temple
There are three Narasimha Temples in Mangalagiri
Panakala Narasimha Swamy on the hill.
Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at the foot of the hill.
Gandala Narasimha Swamy at the top of the hill
The most popular shrine is Panakala Narasimha
Swamy Temple
There is no murti of the deity in the temple. There is only
a wide mouth which is about 15 cm long. The mouth is covered by metal face.
The main offering in the temple is jaggery water. Devotees
pour jaggery water into the mouth. One can hear gargling sound as the Lord is
drinking the offering. Irrespective of the quantity offered, half of the
panakam that is offered comes out of the mouth and this is taken home as
Prasad.
Mangalagiri is also
one of the eight important temples or Mahakshethram dedicated to Bhagvan Vishnu
on earth.