Bhavanarayana Swamy

A Short notes on the History of the Temple........

One day in Sathyaloka, Lord Brahma, Lord Shankara, Indra, Saptha Rushas,Ashta Dikpalakas,Thumbura , Saint Narada and other deities ,great Saints joined together and discussing about the magic of Lord Vishnu( Vishnu Maya) and said that nobody can recognize the magic of Vishnu.
Then Saint Narada with a proud feeling said that he can find out the Magic of Vishnu as he is an unmarried saint and chants the name of Vishnu roaming all around the Thrilokas (Three Worlds)
Saint Narada does not bother though all the deities and saints said that it is impossible to recognize the magic of Vishnu. And it was also mentioned that Lord Shankara was earlier saved by Vishnu in Mohini avatara from Bhasmasura and Lord Brahma once could not recognize Vishnu Maya.
Later in that meeting Lord Brahma says to Saint Narada that he will come to know about Vishnu Maya when he lives as a human being in Bhooloka(on earth).
After some days, Narada visits Bhooloka( Earth) after his visit toThriloka and it becomes evening to perform Surya Namaskara.
He approaches a nearby lake to take bath and perform his prayer leaving his Kamandala,Thumbhura on the lake bank . Soonafter taking the third dip in the lake he becomes a lady and the Kamandala and Thumbara disappear from the lake bank. Narada ( in lady form) spends time roaming all around the forest in this place by eating fruits.
After quite some days, the king of Pithikaapura, Nikunthamani comes to this forest for hunting and sees Narada in lady form.
The king takes the lady to his kingdom and tries to find out her relations by sending her pictures to neighboring countries and palces but of no use.
Later the king determines to marry the lady on her acceptances as nobody comes to take her.The lady marries the king and gives birth to 60 children whose names have become the names of 60 years.
All the 60 children grow and start ruling the kingdom well . After some years they receive a message from the king of neighbour country ,Nipunjaya for a war.The war takes place between the two kingdoms and the king Nikunthamani,his 60 children and his complete defence forces die in the war.And then the wife of Nikunthamani( Narada in lady form) comes to the war land and cries.
Later after sometime she feels hungry and as she looks around for fruits ,she finds one fruit to a tree which is not reachable to her. She arranges the dead bodies of the war land one by one as steps to reach the fruit including her husband’s dead body.
Then Lord Shri Mahavishnu comes in the disguise of a Brahman and asks her why she does so. She then narrates the complete story to him.On hearing the story ,the Brahman advises her to take a bath to pure herself to fulfill the hunger. She prays him to help her.
Then the Lord Vishnu( in Brahman form) creates another lake next to the earlier lake and asks her to take bath three times in it lifting her left hand up. And by that time she finishes the bath in lake the Brahman disappears and she gets the man form(Narada) but the bangles still remain there on the left hand. He then recollects the whole story that happened starting from the discussion in Sathyaloka. He then realizes that is all the Magic of Lord Vishnu( Vishnu Maya) and performs a great penance for 10,000 years here at Shri Pathala Bhavanarayana Swamy temple.
Then Lord Maha Vishnu on Garuda Vahana appears in front of Saint Narada and asks him what he desires. Saint Narada asks for a boon to remove the bangles on his left hand and also prays Lord Vishnu and Rajyalakshmi to be present at this temple.
Lord Vishnu agrees and asks Saint Narada to manifest Lord Vishnu along with Rajyalakshmi in the front portion of the temple(Garbha Gudi)
Lord Vishnu is known as Shri Bhavanarayana Swamy as he eliminates the pride of Saint Narada.
The temple festival on four Sundays of Maghamasa and Kalyana Mahostava of Shri Bhavanarayana Swamy are celebrated on Vishakha Shudda Ekadasi every year at this temple.

" Sarvam Shri Rajyalakshmi Sameta Shri Bhavanarayanarpanamasthu
Jai Shri Bhavanarayana "