Aakiripalli - Vughranarasimha Swamy Aalayam

This holy kshetra is variously called as Sobhanachala or Sobhanadri, both referring to a hill enshrining Ski Sobhanachalaswamy, otherwise popular as Vughranarasimhaswamy. Here are two temples built side by side - one for Malleswaraswamy and the other for Sobhanachalaswamy, establishing thereby that there is no essential difference between Hari and Hara. The Saivate deity is called Malleswaraswamy and the Vaishnavate deity, Sobhanachalaswamy. So it is visited by theists of the major sects of Hinduism and a steady stream of devotees throng here throughout the year. Saivagama worship is offered to Sri Malleswaraswamy and Vaikhanasa agama for Sobhanachalaswamy. Bhaktas visit both of them and receive benedictions of Hari-Hara murthis though installed in two temples to' their heart's content. The temple is a quite ancient, said to have been in vogue since the Tretayuga. And contains all the requisite parts and is in the South Indian architectural style. In addition to these main temples, the hill boasts of possessing five more temples for Rajalakshmi Aalayam, Alwars' Aalayam, Sitakothandaram Aalayam, Venkataramanamurthy Aalayam and Venugopalaswamy Aalayam. Would not the assemblage of such august deities in one place draw devotees perennially and powerfully? So each day a festival day and every hour is auspicious for religionists.

The note-worthy feature of this kshetra is the sacredness attached to Varaha Pushkarini lying to the western side of the hill. It has a legend and holds reverent attraction for the theists. According to legend, this holy saras was dug by Sri Mahavishnu Himself during His Varahavatara. It is on account of this, it is called Varaha Pushkarini. The village is called Aakiripalli due to its derivation from Kiri standing for Varaha. It was later called Aaguipalli also. In the Tretayuga it was named Ananthasaras. And also called Bindhi thirtham. It is from this holy pond, water is taken for prayer services. The pond being quite wide, float festival is held during Karthika, Magha and Phalghuna months and they attract huge number of devout theists.

Among the annual festivals, Rathasaptami, celebrated in Magha masa and car festival in Karthika masa are star attractions, besides Narasimha Jayanthi falling in Vaisakha ma-a. The entire hill then resembles Vaikunta with special decorations and deemed the right time for veneration. Devout Bhaktas congregate in large numbers and participate in special programmes lustily and spend lavishly.

It lies 35 km off Nuzvid town of Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, commanding all transport facilities.

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