Nira-Narsingpur Narasimha

[Deshpande, Madhav]

Dear Dr. Joshi,

We know that Niiraa is the name of the river that joins the river Bhiimaa at the town of Narsingpur (near Solapur), and that the town of Narsingpur is known for its temple of Narasimha.  The river name seems to be a feminine form of the Sanskrit word niira- "water".  As the rivers are commonly treated as goddesses (cf. Anne Feldhaus's work on river-goddesses in Maharashtra), one can assume that niiraa the river name also becomes the name of the river goddess that may be locally identified with Lakshmi.  Perhaps Ashok Aklujkar may know something more of the local traditions of Nira-Narsingpur, as he grew up in the town of Akluj which is nearby.

Madhav M. Deshpande

-----Original Message-----
From: Indology on behalf of Rasik Vihari Joshi Tripathi
Sent: Wed 10/31/2007 10:53 AM
To: INDOLOGY at liverpool.ac.uk
Subject: 
 
I am thankful to Dr. Madhav Deshpande for the information about Neera
interpretation for Laksmi-Nrsimha.I would ask him again the meaning of
Nira in the same context.
Rasik Vihari Joshi

-----Mensaje original-----
De: Indology [mailto:INDOLOGY at liverpool.ac.uk] En nombre de Deshpande,
Madhav
Enviado el: Martes, 30 de Octubre de 2007 11:36 a.m.
Para: INDOLOGY at liverpool.ac.uk
Asunto: 


There is a famous Nrsimha temple in Maharashtra in a town called Nira -
Narsingapur.  I don't have a map in front of me, but this town is
probably on the bank of the river Neeraa/Niraa (?).  There is indeed a
river in the region by that name.  This town is close to my family's
original home town, Tembhurni, near Solapur, and Nrsimha has been the
family deity of the Deshpande family.

Madhav M. Deshpande




-----Original Message-----
From: Indology on behalf of Rasik Vihari Joshi Tripathi
Sent: Tue 10/30/2007 10:41 AM
To: INDOLOGY at liverpool.ac.uk
Subject: 
 
Dear Scholar Friends,
I have come across the word "Neera" meaning water in the
Lakmii-Nrsimha-Sahasra-Naama,I shall appreciate if some one could help
me how to interprete this word in the sence of Laksmi-Nrsimha.  Thanks
in advance, Rasik Vihari Joshi