The Nṛsiṃha temple (related to one of Viṣṇu's ten incarnations), located at the Naradevī Ṭola, lies within the private residence of a Bhaṭṭa family. According to the Nepalese chronicle Bhāṣāvaṃśāvalī (Part II, p. 59), a Bhaṭṭa Brahmin named Lambakarṇa migrated from Maharastra in Central India to Kuleshwor in Kathmandu during the reign of King Śivasiṃha Malla. The Vaṃśavalī further records that the tantric master Lambakarṇa assisted King Śivasiṃha to defeat the kingdom of Patan. This is why the king granted Lambakarṇa land in the Naradevī Ṭola, Kathmandu. The Bhaṭṭa family has lived in the Naradevī Ṭola since then and one of Lambakarṇa's descendants, most likely Lambakarṇa the 2nd and his brother Vīreśvara, built this temple during the reign of King Pratāpa Malla (cf. J. C. Regmī VS 2062, p. 409). The temple was unaffected by the three major earthquakes that occurred in 1833 CE, 1934 CE, and 2015 CE, and it is still preserved in its original pagoda architecture and structure. The temple complex is designed like a Buddhist monastery (bāhāḥ or bahī), with three tiers of intricately carved struts and windows. A wooden torana covered in gilt metal (probably copper) used to stand on top of the main door to the sanctum, but it was stolen some time ago (a photo of the lost torana is published in an online social media portal "Lost Arts of Nepal": https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=424817679843006&set=a.392010346457073). The temple's sanctum houses a statue of Narasiṃha, along with his consort Lakṣmī and his disciple Pralhāda (the son of demon king Hiraṇyakaśyapu). A statue like this one of Naṛasiṃha that also depicts Pralhāda is extremely rare. The temple and its complex are in disrepair after the Bhaṭṭa family left the area and moved outside of the historic city. A Maharjan family still lives in the complex but hardly any daily or other rituals are performed. There is one exception: every year on the 14th of the bright fortnight of Vaiśākha, the temple's annual ritual (varṣavardhana) takes place. Since none of the Bhaṭṭa family members are initiated to the clan's esoteric traditions, a Brahmin from Gokarṇa is invited to perform the varṣavardhana.

This temple is a unique example of how a medieval temple with a rich history is being neglected and desecrated. Because it is located within a private residential complex and the owners have already moved out, the local or the federal government face the challenge to find a solution to proceed with the renovation works together with the Bhaṭṭa family. The documentation by NHDP hopes to contribute to future renovations, especially since the temple could collapse at any time.

For more information on this monument, please visit the monument entry (KAT1080) in DANAM.