stands supporting them. Another one dated 1278 AD records a gift of 47 cows by Allada Nayaka. Festival begins in the evening. 12 earthen containers with oil and wick are placed on a mandala (zone). Eight of the twelve lamps are dedicated to the guardians of the directions. The remaining four are dedicated to Brahma, Narasimha, Shesha and Garuda. These four lamps are placed at the cardinal points of the temple. In the last phase, a hut made of dried plantain leaves is erected. The utsava idol is taken around the temple and brought to the hut where fire worship takes place. Incense and camphor are offered to the deity and the hut is burnt. Amidst the recital of hymns, the deity is taken round the burning hut thrice and is taken back to the temple. However, there is no epigraphical evidence available in the temple which specifies the way this festival is celebrated. Giripradakshina Giripradakshina is an annual festival celebrated on the full moon day of the Ashadha month. It is based on the custom that the devotees can receive Narasimha's blessings by circumambulating around the hill on which he is seated. Devotees, majority of them hailing from the countryside, observe a fast on the day and offer pradakshinas to the hill. They cover a distance of and pay a visit to the sanctum after which they have dinner. Those who cannot afford to walk around the hill offer 108 pradakshinas in the temple. Another similar festival in Simhachalam is Grama pradakshina, where the utsava idol is taken to the villages nearby in a procession. An inscription dated 1242 AD records provision by Purushottama Nayaka for conducting this festival. Grama pradakshina is believed to be based on superstitions; people hoped that the utsava idol's entry would bring prosperity to the village and its inmates. Minor festivals The minor festivals of the temple include Vaarotsavas (weekly festivals), Pakshotsavas (fortnightly festivals), Masotsavas (monthly festivals). There are two specific phases in these festivals: the Thiruveedhi festival where the utsava idol is taken on a procession and the performance of the appropriate service to the deity. These festivals also include the ones performed during the Grahanakalas (eclipses), Nakshatrotsavas (star festivals), Sankranthi (selstices) and Vishuvas (equinexes). The Pakshotsavas are held usually on the eleventh day (Ekadashi) of the two fortnights of every month. Many inscriptions have recorded the donations by various people to the