Sampathgiri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Polur

Sampathgiri is a large hill in the middle of the town of Polur in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Narasimha, with a temple to the god built on it in ancient times. It is counted as an Abhimana Kshethram in the Vaishnava tradition. The steps up the hill were built by the Vijayanagara kings, the temple buildings date from various periods, and the actor Sivaji Ganesan gave generously towards renovating the steps.

Legend tells of two sages who did penance here and quarrelled over a mango given to them by Narasimha, one cutting off the other's hands. When the injured sage kept up his worship for a mandalam of 48 days, Narasimha appeared on the hill as a self-manifested image, restored his hands and told him to place the festival image at the foot of the hill. The hill also has a cave, Annai Guha, and two sacred tanks, the Brahma and Pulasthirya theerthams.