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PLACES
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ANJI.
Anji, with a population of 1,090 as per the 1961 Census, is a
small village in Kelapur tahsil, situated 3.22 km (about two miles)
west of Ghatanji. It is more popularly known as Anji-Narsimha
on account of its containing a fine Hemadpanti temple of Narsimha, the man-lion incarnation of Vishnu, who slew the demon Hiranya Kashyap. The demon could not be slain either by man or animal, or with weapons, or either by day or night. Vishnu assuming the face of a lion and the body of a man allowed his nails to grow long and attacked the demon at twilight, thus fulfilling all the conditions. The temple is very old and inside, the sanctuary contains a fine idol of Narsimha depicted as tearing the demon to pieces with nails. Through a small aperture in the wall of the temple, the rays of the rising sun strike against the feet of the idol, thus doing homage to Narsimha. In front of the shrine is a kunda or well also built in masonry. A large number of pilgrims visit the temple in the month of Vaishakha (April-May). Anji has a medical practitioner and a primary school. Drinking water is obtained from wells.
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