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Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00058 Jan 2002

 
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SriMathe Ramanujaya Namaha:
Srimadh Vara Vara Munaye Namaha:
Sri Venkata Gurave Namaha:
Acharyan Thiruvadigale Saranam:

angkaNNYaalamancha angkOraaLariyaay avuNan
pongkavaagamvaLLugiraal pOzhnNdhapunidhanidam,
paingkaNaanaikkombukoNdu patthimaiyaal, adikkeezhch
chengkaNaaLiyittiRaiNYchum singkavELkunRamE.......

......sengkaNaaLIyittiRainchum singkavELkunRudaiya,
engkaLeesanembiraanai irunNdhamizhnNooRpulavan,
mangkaiyaaLanmannutholseer vaNdaRai thaarkkaliyan,
sengkaiyaaLan sencholmaalai vallavartheedhilarE

The above pasurams (1 and 10) of Sri Thirumangai Azhwar's Mangalasasanam to
Sri Narashimar, Ahobilam.

Meaning: The Azhwar says Perumal who resides in Singavel Kunram is our
master. He is our saviour. The Lord is seen as incomparable.

Ugram, Veeram, Mahavishnum, Jwalantham,
Sarvathomukam, Nrisimham Beeshanam
Badram mrutyo mrutyum Namamyaham.

This Anushtup mantra mentions the nine forms of Narashimar i.e. Nava
Narashima. They are Ugra (angry) Veera (fighting), Mahavishnu
(Lakshminarashima), Jwalanatha (figure emitting flames), Sarvathomukha
(Narashimar with number of faces), Narashima (ordinary Narashima avatara),
Bheeshana (frightful), Bhadra (terrible), Mrutyo mrutyu (killer of death).

Dear members of the group,

Adiyen had bhagyam to go to Ahobilam on 26-27th of this month. It was a
lifetime experience. Before brefing, I would personally like to say, if
anyone has not been to this place yet, please make it possilbe to go very
soon becuase it is very difficult to see all nava narashimas and especially
Ugra Sthambam.

I have been told by many people, Ahobilam is one of the most difficult divya
desams to travel. As expected it's only due to his Anugraham one can see all
forms of Narashimar. Otherwise I really doub't people above age of 40 or say
50 can make it possible to go till Ugra Sthambam (The place where perumal
originated from the Pillar)

Adiyen started from hyderabad with my brother Suresh along with 3 other
friends on 26th (saturday) early morning at 3:00 am by car and reached
ahobilam at 9:30 in the morning. Took room at Ahobila Matam, had bath and
breakfast. Started from Chinna Ahobilam at 11:00 am accompanied by a local
guide (rama krishna).

Here is the serial order of Narashimar's:

1. KARANJA NARASIMHA SWAMY
This shrine is situated at a distance of one kilometre from the Upper
Ahobilam and one furlong from the road leading to Lower Ahobilam. The image
of the deity is installed under a tree, called 'Karanja Vruksham'. Hence
this Lord is called Karanja Narasimha Swamy. From here we went to Upper
Ahobilam, parked car and started trucking towards Ugra Sthambam.

2. MALOLA NARASIMHA SWAMY
Nearly two kilometres from the main temple of Upper Ahobilam, is the famous
shrine of Malola Narasimha Swamy. The deity here appears in 'soumya'
(graceful) form. As Lord Narasimha is seen with his consort, Lakshmi, He is
known as Malola Narasimha Swamy. The word 'Malola' means beloved to Lakshmi
(Ma=Lakshmi, Lola= beloved). It is said that the 'utsavamoorthi' of the Lord
appeared to Srimath Adivan Satakopa Jeeyar, the first Jeeyar of Ahobila
Mutt. Right from the founder, i.e., the first Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt down to
the 44th pontiff, Srivan Satakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatheendra Mahadesika,
the present jeeyar, the utsavamoorthi of Malola Narasirnha Swamy is
worshipped and it is taken by them whenever they are on religious tours,
visiting the villages every year. Recently, the 45th Jeeyar Srivan Satakopa
Sri Narayana Yatheendra Mahadesikan has taken over the worship.

3. PRAHALADA METTU
The small shrine, situated in a cave on the hill, is in between Ugra
Sthambham and the Upper Ahobilam. It is dedicated to Prahlada Narashimha
Swamy. The image of the Prahlada is installed in a small cave.

4. UGRA STHAMBHAM
(This is the most difficult place for one to reach) At a distance of eight
kilometres from the Upper Ahobilam temple, we can see a cleft of the
mountain dividing it into two visible parts. It is a long-held view that
from the cleft, the Lord appeared in the form of Narasimha and this cleft is
known as 'Ugra Sthambham'.

5. JWALA NARASIMHA SWAMY
The temple of Jwala Nrisimha Swamy, lies higher up the above temple, on a
hill called, 'Achalachaya Meru'. This is about four kilometres from the
Upper Ahobilam temple. This place is said to be the actual spot, where the
fierce anger of the Lord reached its culmination when he tore Hiranyakasipu.
(Performed thirumanjanam to Perumal here)

6. KRODAKARA (VARAHA) NARASIMHA SWAMY
The temple of this Lord is one kilometre away from the main temple of
Ahobila Nrisimha Swamy on the Upper Ahobilam. The image of the deity has the
face of a boar (varaha or kroda) and the Lord is seen along with his
Consort, Lakshmi. Hence the Lord of the temple is known as Krodakara
(Varaha) Narasimha Swamy here. 

7. SRI RAMANUJAR SANNADHI
The shrine dedicated to Sri Ramanajuar it very close from Varaha Narasimha
Swamy temple.

8. AHOBILA NARASIMHA SWAMY
The temple, situated on the Upper Ahobilam, at a distance of eight
kilometres from the Lower Ahobilam, is the main temple and the earliest of
all the nine temples there. The Lord here appears in his fierce aspect,
called Ugra Narasimha, who is the presiding deity of the temple and is known
as Ahobila Nrisimha Swamy. It is firmly believed the Lord Narasimha was
'Svayambhu' (self-manifest) here. 

9. CHATRAVATA NARASIMHA SWAMY
About three kilometres from lower Ahobilam, the image of the deity is
installed under a peepal tree, surrounded by thorny bushes. Hence, the Lord
is called as Chatravata Narasimha Swamy.

10. YOGANANDA NARASIMHA SWAMY
This temple is to the south-east of Lower Ahobilam at a distance of 2
kilometres. The popular legend is that after killing Hiranyakasipu, Lord
Narasimha taught Prahlada several yogic postures. Therefore, the Lord in
this aspect is called Yogananda Narasimha. 

Night came back to room at 8:30 pm after having food. (The day was very
tiring all of us were totally exhausted and slept by 9 pm)

27th (sunday) morning woke up at 5:00 am had bath and were ready by 6:30 am.
By then the Guide arrived to take us to remaining shrines. Started from room
at 6:45 am.

11. BHARGAVA NARASIMHA SWAMY
The Bhargava Narasimha Swamy is situated at a distance of two kilometres
from the Lower Ahobilam, on a hill, near the sacred pond, known as 'Bhargava
Theertham', where Bhargava Rama performed his penance. Hence the Lord of the
temple is known as Bhargava Narasimha Swamy. 

12. PAVANA NARASIMHA SWAMY
Nearby to the Lakshmi Narashimar temple at lower Ahobilam, is the shrine of
Pavana Narasimha. People say visiting this temple and have darsanam of
Uthsavar (Pavana Narashimar) at lower Ahobilam is equalent to visiting the
temple which is 6 kms above Upper Ahobilam.

13. LOWER AHOBILAM (LAKSHMI NARASHIMAR)
The temple surrounded by three prakaras in the Lower Ahobilam is dedicated
to Prahlada Varada i.e., the Lord whose grace bestows on Prahlada.

By this we were able to cover all Narashimar's. Had taken some good
photographs of Moolavars, if anyone is interested I will scan and upload on
site.

Stared from Ahobilam at 10:30 am and back to hyderabad at 5:00 pm in the
evening.

The above sources I have taken from Ahobilam home page. My sincere thanks to
Ahobilam site, whose information was very much useful.

(NOTE: If there are any errors it only due to my ignorance, please pardon
and correct me.)

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan,

K.M. Shantha Kumar.




www.themanagementor.com




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