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Ahobilam Divya Desam Yathrai !

From the Bhakti List Archives

shantha kumar • January 29, 2002 


SriMathe Ramanujaya 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 esteemed 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, if 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 had taken from
http://www.ahobilamutt.org/ website. My sincere thanks
to Ahobila mutt site, whose information was very much
useful.

Though I had already been to 97 divya desams prior to
Ahobilam. This divya desam experience is unique by
itself.

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

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan,

K.M. Shantha Kumar.

http://www15.brinkster.com/mudaliandan/

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