Azhagiyasingar's Prayer For Universal Welfare

[Guest guest]

SrI:

SrI Lakshminrusimha ParabrahmaNE namaha

SrI Lakshminrusimha divya pAdukA sEvaka srIvaN-

SatakOpa SrI nArAyaNa yateendra mahAdESIkAya namaha

 

Dear devotees,

namO nArAyaNA.

Below is an article that appeared in the daily

"The Hindu", in its Hyderabad edition, on Nov 20.

 

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,

ananthapadmanAbha dAsan

krishNArpaNam

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PRAYING FOR UNIVERSAL WELFARE

 

Eversince the present 45th jeeyar of Sri Ahobila Muth

was annointed, his single point programme has made to

develop Ahobila Kshetra and to bring back its glory.

On taking over the reins of the Muth, his very first

visit shortly thereafter was to make an on the-spot

study. Having endeared himself to his numerous disciples

and devotees all over the BhArata dEsa and abroad,

encouragement came forth from all directions. He then

decided to visit Ahobilam as often as possible. By

virtue of the mandate given to the first Jeeyar of Sri

Ahobila Muth six hundred years ago by Lord

Lakshminarasimha Himself, that he, the jeeyar should go

from village to village to cater to the spiritual

welfare of the people, it is obligatory for all

successive Jeeyars to follow this mandate and which

to this day, they keep up, hence the trip to Ahobilam

by the Jeeyars of Ahobila Muth as often as possible,

since they cannot stay out in one place.

 

However, the cause - development of Ahobilam - having

deeply impressed on the mind of the present 45th Jeeyar,

Sri Laksmhinarasimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivan Satagopa

Sri Narayana Yateendra Maha Desikan, he decided not to

spare any effforts to the fulfilment of this ambition.

 

His first visit to Ahobilam in November 1992 was for a

few days. But he took care to participate in the

BrahmOtsavam that followed. The year 1993 afforded him

a chance to observe ChAturmAsya Sankalpa when he stayed

in Ahobilam for over two months. His first poject

successfully completed was to lay 32 steps to the

Bhairava Kunda in Upper Ahobilam at a cost of

Rs.30000 that afforded a facility to the pilgrims to

get down and have a refreshing bath.

 

Ahobilam shrine was long back the target of the infields

who looted the temple property and the Lord and other

deities were bereft of the usual ornaments. The Jeer

was moved to see the plight and lord Prahalada Varada’s

Sankha, Chakra, Abhaya Hastam, Paadha Peetam were all

covered with gold.

 

A gold crown and yajnopaveetha also in gold were

presented to the deity. This cost the Muth a sum of

Rs.15 lakhs and were consecrated on 1st March 1993.

 

At Dighuva Ahobilam the pushkarani (temple tank) which

was in utter ruins and stinking, was renovated and

opened for the use of the pilgrims on 17.10.1994 at a

cost of Rs.17 lakhs. It is a boon indeed for the

visiting devotees.

 

A maha ratham (temple chariot) at cost of Rs.24 lakhs

was made and inaugurated during the Brahmotsavam on the

Rathosava day on 5.3.1996. A sum of Rs.9 lakhs was

graciousaly donated as a matching grant by the

Endowments Dept. Govt. of Andhra Pradesh through

Common Good Fund. The rest of the cost Rs.15 lakhs

was met by the Jeeyar of Sri Ahobila Muth. The Andhra

Pradesh Government was also good enough to lay pucca

roads on all the four mAda veedhis in Ahobilam for the

successful run of the MahA Ratham.

 

The Jeeyar took the initiative then to lay a good path to

Chatravata Sannidhi (one of the Nava Narasimhas) for the

convenience of the pilgrims.

 

As per the direction of His Holiness, one of his

disciples undertook to lay steps from the shrine of

Ahobila Narasimha (upper Ahobilam) to Sri Malola

Shrine - a difficult task on the winding route on the

hills.

 

By this endearment and through nogotiations, some

encroachments were cleared where the shed for the MahA

Ratham is now constructed.

 

The Jeeyar has made arrangements for daily pooja to be

performed in the Nava Narasimha shrines without

interuption. Hitherto it was only occasionally this

pooja was being done.

 

Steps have been taken to provide facility for stay at

Upper Ahobilam for Archakas, Paricharkaas etc., to be

of assistance to the visiting pilgrims.

 

Fulfilling his desire to renovate all the 9 Narasimha

shrines in Lower and Upper Ahobilam, the jeeyar, with

the help of Andhra Pradesh Governement, is in the task

of completing this renovation. The Jeeyar has

undertaken to renovate the Malola temple in Upper

Ahobilam at the Muth’s cost estimated at Rs.15 lakhs,

and the work is progressing.

 

The Ahobila Muth has built a guest house complex

consisting of 14 rooms and 10 dormitories for the

convenience of the pilgrims. Inagurated on the

occasion of the 6th centenary celebrations of the

establishment of Ahobila Muth in 1998, this complex

construction cost the Muth a sum of Rs.60 lakhs.

 

Three big halls with asbestos roofs have been built on

the northern side of the Prahalada Varada Temple. One

hall is meant for the use of the general public, one

hall for marriage parties and one will serve as quarters

for the temple staff.

 

Borewells have been dug at a few points in Ahobilam and

with over-head tanks and pump-motors, drinking water

facility has been provided to the village as well as

the travellers.

 

Steps are being taken to implement a drinking water

project for the entire Ahobilam village as a permanent

measure, by laying pipes etc., so as to bring BhArgava

theertha to the people.

 

The VAhanams used during BrahmOtsavam in Ahobilam are

in a damaged state. Hence the Jeeyar has undertaken to

make new vahanas - each costing not less than Rs.2 ½

lakhs. Simha Vahanam has been taken up first. The rest

will be completed soon.

 

An Addala Mandapa is being erected in Lower Ahobilam in

Prahlada Varada Shrine.

 

The link between Tirumala and Ahobilam dates back to

BrahmAnda purAnam which continues even to this day. The

officials of TTD who have endeared themselves to His

Holiness and also in view of the cordial relationship

between TTD and Ahobima Muth, have very generously been

sending TTD temple honours including Pattur and SEsha

vastralu to Sri Ahobila Narasimha every year on the

auspicious KalyAnOtsavam during BrahmOtsavam of

Ahobila Devasthanams.

 

The maintenance of TTD choultry in lower Ahobilam has

been handed over to the Muth authorities recently.

Taking up this responsibility, the Muth is providing

good service to the pilgrims who enjoy their stay

here confortably.

 

The 6th centenary celebrations in 1998 saw the

erection and operation of an electric sub-station by

APSEB which has to a good extent removed the erratic

power supply there hitherto. Thanks to APSEB, there is

shimmering light in the Ahobilam village. The Jeeyar’s

prayers were answered at a very appropriate time.

 

At the instance of His Holiness ever concened with the

development of Ahobilam, the Government of Andhra

Pradesh have taken steps to widen the roads

(1) from Allagadda to Ahobilam and

(2) from Ahobilam to Upper Ahobilam. The Muth commends

the devotion of duty of the officials of Andhra Pradesh

Government.

 

To commemorate the 6th centenary celebrations of the

Ahobila Muth, the Jeeyar has presented gold cover to

Sri Prahlada Varda and his two consorts made at a cost

of about 30 lakhs.

 

Praying for universal welfare and also praying for

development of Ahobila Kshetra, the Jeeyar of Sri

Ahobila Muth has initiated performance of special

pooja, homam, tirumanjanam, Sahasranam Archana every

month on the “Swathi” Nakshtra day, at all the Nava

Narasimha shrines both in lower and upper Ahobilam,

and this special pooja is successfully continuing

every month. A large number of Narasimha devotees

are participating from all parts of the India,

including Andhra Pradesh.

 

Catering arrangement are also now available to the

visiting opilgrims, who enjoy the timely food.

 

His Holiness is about to start a vEda pAtasAlA in

Ahobilam and a stotra pAta class so that people may

turn to devotional path.

 

It can be decisively said that these are no small

achievements. The Jeeyar of Sri Ahobilam wishes

that, Ahobilam should prosper like Tirumala and

hence he has put in all efforts to fulfil this

objective. The funds he earns in other parts of

the country paid to him as pAda kAnikka are

diverted for the development of Ahobilam. It

should be in the thought of every one to give

him a helping hand, and to give encouragement to

all his developmental activities.

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