Nine forms of Lord Narasimha Swamy in Ahobilam

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Dear Bhakti List Members:

 

This is a continuation from yesterday's discussion.

 

2. Krodha Narasimha Swamy or Varaha Narasimha Swamy

There is a small temple cavern, not far from Ahobila

Narasimha Swamy temple, on the banks of the Bhavanasini

river, dedicated to Krodha Narasimha or Varaha Narasimha

Swamy facing South. There are two shrines in this temple,

one a sthanaka(standing) for of Sri Varaha Narasimha Swamy

with Goddess Bhudevi on his shoulder and the other Sri.

Laskhmi Narasimha Swamy with Goddess Lakshmi on his side.

It is interesting to note that while Varaha and Narasimha

avataras are considered as separate avataras in Dasavataras,

we somtimes come across the combined form, namely Sri. Varaha

Narasimha Swamy. The popular shrine of Sri. Varaha Narasimha

Swamy is located at Simhachalam in the Vishakapatnam district

of AP.

 

One plausible interpretation for this combination is that since

the two avataras happened in the same Yuga, one in the form of

Bhu Varaha to protect the earth from the menace of Hiryanaksha

and the other in the form of Lord Narasimha to kill his brother

Hiryanakasipua, they may have been combined as Varaha Narasimha.

However, since only Lakshmi kala could calm down Lord Narasimha,

His avatara was complete only with His divine consort (Sri.

Mahalakshmi) by His side (hence Laskhmi Narasimha Swamy).

Another interpretation is that since Maha Vishnu is always with

His divine consorts Sri Devi and Bhu Devi, by combining Varaha

and Narasimha Swamy, we get Bhu Devi from Varahavatara and Sri

Devi from Narasimhavatara that would result in Sri Varaha

Narasimha Swamy. Whether or not this interpretation is

right is left to the discretion of the vedic scholars.

 

 

To be continued...

 

The credit for the information provided herein should be

given to "Sapthagiri" which is a Tirumala Tirupati

Devasthanams Publication. The original article was written

by Acharya Komanduri Ranga of Stillwater, OK.

 

adiyen rAmAnuja dAsan,

Venkata Yatiraj Anand

 

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