Nine forms of Lord Narasimha Swamy in Ahobilam

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Dear Bhakti List Members:

 

This is a continuation from yesterday's discussion.

 

3. Malola Narasimha Swamy

Not far from Krodha Narasimha Swamy temple is a small cave

dedicated to Malola Narasimha Swamy on the banks of the

great river Kanakabhaya. The deity here appears in "Soumya"

or graceful form. As the Lord is seen with His consort,

Sri. Mahalakshmi, He is known as Malola Narasimha Swamy.

The word Malola is actually Ramalola which means the beloved

to Mahalakshmi. It may be noted that the Vedadri hill in Upper Ahobilam area

was designated as Lakshmi Kshetra by Lord Sri Maha Vishnu as He gave

prominence to Sri Mahalakshmi in this place.

 

The Lord is seated here in the Sukhasana pose with his left

leg folded while his right leg is at ease. The Lord's two upper

hands, right and left hold the Chakra and Sankha, respectively

while the two lower hands show, one in the Abhaya Hasta mudra

and the other around His Consort. Sri Mahalakshmi, with her

hands one in Kataka and the other in Prasarita Vama Hasta

mudra is shown seated on His lap. It seems when the question

of which Utsavamurty should accompany the Jeer during his

regular sojourns arised, it is believed that the Utsavamurty of

Malola Narasimha Swamy appeared in the dream of His Holiness

Sriman Adivan Satakopa Jeer as an answer. Since then this idol

has been with the Jeers and is carried by them to all places on

their religious tours and is worshipped regularly.

 

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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