Ahobilam Divya Desam Yathrai !

[Guest guest]

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.

 

 

 

 

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