AnnamaacchArya's tributes to Ahobilam :Part I

[Guest guest]

SrI:Dear BhakthAs :

 

Saint Annamayyaa's devotion to Lord VenkatEsa

is legendary .

 

In our CD ROM for which I am requesting a modest

support , we will cover a sampling of Annamayyaa's

reverence for BhagavAn Narasimhan of Ahobilam .

Lord SrinivAsan had his TadhiyArAdhanam prior to

His VivAham at Ahobilam and got the blessings of

Lord Narasimhan .

 

The other reason for Annamayyaa's reverence for

Ahobilam is due to his Asanchala AchArya Bhakthi .

Annamayyaa and his two wives were blessed with

SamAsrayaNam and prapatthi from the First Jeeyar

of Ahobila Matam , Sri Aadhi VaNN SaThakOpa

Jeeyar . Further , Annamayyaa had performed Grantha

ChAthushtya KaalakshEpam under the sacred feet of

the First ( Founding ) Jeeyar of Ahobila Matam .

 

In one of the UpadEsa Krithis extolling the greatness of

the NrusimhAvathAra Dhivya Desam , Annamayyaa

asks us to meditate on "Ahobalam " and gives us

the reasons for his upadEsam in the Pallavi section

of the Krithi set by him in Raaga ReethigouLai :

 

Pallavi:

*********

 

" anisamu dalacarO Ahobalam

ananta Phaladham Ahobalam"

 

(Meaning) : Oh AasthikAs ! Please contemplate always on

the dhivya dEsam of Ahobalam , the One sung by Thirumangai

Mannan and the One , where Nava Narasimhars await us

to bless us ! They shower on the devotees , who seek Their

refuge " endless " soubhAgyams as Phalans( anantha phaladham).

 

This Krithi has three CharaNams . All of them salute the auspiciousness

of this sacred place of residence of the Lord and identify Ahobalam

(Ahobilam) as the real abode of Hari .

 

First CharaNam :

********************

 

Hari nija-nilayam AhObalam

Hara Virinchi nuta mAhObalam

aruNa-MaNi-Sikhara mahObalam

ari daitya-haraNa mahObalam

 

Ahobilam is the preferred place of residence of Hari ( Narasimhan).

It is His true abode . He has Sri Vaikuntam , Milky Ocean ,

the heart lotus of Yogis as the other places of residence .

He resides also at Many dhivya dEsams in Svayam vyaktha

( Self-Manifested ) form ( Kaanchi , Thirumalaa et al ) but

AhObilam , where He incarnated from the Ugra Sthambham

to protect His Baala BhAgavathan , PrahlAdhan and stayed as

PrahlAdha Varadhan is His true abode ( nija nilayam) .

 

Here both Sarvajn~an Lord SivA and BrahmA eulogize Him .

Lord SivA eulogizes Him ( Lord Narasimhan) thru the devotion-

soaked Mantra Raaja Padha SthOthram and performs his

Prapatthi at the sacred feet of his Lord and identifies himself

as the dAsan of the Lord of Ahobilam .

 

Brahma was terrified by the fierce appearnace of

the Lord as Jwaalaa Narasimhan . Even after the samhAram of

HiraNyan , the Lord's anger did not subside . Brahmaa and all

the other dEvAs as well as Mahaa Lakshmi were afraid to approach

the angry Lord immersed in fierce tongues of flames . Finally Brahma

thought upon the act of sending PrahlAdhan near the Lord . PrahlAdha's

Sthuthi quenched the ferocity of the Lord and made Him

a Saantha Moorthy . Now Mahaa Lakshmi Joined Her Lord

to make Him Lakshmi Narasimhan .

 

In the next line , Annamayyaa pays tribute to the scene of dawn

at Ahobilam : " AruNa-MaNi-Sikhara mahObalam". As Annamayyaa

completed his morning SandhyA Vandhanam before Sunrise and

lifted His head as he stood on the banks of BhavanAsini river ,

he was thrilled by the sight of the peaks of GarushAdhri ,

VedAdhri and other mountains being decorated by the rays

of the rising Sun ( aruNOdhayam) . He was overtaken by

the sight of AruNa driving the Chariot of Soorya NaarAyaNa

Moorthy pulled by the seven horses . He enjoyed the bejewelled

peaks of the mountians surounding this dhivya dEsam , the true

abode of Hari .

 

In the final line of the First CharaNam , Annamayyaa recognizes

Ahobilam as the site , where the Lord destroyed the entire asura

kulam ( ari daitya haraNa mahObalam) . Here , He tore apart

HiraNyan , who committed offenses against HIs Parama Bhakthan .

Annamayyaa suggests that , the Lord destroyed the entire demon

clan from HIs true abode and maintained dharma ( Dharma samsthApanam).

 

Second CharaNam :

*********************

 

atisaya Subhadham ahObalam

atula manOhara mahObalam

hata duritacayam ahObalam

Yatimata siddham ahObalam

 

(Meaning provided by Ambika Ananth and Adviteeya Dixit):

 

" Bestower of supreme auspiciousness, AhObalam

Immeasurably magnificient , AhObalam

Destroyer of sinful ways , Ahobalam

Yathi Matham is established here , AhObalam"

 

Third CharaNam:

********************

 

agu SrI Venkata mahObalam

agamya masurula kahObalam

agapadu puNyula kahObalam

agakularAjam ahObalam

 

(Meaning Provided by Amabika Ananath & Adviteeya Dixit):

 

" That Sree VenkatEsa AhObalam

Unpercievable by the wicked , Ahobalam

Percieved by the meretorious, Ahobalam

The King of all mountains --AhObalam ".

 

Inview of the profound references that Annamayyaa

makes in the second and third charaNams about

VisishtAdhvaitha doctrines , we will reserve the commentaries

on the words chosen by Annamayyaa in the next posting .

 

(To Be continued)

 

NamO Sri NarasimhAyaa !

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil V.Sadagopan