Ahobilam Trip

[Guest guest]

Sri:

Srimathe

Ramanujaya Nama:

DIVYADESAM -AHOBILAM

– SINGAVEL KUNDRAM

Adiyen had the great bhagyam of visiting Ahobilam recently. A detailed

write up on this Divyadesam is presented below with photographs for the

bhagavadas to share the experience.

Ahobilam is situated in Andhra Pradesh ,

India . The

nearest Railway Station for express trains is Cuddapah. The Ahobila Madam

(the Headquarters of Sri Azhagiyasinger Swamigal) authorities arrange transport

from Cuddapah station to Ahobilam on request in advance which covers a distance

of 112 k.m.

Ahobilam is situated around the great Eastern Ghats or the Deccan plateau. The aithegam is that the great Adiseshan (the sacred

snake bed of Sriman Narayanan) crawled himself and is lying on these mountain

ranges (or is the mountain range in itself). The hooded head is the

Tirupathi Hills, the middle of his body is Ahobilam and the tail is Srisailam Mountains . Ahobilam is also the

place where Garuda Bhavan got prathyaksham (sacred appearance) of Sriman

Narayanan in the form of Sri Narasimhamurthy in one of the caves of the upper

Ahobilam mountains. Even now one can see three mountain formations in the

shape of Sri Garuda Bhavan, spreading His big wings on either side of this

range of mountains. (See photograph).

After Sri Vedantha Desigan’s son Sri Varadacharyar Swamy there was a gap in the

hierarchy of the acharya parampara. Once, Sri Narasimha perumal came in

the dreams of Sri Srinivasacharya, a great scholar, and asked him to go to

Ahobilam hills. As ordered Sri Srinivasachar went to the hills of

Ahobilam. There he met an elder Yogi. The yogi taught Sri

Srinivasacharyar all that is required for Srivaishava sampradayam and preached

Presha Mandiram and Narasimha Mandiram. He gave him the Thridandam (three

sacred sticks combined together with a flag on the top as a sign of becoming a

Sanyasi) and asked him to follow sanyasam. The Yogi named him Sadagopayathi.

Sri Sadagopayathi Jeer Swamigal realized that Lord Narasimhamurthy

Himself had come in person in the guise of a Yogi. Sri Sadagopa Jeer

Swamy took him as his Guru. He created the Ahibila Madam and spread

Srivaishnavam and the glory of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar. The Jeer of the

Madam is also called Sri Azhagiyasingar. The Uthsava moorthies of all the

9 Narasimha Shethrams are kept at the main temple of Sri Prahalatha Narasimhar at the Lower Ahobilam . The uthsava moorthy of Sri Malola

Narasimhar with Pirati is worshiped in the main Ahobila Madam Jeer sannadhi by

its Jeer Sri Azhagiyasingar.

One should have great bhakthi, determination and physical fitness to visit by

walk to the Narasimha Shethrams on the Ahobilam Hills. Katcha roads are

formed to certain distance in the hills. Thereafter one has to trek on

dry stream path of road less travel covering more than 6 to 7 k.ms. of rocky and slippery mountain

slopes of big and small boulders. It is very essential to take a Guide

along to show the way, otherwise one may get lost en route. However, with the

nirhetuka krupai of both Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar and Sri Azhagiyasingar, one can

complete the trek irrespective of age and physical ability.

There are 12 Narasimha Temples in Ahobilam, which is divided into Lower

Ahobilam and Upper Ahobilam . (1) Jwala

Narasimhar (2) Ahobila Narasimhar (3) Malola Narasimhar (4) Varaha Narasimhar

(5) Karanja Narasimhar (6) Bhargava narasimhar (7) Yoganantha Narasimhar (8)

Sathravada Narasimhar (9) Pavana Narasimhar (10) Ugrasthamba Narasimhar (11)

Prahlatha Mettu(12) Prahlatha Varada Narasimhar. Out of the above one can

visit only 9 Sri Narasimha Sthalams. The Ukrasthambam (10) and Prahalatha

Mettu (11) can not be reached by old people, ladies and children as they are

situated at the top of steep hills with very difficult terrain.

Out of

the 9 Narasimha Sthalams that we visited two are very difficult to reach. (1)

Pavana Narasimhar Sannadhi (2) Jwala Narasimhar Sannadhi. We have to

negotiate slippery narrow rock path carved out of the mountains, holding the

chains provided on the rock wall for the pilgrims on the way to Jwala

Narasimhar Sannadhi.

Very

small lingering water streams fall on us as tiny water drops during summer

season (and more water during the winter months) while negotiating these mountain

trail to reach Jwala Narasimhar Sannadhi. On the way one can also see

picturesque mountains and valleys and plenty of huge fossil rocks making

exquisite flowing patterns on the rock formation.

As per aithegam, the 6th Jeer of Ahobila Madam, Sri

Srishashtaparangusa Yatheenthra Maha Desigan took refuge in a cave by the side

of this Jwala Narasimhar Sannadhi and never came back. It is believed that he

is still there doing thapas.

While looking at the Ugrasthambam from below on the way to Jwala Narasimhar

Sannadhi, one can imagine the huge Palace of Hiranyakasipu ,

standing majestically on the top of the hill with beautifully carved

pillars. Sri Narasimhar came out of one of these pillars split into two

to destroy the demon Hiranyakasipu--giving darsanam to His beloved

Prahladazhwan. Even now huge mandapams are seen on the way, filled with

the growth of mountains and only the edges visible, reminding us of the glory

of our culture time immemorial (yugas

past i.e.).

After another most difficult mountain terrain trekking for 4 to 5 k.m. we reach

the Pawana Narasimhar Sannadhi where during festival season in April the local

people around Cuddapah and Ahobilam throng this Sannadhi and worship

Pavana Narasimhar.

Narasimha Awatharam is very unique in the sense that it was spontaneous and for

a very limited period just to save His young ardent devotee, Prahalath-azhwan,

unlike other Avathars of Sarvavyapee Sriman Narayanan.

One of the most beautiful and huge, awe inspiring place in Ahobilam is the Temple of Sri

Lakshminarasimhar at the Lower Ahobilam called Prahlathavaradar. The temple itself is unique in its exquisitely

carved sculptures and the beautiful bright swaroopa of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar

as Prakalathavaradar. It is very significant to have dharshan of Vishvaroopa

Seva, when the temple cow comes of its own, dancing towards the Garba Graham,

stands towards the entrance and walks majestically after having the prasadam

offered.

The temple pushkarani is situated at the left side just before entering the temple Gopuram .

There is a huge tall 80 ft. Jaya Sthambam

just opposite the Rajagopuram of Lower Ahobilam Temple. It is carved out

of single rock and goes 30 ft. deep inside the earth, we were told. This

was installed by a Hindu King (one of the Kakatiya Warangal rulers) to indicate

the victory over the enemies. Sri Thirumangai Azhwar has rendered 10

Pasurams of this Divyadesam, Singavel Kundram in Periya Thirumozhi, Ezham

Patthu (7th bunch of ten Pasurams) under Anganmagnalam – Singavel Kundram

(Divya Prabandam 1008 to 1017). Of particular interest is the Pasuram

1012, which goes like this:

Mendrapezhvai vAleyitror

kolariyai avunan

Pondra

aagam vallugiral pozhntha punithan eidam

Ninra sentheemondu soorai neelvisum poodiriya

Sendru kandar karia koil singavel kundrame Meaning: HE (Sriman Narayanan) took the form

of the

Gigantic fearful Narasimhamurthy (to save

HIS devotee Sri Prahlada)

Chewing mouth in great rage, having tooth

like a saw, tears the body of

Hiranya with his sharp nails into two, the

Savior is here;

The storm drives away the forest fire

engulfing the vast sky above the hills

The Temple ,

difficult to go and worship, which is Singavel Kundram

 

Please,

kshamikka prarthikiren for any errors. Adiyen's hope/prayer is for everybody to

have darsanam of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar as soon as possible.

 

Sri Lashmi Narasimhar Thiruvadigale sharanam

Sri Prahlada-azhwan Thiruvadigale sharanam

 

Azhwar Emberumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale sharanam

Adiyen Ranga Madabushi Ramanuja Dasan

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are invited to view a photo from Chandra's photo album: Ahobilam Trip

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A route map showing all the Narasimha Shethrams as displayed at the Ahobila Madam - Lower Ahobilam

 

 

View Photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=chandra.madabushi04 & target=PHOTO & id=5339281210503932386 & aid=5339277058641827297 & authkey=Gv1sRgCLOKia3Z3tSgcQ & feat=email

 

To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Email addresses available on

Get the Email name you've always wanted on the new @ymail and @rocketmail.

Hurry before someone else does!

 

Get your new Email address!

Grab the Email name you've always wanted before someone else does!

 

Get your new Email address!

Grab the Email name you've always wanted before someone else does!