Sunday, July 29, 2018
Sthalapuranam
Chenchulakshmi
Mahalakshmi has taken birth here in the family of hunters as " Chenchulakshmi " and married Narasimha to calm him down after he killed Hiranyakasapa in the avatar. A festive annual fair is carried over to this extant in the Tamil month of Maasi, when the local tribe actively
participates.
Garudachala
Garuda, worshipped Lord Vishnu with a desire to see his Narasimha Avatar. The mountain on which Garuda performed Tapas became famous as Garudachala
God Garuda commenced silent penance to obtain a vision of Lord Narasimha who destroyed Hiranyakashipu. The Lord in his grace, after long years of the tapas of God Garuda, Pleased with his worship, Vishnu is said to have manifested in the nine forms of Narasimha at Ahobilam as Vedagiri mountain
Bhavanasini Thirtha
The two crests of the hill are called Vedadri and Garudadri, through which the Bhavanasini Thirtha flows.
Lions dwell in the forest and no wonder the half lion manifestation that Narasimha took chose to dwell in similar surroundings.
The Khetra Mahaatmyam of the Simhaachalam temple says that there are four important sacred places on the earth. Ahobilam is one of them, the other three being Simhaachalam, Krutasoucham and Harampapam. The Sthala Puraanam of the temple is said to be an extract fom the Bramhaanda Puraanam with 10 chapters enclosing 1046 verses composed by Maharshi Veda Vyasa. Ahobilam is also mentioned in the Mahabhaarata, Raamaayana, Koorma Puraana, Padma Puraana and the Visnu Puraana.
This sacred place was the kingdom of Hiyanyakasipu in the Krita Yuga and Lord Lakshmi Narasimha came out of the pillar and destroyed him. This place is called Vedaachalam, Garudaachalam and Veera Kshetram. It is also known as Singavel Kundram. Tirumangai Azhwar, a famous vaisnavite saint praised this Lord as " He other than whom nobody can enter reside in this Kshetra."
There are two popular legends for the derivation of the name ' Ahobilam. ' It is stated that the devaas while witnessing the terryfying aspect ( Ugra Kaala ) of the Lord sang His praise as ' Aho Bala ' which beans ' Behold the mighty strength. ' Hence this place came to be known as Ahobalam. This is seen in the following verse -
Ahoveeryam Ahosauryam Ahobaahu: Paraakramah |
Naarasimham Param Daivam Ahobilam Ahobalam ||
The other version is that because of the great cave, the Aho-Bhila, where Garuga worshipped and realised the Lord, the place itself has been come to be called as Ahobhila.
- It is said that Lord Brahma worshipped the Lord with the Ahobila mantram. Besides Brahma,
- Ahobila Narasimha was also worshipped by Rudra ( Sri Manthra Raaja Pada Sthothram, Ahirbudhnya Samhita, Paancha Raathra Aagama),
- Raama ( Vaalmiki Raamaayana ) and
- Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy also called Srinivaasa.
- Ahobila Narasimha is praised as " Periya Periya Perumal " in Tamizh.
The Ahobilam Kaifiyat, a digest from the village registers prepared by the Mussaddis working under Col. Mackenzie gives support to this legend. As per this record, " On one of the mountains in the Nallamalai hills range, eight amadas from Srisaila Kshetram, Garuda commenced silent penance to obtain a vision of Lord Narasimha. The Lord in His grace, after long years of penance of Garuda, manifested Himself in the cave of a mountain.
Ten 'Paruvu's to the north-east of the mountain, where Garuda was doing penance, a vision of His manifestaion was then granted to Garuda, who after obtaining a sign of the location of the mountain-cave, gladly travelled thither and saw the embodiment of the Satsvaroopa, MahaaPurusa, Lord Jvaalaa Nrusimha, not easily accessible to common people. Garuda then praised the Lord that " Ahobilam is Mahaa Balam." The Lord's divya mangala vigraha was worshipped by him with several stothraas. Garuda then considered himself blessed. The divine place thereafter ontained the deserving name of Ahobilam.
The mountain on which Garuda performed tapas became famous as Garudaachala. In the days of yore when truth and Dharma prevailed, great heat was observed near the mountain-cave of Ahobila. According to legend, when green grass was put in the cave, it would catch fire and smoke would be emitted. Several great rishis lived there for a time. After sometime with the knowledge that great places would become common Janapadaas in Kali Yuga, they left for northern lands covering up the cave with boulders. Traditionally, the place is being called as Narasimha Kshetra.
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