Chapter 7 of the Narasimha book: Ahovalam, the place where Lord Narasimha killed Hiranyakasipu

[Paramananda das]

In the Nrsimha-Purana, it is said:

satye daitya-kuladhi-nasa-samaye simhordhva-martyakrtis tretayam das-kandharam paribhavan rameti namakrtih gopalan paripalayan vraja-pure bharam haran dvapare gaurangah priya-kirtanah kali-yuge chaitanya-nama prabhuh

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead who in the Satya-Yuga appeared as a half-man, half-lion to cure a terrible disease that had ravaged the daityas, and who in the Treta-Yuga appeared as Rama [Lord Ramachandra], the person who defeated the ten-headed Demon Ravana, and who in the Dvapara-Yuga removed the earth's burden, and protected the Gopa [cowherd men] people of Vraja-pura, will appear again in the Kali-Yuga. His form will be golden, He will delight in chanting the Lord's holy names, and His name will be Chaitanya."

So from Narasimha Purana it is very clear that  Lord Narasimhadeva appeared in Satya yuga.Lord Narasimha appears in different forms but the form of Lord Narasimha that is described in Srimad Bhagavatam appeared in Satya yuga.

Now we have established the time, the next question is where:

During Srila Prabhupadas presence, some devotees had doubts about Prabhupadas pointing out that Lord Narasimha appeared in Ahovalam, they speculated Lord Narasimha appeared in India loka:

"The Crow Tal-fruit Controversy" Vrndavana, April 10, 1976

Yasodanandana: Prabhupada, there has been discussion amongst many of the members of the press and the Sanskrit editors regarding the actual place of Nrsimha's pastimes. So I told them that on the occasion of our travel to we visited this place Ahobilam, and the panditas, they have scriptural reference from the Brahmanda Purana and the Nrsimha Purana that the place is actually mentioned there, and it has been recognized by Ramanujacarya and many of the great Alwar saints. And yourself have already told me twice personally that this was the actual place where it happened. And on top of the mountain there, there is the pillar, iron pillar, which is the symbol of the spot where Lord Nrsimha killed Hiranyakasipu. So for the benefit of all of these devotees, they were just requesting your actual .

Prabhupada: Confirmation or no confirmation, Nrsimhadeva is our worshipable Deity, that's all. Why you are bothering where He killed Hiranyakasipu? You worship Him, that's all.

Yasodanandana: They just wanted...

Jayadvaita: The question came up because they have some pictures, photographs from these places, and we wanted to know if they were suitable for publishing or not.

Prabhupada: So why you are bothering with that? Let it be accepted or not accepted. Worship Him.

Aksayananda: Not that important.

Prabhupada: That is the important thing. [break] A man is diseased. He has gone to the physician. So whether is the first duty to investigate wherefrom the disease came or to cure him? Which is important?

Yasodanandana: To cure.

Prabhupada: Similarly, Nrsimhadeva might have done this or here or there, but He is our worshipable Deity, that's all. Why bother with unnecessary things? We know Nrsimha is everywhere. Andantara stha paramanu cayan... That is the conclusion.

Jayadvaita: We were just afraid that if we published a picture that was not correct, then you might become like Nrsimhadeva.

Prabhupada: Hm?

Jayadvaita: We were afraid that if we were to publish a picture that is not correct...

Prabhupada: So when it is disputed, why should that picture? It is controversial. You should not print.

Yasodanandana: The controversy is only amongst the...

Prabhupada: Whatever it may be. As soon as there is little controversy.... I explained yesterday.

Pusta Krsna: For dhatun?(?)

Prabhupada: No, the crow, the crow and the tala fruit. Somebody said this; somebody said this. Then what is that important thing? Crow and a tala. You know the kaka-taliya-nyaya?

Yasodanandana: I never heard that story.

Prabhupada: There was a tree, tala tree, and.... tala tree. So one crow was there, and the tala fruit fell down. Two panditas, they began, "Whether the tala fruit fell down.... Because the crow sat down on it, therefore fell down." The other said, "No, the tala fruit was falling down, and the crow could not sit on it." And they began to fight: "No, this." He said, "No this, no this," go on.

Aksayananda: Or maybe the crow tried to eat it.

Yasodanandana: I think in this case it was just a question that they never knew actually what was the actual position. But if Your Divine Grace does not wish anything to be published regarding that place, then we will not do.

Prabhupada: As soon as there is some controversy, avoid it. That's all. Tala fruit and crow. You worship Nrsimhadeva. Ito nrsimhah parato, yato yato yami tato nrsimhah. Nrsimhadeva is everywhere.

Pusta Krsna: Bahir nrsimho hrdaye...

Prabhupada: Why Nrsimha should be confined: "He was here"? He is everywhere. And as He is everywhere, He is here also. That's all. (END)

So Srila Prabhupada told these doubters just worship Lord Narasimha.The fact remains that Lord Narasimha appeared in Ahovalam.This is not only confirmed in Ahovalam Mahatmya , but in many Puranas.

In Ahovalam there is 9 forms of Lord Narasimhadeva that is worshipped:

(1) Prahlada-varada Narasimha or Lakshmi Narasimha, (2) Chatravata Narasimha,  (3) Yogananda Narasimha, (4) Karanda Narasimha, (5) Krodha Narasimha, (6) GuhaNarasimha, (7) Jwala Narasimha, (8) Malola Narasimha, and (9) Pavana Narasimha.  

Ahovalam is one of the  Divya Desams of the Sri Vaisnavas, and is mentioned by the Alvars .The Sthala Purana of Simhacalam also confirms this.

Lord Ramachandra visited this place in Treta yuga also and worshipped Lord Narasimha:

Nrsimha Pancamrta; Chapter 47

: Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasa

Harivamsa Purana

(introductory verse)

ahovalam narasimham gatva ramah pratapavan

namaskutya sri nrsimham astausit kamala patim

(1)

govinda kesava janardana vasudeva

visvesa-visva madhusudana visvarupa

sri padmanabha purusottama puskaraksa

narayanacyuta nrsimho namo namaste

(2)

devah samastah khalu gopi mukhyah

gandharva vidyadhara kinnaras ca

yat pada-mulam satatam namanti

tam narasimham saranam gato' smi

(3)

vedan samastan khalu sastragarbhan

vidyam balam kirtimatim ca laksmim

yasya prasadat purusa labhante

tam narasimham saranam gato 'smi

(4)

brahma sivas tvam purusottamas ca

narayano'sau marutam patis ca

candrarka vayvagni marud-ganas ca

tvam eva tam tvam satatam nato 'smi

(5)

snapne 'pi nitya jagatam asesam

srasta ca hanta vibhura prabheyah

trata tvam eka strividho vibinnah

tam tvam nrsimham satatam nato 'smi

(concluding verses)

iti stutva raghusresthah

pujayamasa tam harim

puspa vrstih papatasu

tasya devasya murdhani

raghavena kutam stotram

pancamrta manuktamam

pathanti ye dvijavarah

tesam svargastu sasvatah

(Introductory Verse)

The glorious Rama once visited Ahobala, where He saw the deity of Lord Nrsimha. He offered His obeisances to Lord Kamalapati (husband of the goddess of fortune) and prayed as follows.

(1) O Govinda, Kesava, Janardana, Vasudeva, Visvesa (the controller of the universe), Visva, Madhusudana, Visvarupa, Sri Padmanabha, Purusottama, Puskaraksa, Narayana, Acyuta. O LordNrsimha I offer my respectful obeisances unto You again and again.

(2) I have taken shelter of Lord Nrsimha unto whose lotus feet demigods, prominent yogis, gandharvas, vidyadharas and kinnaras, are constantly offering their obeisances.

(3) I have taken shelter of Lord Nrsimha by whose mercy people receive all the Vedas, the essence of all scriptures, knowledge, strength, reputation and wealth.

(4) You are Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and the best person Lord Narayana. You are the master of the Marutas and You are the sun, the moon, air and the fire as well as the Marut -ganas. I offer my obeisances unto You.

(5) I offer my obeisances unto Lord Nrsimha who is the creator, the maintainer and the destroyer of the entire universe. Although You perform all of these three acts simultaneously You are completely beyond these activities. You are the all pervading, unlimited supreme spirit.

(Concluding Verses)

this way the best of the Raghus, Lord Ramacandra worshipped Lord Hari. At that time the demigods showered a rain of flowers on the head of Lord Nrsimhadeva.

This is the best of , called pancamrta or five nectars compiled by Lord Rama Himself. One who reads this will be liberated eternally.

Lord Caitanya worshipped Lord Narasimha here in Kali yuga, This is mentioned in Caitanya Caritamrta:

CC Madhya 9.16: There he saw Lord Mahādeva [Śiva], the servant of Lord Rāma. He then went to Ahovala-nṛsiḿha.

CC Madhya 9.17: Upon seeing the Ahovala-nṛsiḿha Deity, Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered many unto the Lord. He then went to Siddhavaṭa, where He saw the Deity of Rāmacandra, the Lord of Sītādevī.

In later chapter the 9 forms of Lord Narasimha at Ahovalam will be   explained

Thus ends the 7th chapter of "  Sri Narasimha" for the pleasure of all aspiring Narasimha bhaktas

[Paramananda das]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECRdfhMKCKY