Sri Nrsimha Jaya Nrsimha Jay Jay Nrsimha
Sri Krishna Jay Krishna Jay Jay Krishna
I have been meaning to do this blog for stories of Nrsimhadev's devotees for a while now, but wasn't able to get round to it, mainly because it my first time and have no idea where to start. Kindly bear with me and I ll try to improve it as I go along and learn more about blogging.
There are a lot of stories I have heard and read about the wonderful experiences devotees have had by surrendering to Lord Nrsimha.
Here are some of the stories I have copied and paste from the net to share with you all. As I go along I will try to add more stories as and when I find New ones.
Posted: 11/05/2012
Source: http://www.ariseindiaforum.org/merciful-appearance-lord-nrsimhadev-life/
Merciful Appearance of Lord Nrsimhadev in Our Life
Submitted by admin on January 31, 2012 – 11:04 AMOne Comment | 336 views
This is an Excellent post where lord Narsimhadev appears and protects the girl child of Hare Krishna (ISKCON) devotee in Europe Yugoslavian state. Read it very carefully.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Please accept our humble pranams! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila
Gurudev !!
Please accept our humble pranams! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila
Gurudev !!
Recently we had gone through a real nightmare which I would like to share with all of you as it is still fresh in my memory. On 29th May 2011, my wife (HG Shilpa devi dasi) who was at the 7 month of her pregnancy was hospitalized. At 2 am she had severe bleeding and I had to drive her to the hospital, which was 60 miles away in a neighbouring country. Imagine driving someone for 1.5 hours that too at any point this person could bleed to death, but my wife insisted that she should be dropped at this private hospital and not at any other hospital. For sure, Paramatma guided her the best direction as it proved that it was the best hospital and most probably both she and the baby would have died if taken in other hospitals. Our beloved spiritual master H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj always says, “Krishna works in miraculous ways.”
My wife told me later that she was convinced that she was going to die and she accepted this fact also, as one of the Western astrologer had told her long time back, that it is possible that she will die during operation. While driving as well as in the hospital, until the moment of operation, my wife constantly offered prayers to Lord Nrsimhadev. When we reached the hospital the doctor examined the baby and noticed that the heart beat of the baby has almost stopped and he immediately asked for preparation for surgical intervention. Somehow again by Krishna’s mercy, I was watching the heart beat in the monitor. I noticed that the beat was coming back, in a very sober state. I told the doctor (who was in panic), “Please wait. Don’t take them to surgery. I saw the heart beat was coming back.” I don’t know how this is possible (must be the Paramatma in doctor’s heart).
Interestingly, the doctor listened to my advice and he said, “Ok. We will wait; but monitor her heart beat for 24 hours and so it happened that these 24 hours were like Lord’s blessing time, to prepare the baby for premature delivery, to stabilize her breathing etc. Next day at 4am the bleeding started profusely again. The baby’s heart beat again became unstable. This time, my wife told the doctor, “It is time to take me to the surgery room.” She called me and said, “I am going to be operated.” I remember driving to the hospital at 4am and I prayed so intensely to the Lord, as never before in my life.
Interestingly, the doctor listened to my advice and he said, “Ok. We will wait; but monitor her heart beat for 24 hours and so it happened that these 24 hours were like Lord’s blessing time, to prepare the baby for premature delivery, to stabilize her breathing etc. Next day at 4am the bleeding started profusely again. The baby’s heart beat again became unstable. This time, my wife told the doctor, “It is time to take me to the surgery room.” She called me and said, “I am going to be operated.” I remember driving to the hospital at 4am and I prayed so intensely to the Lord, as never before in my life.
After the operation my wife told me something amazing. She told me that just before they gave her the sleeping shot at the operation table, she also prayed very sincerely and intensely to the Lord Nrsimhadev. She told me, “At that time, I fully concentrated my mind on the prayers, so much so that I forgot everything – home, my 3 year old daughter, baby, you. I saw death coming and I just concentrated my thought on the Lord. When I felt asleep I noticed that I left my body and I saw a brightest light I have never ever seen in my life. Out of that light Lord Nrsimhadev appeared. Pointing at my dead body full of blood He told me, “Do you see what has remained from your material life?” I looked at my dead body and understood what the Lord was saying. I told, ‘My Lord I am ready to die and You do as you like; But please accept my request. I feel I am not pure enough and I have left my young daughter (Mira age 3) at home.’ After few moments of silence, Lord Nrsimhadev with most blissful smile told me, “I will give you a second chance.” and disappeared together with this great radiance.” My wife Shilpa, aged 39, is a Muslim by birth and we live in Kosovo, Yugoslavia. Few years ago she came in touch with Srila Prabhupada books. She got brief association of our beloved Guru Maharaj who had compassionately given her shelter and had blessed her with the name Shilpa devi dasi. She chants her rounds and has just basic knowledge of the shastras. But by the inconceivable, causeless mercy of Srila Gurudev, Srila Prabhupada and Lord Narasimhadev, she was able to get a second chance and both she and our second baby Maya, were able to survive. Next day the whole medical staff came to see her in disbelief. Many senior doctors were surprised to see them alive and told her, “99% of the patients die in your condition!” But they did not know that Lord Nrsimhadev wanted them to live. Please remember that there is no difference between Lord, His holy names. They are indeed same in identity. This incident again reminds us the truth in the Srimad Bhagavtam verse 1.6
25 (Maharaj’s favourite verse)
25 (Maharaj’s favourite verse)
etaavad uktvo pararaama tan mahad / bhutam nabholingam alingam ishvaram aham
ca tasmai mahataam mahiyase / sheershnaava naamam vidadhe anukampitah
ca tasmai mahataam mahiyase / sheershnaava naamam vidadhe anukampitah
“Then that Supreme authority, personified by sound and unseen by eyes, but most wonderful, stopped speaking. Feeling a sense of gratitude, I offered my obeisances unto Him, bowing my head.”
In the purport to the above verse His Divine Grace very nicely says – “That the Personality of Godhead was not seen but only heard does not make any difference. The Personality of Godhead produced the four Vedas by His breathing, and He is seen and realized through the transcendental sound of the Vedas. Similarly, the Bhagavad-Gita is the sound representation of theLord, and there is no difference in identity. The conclusion is that the Lord can be seen and heard by persistent chanting of the transcendental
sound.”
sound.”
Below are some of the lessons which I learnt from the above experience.
1. In good or bad times – always have faith in Lord. In the pretext of not being an advanced devotee, no association, less sadhana etc, we should not lose faith on Lord’s mercy. Just go on with devotional service. Lord will definitely come. Do not doubt.
2. At the times of death or any other calamities, even though we may have so many friends and family members, people will not help us. If some one is there to help us, so far so good. But whether anyone is there or not, only Lord is our sure and permanent shelter. So instead of having unnecessary expectations from others, just depend only on Lord and offer Him sincere prayers. It is FREE and you can perform it ANYWHERE in this material cosmos,
what to speak of this planet ?
what to speak of this planet ?
Our daughter Maya (devotees named her Yoga Maya devi dasi) is expected to come out of the hospital soon. For more than a month now she is inside the baby incubator. To everybody’s surprise, she never had any difficulties even though she was prematurely born in 7 months. From the very first day, she breathed without machine support and never had any difficulties even though she is fed with artificial milk. As Maharaj would always say and show in his personal life, “If Krishna wants somebody to live, that person will live.” We humbly request all of you to bless her that she becomes servant of the servant of the Lord and request you to please continue with the wonderful
contributions to Granthraj group.
contributions to Granthraj group.
Sri Sri Prahlad Narasinghadev Bhagavan ki Jai ! Granthraj Srimad Bhagavatam ki Jai ! Srila Prabhupada ki Jai ! Srila Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj Gurudev ki Jai!
We request your blessings to remain under the protection and shelter of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev.
Thank you very much,
Your most fallen servants,
Muralidhara Krishna das, Shilpa devi dasi, Mira Bai devi dasi, Yoga-Maya
devi dasi, Kosovo (ex.Yugoslavian state),
Europe.
Your most fallen servants,
Muralidhara Krishna das, Shilpa devi dasi, Mira Bai devi dasi, Yoga-Maya
devi dasi, Kosovo (ex.Yugoslavian state),
Europe.
Posted 05/12/2010
Nrsimha saves a South African family
Submitted by Candramauli Swami. Article by Shikar and Yoginee about the scary event that happened to their family in South Africa-
We arrived home just after nine o’clock that night, not knowing at all what was destined to happen to us. We parked in the drive way and in a sort of routine way, we walked to the front door. We started to go inside when the sound of many footsteps startled us. We turned around and witnessed the most frightening sight. There were five men standing in a semi-circle in front of us. We were cornered. There was no where to escape except into the house.
They were all dressed in dark clothes and four of them had balaclavas covering their faces. They all stood in the same stance pointing their guns in our direction. My heart started to beat faster as dreadful thoughts rushed through my mind. Will I make it out of this? Will they hurt us? Will anything happen to my family? This is when I heard the voice of my father screaming “KRISHNA!! KRISHNA!!” The man who’s face was visible commanded us to go into the house and deactivate the alarm. He said, “Be quiet or I’ll shoot you!” Again, my fathers voice, “KRISHNA!! KRISHNA!!” As one enters our house, the first room visible is the temple room. The men could see our Prabhuapada deity and our altar.
They instructed us to kneel on the floor of the entrance hall, however my mother insisted on walking further into the house. When one of the men asked her where she was going, she replied mechanically, “I need to put the alarm off; I need to put the alarm off”. He pointed a gun to her back as she walked off but for some reason, he did not follow her. They did not move beyond the temple room. I decided that the only thing I could do was join my dad. I screamed loudly with such anger and desperation in my voice, “NRSIMHADEVA ??? NRSIMHADEVA”. I started to scream Nrsimhadeva prayers at them, as if I was using it as my weapon. My dad then pointed to a picture of Krishna on the wall and very courageously exclaimed, “This is my Lord and He is going to save us!” The men were silent, they didn’t say a word. They just stood there, looking really confused.
The man who did not have a balaclava pointed his gun towards my dad once again but his hand started shaking and he didn’t pull the trigger. From his facial expression I could see how terrified he was. He was trembling. His eyes appeared as if he had seen a ghost. He turned around, picked up a set of our car keys and they all ran away. After they left, the police and the guards from our security company quickly arrived on the scene in response to my mum’s phone call. Later my mum told us that she did not see them carry any firearms at all. Perhaps if she had seen them, she would not have been so brave as to set the alarm siren off and phone the police. So now the questions arise in my mind, why couldn’t the men walk beyond the temple room? Why did they not follow my mother into the bedroom? Why did my mother not see their guns? What made us react to scream to the Lord for help and not be silent as the robbers demanded? Why did the men look so terrified? Could they see something that we couldn’t see? The answer is simple, NRSIMHADEVA WAS THERE!! The Lord protected us that night and He saved us from being harmed by these terrible men. We could have all been killed. We do not question what we did to deserve this traumatic incident; but rather, we see it as an educational experience to increase our faith in Lord Nrsimhadeva.
Om namo bhagavate sri maha-Nrsimhaya damstra-karala-vadanaya ghora-rupaya vajra-nakhaya jvala-maline mama vighnan paca paca mama bhayan bhindi bhindi mama satrun vidravaya vidravaya mama sarva ristan prabhanjaya prabhanjaya chata chata, hana hana, chindi chindi mama sarvabhistan puraya puraya mam raksa raksa hum phat svaha. “O Nrsimhadeva, whose form is terrible by sharp and long teeth; who is very fearful to see with strong, large nails; and who is garlanded by flames-destroy, destroy my obstacles and kick out, kick out my fear. Scatter, scatter my enemies, destroy, destroy my karma. Flash, flash! Kill, kill! Cut, cut! Ever fulfill, fulfill my desire [to serve You] and protect, protect me and all around me.”
All Glories to that most ferocious, most caring Lord Nrisimhadeva! Jai Srila Prabhupada!
Saved by a pillar
Submitted by Candramauli Swami from a Srimad Bhagavatam class in Mayapur by Badri Narayan dasa
Radhanath Maharaja told me a very blissful story the other day and he said I could use it. So here goes! There was that Taj Hotel where the terrorists attacked. They were fighting in there for three days, complete carnage. The terrorists had arranged in such a way that they would always be up higher. They would shoot from a lower vantage point down. Radhanath Maharaja told me this. They had all these grenades and they would throw the grenades and the grenades would create so much smoke that if you were down looking up you couldn't see anything.Picture that you are one of these soldiers or police officers and you are in this cloud of smoke and up above you there is this hail of bullets from the terrorists shooting at you. One of those soldiers was one of our devotees. At one point, they were trying to chase these people through the hotel. They are trapped. The terrorist were throwing all these grenades, they are in a complete cloud of smoke. They cannot see one foot in front of their face.They can't see left, right or anything and this hail of bullets is being fired at them. Just a wall of bullets coming at them. This devotee police officer, with two other police officers on either side,he is in the middle, he actually was completely helpless. He couldn't see left, right, he couldn't see his colleagues. He remembered that he had on his ring tone on his phone Nrsimhadeva prayers. He began playing the Nrsimhadeva prayers and praying intently to Lord Nrsimhadeva, "Please I am absolutely helpless. I am going to die. Save me, in an absolutely hopeless state." When the shooting stopped, the smoke cleared, his friend to the right and his friend to the left were completely killed, riddled with bullets and he was unscathed. In front of him, which he couldn't see at the time, was a giant pillar. And because they were shooting at him the pillar protected him. He thought, "Just as Lord Nrsimhadev came out of the pillar to save Prahlada He put a pillar here to save me!" So my point is, simple point is if we have that faith, "Oh, how will I be taken care of?" Krishna will take care of you, don't worry. Let me give my life to the sankirtana movement.
Nrsimha saves His devotee in Germany
Submitted by Candramauli Swami. From a lecture by Sacinandana Swami transcript by Sascha (Hari Nama Desh - Germany)
"...I'll give you two examples that happened in Germany. In the early days our centre was actually in Hamburg. And in Hamburg our devotees used to go out chanting the holy name. And sometimes the used to go at night to chant in the most sinful area. What is the most sinful area of Hamburg? Reeperbahn. So, they were chanting and there comes a huge person, gigantic, like a big man, and he was previously drunk or I don't know what happened, he came to attack the devotees. This was long time ago, it was in early seventies. And the devotees were wondering what to do — now to run away, or confront the man, somebody was even thinking that he will take the karatalas and swing it, because they didn't have anything to defend themselves. But the leader of the group said, just chant Nrisimha prayer. So they started to chant namas te nara-simhaya. And the man was coming charging and they as soon as they started to chant Nrsimha prayer, the man came about 4-5 feet away from them, and then something happen — his body just went up and felt flat on the ground. And in St. Pauli, Reeperbahn-area, two things are always available: police and ambulance. So immediately an ambulance came, very soon an ambulance came, their people already gathered there, and they checked him and they said that he had a massive heart attack. Now tell me, was it a heart attack or something else? Lord Nrsimhadeva is real. Lord Nrsimhadeva takes care. Similarly another thing happen. I think that happen somewhere in south. I just heard this story. One girl was distributing books and one man just attacked her. It was a lonely kind of area. She was there, she was going door to door and when she was going from one building to another,she was just attacked. And she didn't have any place to go she was just corned practically. And she started to chant. She took shelter of Nrsimhadeva, started to chant His holy name. And the man just stopped,turned around and walked away."
Nrsimha pastimes in Mayapur
Mayapur is home to one of the most fearsome yet merciful Nrsimha deity in the world. Nrsimha there is ALIVE and His pastimes and constant reminders of that. All the way from how He appeared till the present day, His pastimes are just ecstatic. All of these pastimes are available at www.narasimhalila.com.
Pilgrimae to Ahobilam by Dhruva dasa
In 1980 I was born to devotee parents in the large Hare Krishna community of New Vrindavan, West Virginia. From my infancy my parents brought me to the temple each day. Gradually, as a young child I grew attached to the large, fierce-looking deity of Krishna's form as Lord Nrisimhadeva (Narasimha) and His foremost devotee, the boy-saint Prahlada. When I was six, Prahlada's age, the priest allowed me to assist him in the temple worship of Lord Nrisimhadeva. Although the Lord looked frightening, I always felt protected when I stood before Him.
When I was sixteen my family visited India. I fell in love with the spiritual atmosphere there and decided to return as soon as possible. By the time I turned eighteen I had decided to make the journey on my own. I worked hard to save for the trip and agonized over my itinerary. India is so big—where should I go?
One day I visited the Hare Krishna temple in Miami. As I glanced over a large stack of old issues of Back to Godhead, a stray breeze blew open the top one to a full- page photo of Lord Nrisimhadeva. The picture seemed to beckon me. Reading the accompanying article, I was amazed to learn about a young sannyasi, Indradyumna Swami, who had made an incredible journey to Ahovalam, a remote South Indian holy place said to be the very spot where Lord Nrisimhadeva dispatched the evil Hiranyakashipu. His article inspired me so much that I set my mind then and there on making the difficult pilgrimage to Ahovalam.
When I was sixteen my family visited India. I fell in love with the spiritual atmosphere there and decided to return as soon as possible. By the time I turned eighteen I had decided to make the journey on my own. I worked hard to save for the trip and agonized over my itinerary. India is so big—where should I go?
One day I visited the Hare Krishna temple in Miami. As I glanced over a large stack of old issues of Back to Godhead, a stray breeze blew open the top one to a full- page photo of Lord Nrisimhadeva. The picture seemed to beckon me. Reading the accompanying article, I was amazed to learn about a young sannyasi, Indradyumna Swami, who had made an incredible journey to Ahovalam, a remote South Indian holy place said to be the very spot where Lord Nrisimhadeva dispatched the evil Hiranyakashipu. His article inspired me so much that I set my mind then and there on making the difficult pilgrimage to Ahovalam.
Warnings
I began my India adventure in Vrindavana, where I visited a remarkable three-eyed deity of Nrisimhadeva. From there I proceeded south to several well-known holy places, including Srirangam and Tirupati, my last stop before Ahovalam.
The devotees at the ISKCON Tirupati temple asked me where I was going next. When I said Ahovalam, they looked at me as if I were crazy and urged me not to go. Seeing they could not dissuade me, they strongly cautioned me to stay only for one day and get out of there. I thought they were just joking until I realized that I was the only one laughing. An experienced devotee warned me that people there try to rob and kill you and that the surrounding jungle holds ferocious, wild animals such as bears, tigers, and cobras. With these words of encouragement I felt terrified—but even more excited! The journey would truly test my faith in Lord Nrisimhadeva.
After a grueling ten-hour bus ride, I arrived at the Allagada station, where I'd catch the Ahovalam bus. As I waited, a large group of people suddenly surrounded me, the only blonde kid in the whole station. An English-speaking man asked where I was going. When I replied, "Ahovalam," he looked at me very strangely. When he told the crowd what I had said, everyone stared at me even more.
"Why do you want to go to such a place?" he asked. "It is a very dangerous place."
"I am going to see Lord Nrisimhadeva," I replied.
"May He protect you," he uttered gravely, and walked away.
Aboard the bus and getting closer to Ahovalam, I could feel my limbs start to tremble, and my heart beat fast. I didn't know what lay ahead, but I was going to see my Lord at His home.
I began my India adventure in Vrindavana, where I visited a remarkable three-eyed deity of Nrisimhadeva. From there I proceeded south to several well-known holy places, including Srirangam and Tirupati, my last stop before Ahovalam.
The devotees at the ISKCON Tirupati temple asked me where I was going next. When I said Ahovalam, they looked at me as if I were crazy and urged me not to go. Seeing they could not dissuade me, they strongly cautioned me to stay only for one day and get out of there. I thought they were just joking until I realized that I was the only one laughing. An experienced devotee warned me that people there try to rob and kill you and that the surrounding jungle holds ferocious, wild animals such as bears, tigers, and cobras. With these words of encouragement I felt terrified—but even more excited! The journey would truly test my faith in Lord Nrisimhadeva.
After a grueling ten-hour bus ride, I arrived at the Allagada station, where I'd catch the Ahovalam bus. As I waited, a large group of people suddenly surrounded me, the only blonde kid in the whole station. An English-speaking man asked where I was going. When I replied, "Ahovalam," he looked at me very strangely. When he told the crowd what I had said, everyone stared at me even more.
"Why do you want to go to such a place?" he asked. "It is a very dangerous place."
"I am going to see Lord Nrisimhadeva," I replied.
"May He protect you," he uttered gravely, and walked away.
Aboard the bus and getting closer to Ahovalam, I could feel my limbs start to tremble, and my heart beat fast. I didn't know what lay ahead, but I was going to see my Lord at His home.
The Lord Sends a Guide
After an hour on the bus through the middle of nowhere, I reached the tiny village of Lower Ahovalam. There I saw Lord Nrisimhadeva at the Lakshmi-Narasimha temple, the first of nine forms of the Lord to be seen in the Ahovalam area. Then I arranged for some rough accommodations—the only kind available. A shower is a bucket of water you pour over yourself.
I was in the middle of my shower when someone knocked on the door and called out, "Hello. Hare Krishna!"
Having been warned about thieves, I opened the door cautiously. There stood two Indian men. One of them, tall and saintly looking, introduced himself as Madhu, from Vijaywada. Years before, he had lived in an ISKCON ashram and was now initiated in the Ramanuja line. He said he'd heard that I wanted to see all nine forms of Lord Narasimha.
"Yes," I answered, thinking, Word sure gets around fast here.
He said, "I'm going to go tomorrow morning. Why don't we go together? I have been several times and can take you to all nine forms."
I felt convinced this must be Nrisimha's arrangement, so I readily agreed. I asked Madhu how much he would charge.
"I am glad just to serve another devotee," he humbly replied.
Madhu said that to see all nine forms in one day, we would have to spend the night in the jungle.
After an hour on the bus through the middle of nowhere, I reached the tiny village of Lower Ahovalam. There I saw Lord Nrisimhadeva at the Lakshmi-Narasimha temple, the first of nine forms of the Lord to be seen in the Ahovalam area. Then I arranged for some rough accommodations—the only kind available. A shower is a bucket of water you pour over yourself.
I was in the middle of my shower when someone knocked on the door and called out, "Hello. Hare Krishna!"
Having been warned about thieves, I opened the door cautiously. There stood two Indian men. One of them, tall and saintly looking, introduced himself as Madhu, from Vijaywada. Years before, he had lived in an ISKCON ashram and was now initiated in the Ramanuja line. He said he'd heard that I wanted to see all nine forms of Lord Narasimha.
"Yes," I answered, thinking, Word sure gets around fast here.
He said, "I'm going to go tomorrow morning. Why don't we go together? I have been several times and can take you to all nine forms."
I felt convinced this must be Nrisimha's arrangement, so I readily agreed. I asked Madhu how much he would charge.
"I am glad just to serve another devotee," he humbly replied.
Madhu said that to see all nine forms in one day, we would have to spend the night in the jungle.
The Trek Begins
In the morning I rose early and met Madhu. We visited the nearby Lakshmi-Narasimha temple to pray for a safe journey. Remembering a photograph in the old Back to Godhead, I recognized the same pujari who had taken Indradyumna Swami on his tour here in 1979.
Our walk to Bhargava-Narasimha, the second of the nine local forms of Nrisimhadeva, took us through a thick jungle with paths in all directions. Madhu said that no matter how many times you go there you can never remember the way.
"You have to depend on the Lord," he said.
The next thing you know, we were lost. I felt nervous. We finally found the way and arrived at the beautiful temple, where we chanted for a while. In the past many great sages worshiped the deity here. Madhu said that the deity is named for Parashurama (also known as Bhargava), the warrior incarnation of God. Parashurama had performed penance near Ahovalam at a place now known as Ramatirtha.
Next we set off to see the third form, Catravada Narasimha. Madhu mentioned that if we were lucky we would be able to see all nine forms on this holy day. Catravada was a long walk from town, but I was extremely pleased to see Him. He was effulgent and had a big smile. We were allowed to touch our heads to His lotus feet.
Near Catravada is Yogananda Narasimha, the last of the nine forms of Lord Narasimha in Lower Ahovalam. He looked magnificent and powerful. Of the nine Narasimhas, Yogananda is said to be the most merciful.
We ran back to catch the bus to Upper Ahovalam, a trip through dangerous and treacherous terrain. After a while the bus stopped, and the driver directed us to get off. I saw nothing but jungle, but as the bus drove away, the temple of Karanja Narasimha came into view. He is named after a fruit- bearing tree growing next to the temple.
In the morning I rose early and met Madhu. We visited the nearby Lakshmi-Narasimha temple to pray for a safe journey. Remembering a photograph in the old Back to Godhead, I recognized the same pujari who had taken Indradyumna Swami on his tour here in 1979.
Our walk to Bhargava-Narasimha, the second of the nine local forms of Nrisimhadeva, took us through a thick jungle with paths in all directions. Madhu said that no matter how many times you go there you can never remember the way.
"You have to depend on the Lord," he said.
The next thing you know, we were lost. I felt nervous. We finally found the way and arrived at the beautiful temple, where we chanted for a while. In the past many great sages worshiped the deity here. Madhu said that the deity is named for Parashurama (also known as Bhargava), the warrior incarnation of God. Parashurama had performed penance near Ahovalam at a place now known as Ramatirtha.
Next we set off to see the third form, Catravada Narasimha. Madhu mentioned that if we were lucky we would be able to see all nine forms on this holy day. Catravada was a long walk from town, but I was extremely pleased to see Him. He was effulgent and had a big smile. We were allowed to touch our heads to His lotus feet.
Near Catravada is Yogananda Narasimha, the last of the nine forms of Lord Narasimha in Lower Ahovalam. He looked magnificent and powerful. Of the nine Narasimhas, Yogananda is said to be the most merciful.
We ran back to catch the bus to Upper Ahovalam, a trip through dangerous and treacherous terrain. After a while the bus stopped, and the driver directed us to get off. I saw nothing but jungle, but as the bus drove away, the temple of Karanja Narasimha came into view. He is named after a fruit- bearing tree growing next to the temple.
Having now visited the first five Narasimha forms, we had to walk the rest of the way to the next: Ugra Narasimha, a deity tucked in a cave between two mountains. The walk was beautiful. All around was an untouched jungle, overgrown and full of wild animals, which, fortunately, we did not encounter. Soon we reached the temple of Ugra Narasimha, constructed inside His cave. The deity looked ferocious. We prayed for a safe trip to our next stop, the Ugra Stambha, said to be the actual pillar from which Lord Narasimha appeared.
Atop the Historic Pillar
After a side trip to the ancient Varaha Narasimha cave/temple, we followed an adjacent stream bed to the Ugra Stambha and the seventh form, Jvala Narasimha. The terrain proved most difficult. Madhu told me that not many people make this journey because it requires crossing a huge and dangerous waterfall. On the way up I saw a couple of wooden boxes next to the path.
"Those are for the people who died making the climb," Madhu said.
I didn't need to hear that.
Nestled on the side of a cliff, the Jvala Narasimha temple is said to be the exact spot where the Lord killed the demon Hiranyakashipu. Next to the temple is a large stream. At the spot where Narasimha washed his hands after killing the demon, the water flows blood-red and even feels like blood.
After more climbing we reached the top of the large stone pillar. The view was spectacular. I couldn't believe I'd actually made it. We'd been walking all day long, with very little to eat and just water to drink, but I hadn't thought of anything except the thrill of being in this spiritual place.
My contentment was short-lived; now it was time to go to the eighth form, which meant another long walk through the mountains. At last we reached the temple of Mohaloha Narasimha, situated on the side of a mountain. According to Madhu, Lakshmi did penance to marry the Lord here.
Next we went to the Prahlada school, which has Sanskrit writing on the walls dating from the days of Prahlada's studies here. Near this high, mountainous spot was another cave, with a beautiful Yoga Narasimha deity in it. But we still had one more destination: the Bhavana Narasimha deity, four miles away.
Although Madhu had warned me not to walk ahead on the path, I did so anyway. Suddenly a huge cobra slithered in front of me. It seemed to be ten feet long. I heeded Madhu's warning and let him lead. The jungle was so dangerous, even in the daytime. Now it was close to dark, and we still had miles to go.
As we ascended the mountain trail, nearby villagers screamed angrily at us. Madhu just kept walking. When we reached a mountain-top stopping point, he told me they were saying that it is forbidden to enter the jungle at night because of the wild animals. People who go in, they said, never come out again. They also said that no one should go to the Bhavana temple at night, because at that time the demigods come to worship Lord Narasimha.
Now I was really scared. Then I saw a dead snake in the middle of the path. A bad omen, Madhu said, but we just had to depend on the Lord for protection. Suddenly it was pitch black. I pulled out my tiny flashlight. I shook with fear and prayed to Lord Narasimha for protection.
My contentment was short-lived; now it was time to go to the eighth form, which meant another long walk through the mountains. At last we reached the temple of Mohaloha Narasimha, situated on the side of a mountain. According to Madhu, Lakshmi did penance to marry the Lord here.
Next we went to the Prahlada school, which has Sanskrit writing on the walls dating from the days of Prahlada's studies here. Near this high, mountainous spot was another cave, with a beautiful Yoga Narasimha deity in it. But we still had one more destination: the Bhavana Narasimha deity, four miles away.
Although Madhu had warned me not to walk ahead on the path, I did so anyway. Suddenly a huge cobra slithered in front of me. It seemed to be ten feet long. I heeded Madhu's warning and let him lead. The jungle was so dangerous, even in the daytime. Now it was close to dark, and we still had miles to go.
As we ascended the mountain trail, nearby villagers screamed angrily at us. Madhu just kept walking. When we reached a mountain-top stopping point, he told me they were saying that it is forbidden to enter the jungle at night because of the wild animals. People who go in, they said, never come out again. They also said that no one should go to the Bhavana temple at night, because at that time the demigods come to worship Lord Narasimha.
Now I was really scared. Then I saw a dead snake in the middle of the path. A bad omen, Madhu said, but we just had to depend on the Lord for protection. Suddenly it was pitch black. I pulled out my tiny flashlight. I shook with fear and prayed to Lord Narasimha for protection.
Protected by Fire
In spite of the dark we somehow made it over the big mountain. As we did, we were amazed to see that the forest ahead was on fire, except for the small path we were following.
I thought, It must be Lord Narasimha lighting up the jungle and keeping wild animals away.
The fire went on all the way to the temple.
At last we reached the ninth and last deity. Lord Narasimha and His consort looked so beautiful. We thanked Him for allowing us to attain His audience.
We were exhausted, and it was too dark to go back, so we decided to sleep in the front area of the tiny temple. I tried to go to sleep, but I felt too excited and amazed to be sleeping in the Lord's temple.
Suddenly I felt something sniffing and touching the back of my neck and ear. I jumped up and saw nothing. Madhu said he would stay up to see what it was. He turned on the flashlight and began telling me wonderful stories about the Lord. Then, with a loud pop, the brand-new flashlight went out. We tried everything to fix it, but without success.
Just at that moment the wind started to blow ferociously. I wondered if we were offending the demigods by being here. After a while I fell asleep, only to be awakened by Madhu frantically pulling me into the temple's inner sanctum. I was so groggy I didn't ask why. Madhu hastily slammed the gate shut and secured it as best he could.
In spite of the dark we somehow made it over the big mountain. As we did, we were amazed to see that the forest ahead was on fire, except for the small path we were following.
I thought, It must be Lord Narasimha lighting up the jungle and keeping wild animals away.
The fire went on all the way to the temple.
At last we reached the ninth and last deity. Lord Narasimha and His consort looked so beautiful. We thanked Him for allowing us to attain His audience.
We were exhausted, and it was too dark to go back, so we decided to sleep in the front area of the tiny temple. I tried to go to sleep, but I felt too excited and amazed to be sleeping in the Lord's temple.
Suddenly I felt something sniffing and touching the back of my neck and ear. I jumped up and saw nothing. Madhu said he would stay up to see what it was. He turned on the flashlight and began telling me wonderful stories about the Lord. Then, with a loud pop, the brand-new flashlight went out. We tried everything to fix it, but without success.
Just at that moment the wind started to blow ferociously. I wondered if we were offending the demigods by being here. After a while I fell asleep, only to be awakened by Madhu frantically pulling me into the temple's inner sanctum. I was so groggy I didn't ask why. Madhu hastily slammed the gate shut and secured it as best he could.
Furry Guests
Looking up I was stunned to realize I was sitting right at the base of Lord Narasimhadeva's lotus feet. I lay down and felt at peace. Then a bone-chilling roar broke the stillness.
I froze and whispered to Madhu, "What was that?"
He assured me there was nothing to worry about.
"Just go to sleep," he said.
The next morning we set off for a long walk to two more Narasimha temples, named Giridhari and Jyoti. Jyoti was the most amazing and ferocious deity of all I'd seen. His name indicates that the forest would always be burning because of His anger.
From Jyoti we were able to catch a bus back to Ahovalam. It took seven hours. In the evening when we arrived we went straight to Lakshmi-Narasimha temple—the first stop on our tour—and thanked the Lord for His protection. Later, while we ate, Madhu explained why he had moved me to the inner sanctum of the Bhavana temple the previous night. While I was asleep, three huge wild black bears had come up, smelled us, and circled the temple.
The next morning we returned to see Bhargava Narasimha, the second of the nine forms. I felt blessed when we were allowed to clean the whole temple. As we left, a crowd of villagers surrounded us. Madhu spoke with them, then translated for me. They were shocked to see us alive after entering the jungle at night. They also said that, although they were born there and had lived their whole lives in the area, we were the first people they'd known who had managed to see all nine forms of Lord Narasimha in a single day.
Looking up I was stunned to realize I was sitting right at the base of Lord Narasimhadeva's lotus feet. I lay down and felt at peace. Then a bone-chilling roar broke the stillness.
I froze and whispered to Madhu, "What was that?"
He assured me there was nothing to worry about.
"Just go to sleep," he said.
The next morning we set off for a long walk to two more Narasimha temples, named Giridhari and Jyoti. Jyoti was the most amazing and ferocious deity of all I'd seen. His name indicates that the forest would always be burning because of His anger.
From Jyoti we were able to catch a bus back to Ahovalam. It took seven hours. In the evening when we arrived we went straight to Lakshmi-Narasimha temple—the first stop on our tour—and thanked the Lord for His protection. Later, while we ate, Madhu explained why he had moved me to the inner sanctum of the Bhavana temple the previous night. While I was asleep, three huge wild black bears had come up, smelled us, and circled the temple.
The next morning we returned to see Bhargava Narasimha, the second of the nine forms. I felt blessed when we were allowed to clean the whole temple. As we left, a crowd of villagers surrounded us. Madhu spoke with them, then translated for me. They were shocked to see us alive after entering the jungle at night. They also said that, although they were born there and had lived their whole lives in the area, we were the first people they'd known who had managed to see all nine forms of Lord Narasimha in a single day.
Meeting the Swami
It was time to move on. I thanked Madhu profusely, and we both said we hoped to meet again. Because of his humble and devotional attitude, Madhu had been an inspiration for me. Far from trying to take advantage of me, an inexperienced young Westerner in a foreign land, Madhu had taken care of everything, even our bus fares. As my bus lumbered away, I thanked Lord Narasimha for giving me Madhu's company.
A few days later I arrived in Jagannatha Puri. After checking in to a hotel, I was astonished to learn that Indradyumna Swami happened to be staying at the very same place. I had never met him, except through the article in the old BTG. I went to his room and paid my respects. Tears filled his eyes as he learned of the journey I had made in his footsteps.
It was time to move on. I thanked Madhu profusely, and we both said we hoped to meet again. Because of his humble and devotional attitude, Madhu had been an inspiration for me. Far from trying to take advantage of me, an inexperienced young Westerner in a foreign land, Madhu had taken care of everything, even our bus fares. As my bus lumbered away, I thanked Lord Narasimha for giving me Madhu's company.
A few days later I arrived in Jagannatha Puri. After checking in to a hotel, I was astonished to learn that Indradyumna Swami happened to be staying at the very same place. I had never met him, except through the article in the old BTG. I went to his room and paid my respects. Tears filled his eyes as he learned of the journey I had made in his footsteps.
There are more stories below;
Ananda Vrndavana devi dasi - A True Story of Lord Nrsimhadeva's Mercy
BY: ROHINI-SUTA DASA (ACBSP) Apr 16, AUSTIN, TEXAS (SUN) — From an interview with Rohini-suta dasa (ACBSP), March 17, 2008.
<STRON<>
A sincere attempt has been made here to record for history the contents of a telephone conversation between Ananda Vrndavana and Ronald E. Boutelle (Rohini-suta dasa), about three episodes that happened to her.
Ananda was born and raised in the Philippines, part of a large Catholic family. By the will of Providence, a short distance from their bamboo house, a small temple of Lord Krishna had been established. As a young girl Ananda was very much attracted to it, slipping away from home to visit it whenever she could. She loved everything about the temple; making flower garlands, cleaning the altar, singing and dancing before the Lord, the nice prasadam and the kind devotees who made friends with her. She was blessed from the start with a desire to serve God and she naturally turned to Him whenever she needed help. However, it was also true that her mother and father refused to allow her to visit the Hare Krishna temple, due to their Catholic faith. They wanted their daughter to be a good Christian girl and would punish her severely whenever they caught her going there.
Ananda remembers how at night her parents would close all the doors and windows in their little bamboo house to keep her from going to the temple. Her large family would all be asleep, scattered about here and there and it would be pitch black. How, Ananda pondered, would she ever be able to wake up and go to the early-morning service without waking her parents. Added to her worries was the fact that the bamboo floors creaked whenever someone walked on them. The same for the door whenever it was opened. Plus it was always pitch black inside their home and surely, if she tried to get up in the dark she would accidentally trip over or step on someone. Telling this story, she used the words, pitch black, several times.
Never one to give up, as all great devotees, Ananda, age 9, would pray to Lord Krishna for help: Oh Lord Krishna, please let me come to Mangala Arati (4:30 AM service) without my parents knowing about it. And sure enough, over and over again, whenever she would ask for help, Krishna would wake her up.. But even more wonderful was the moon-like glow that would mysteriously fill the inside of her little home and light her way out. Added to this miracle was the fact that the floor and door never squeaked. Having her prayers answered, off she would go to the temple, coming back a few hours later without ever being discovered or getting into trouble.
A number of years later, after Ananda became a devotee of Lord Krishna, she was out and about distributing books in one of the more wealthy areas of her country. She had a very large book-bag full of Shrila Prabhupada’s books, determined to sell them all. Ringing the bell at a large estate, nobody answered. Undeterred, Ananda then went thru the front gate, making her way around the house where she hoped to find the owner. Knocking on a different door, instead of someone answering, Ananda became aware of two vicious German Shepherds quickly approaching her. These were special guard dogs who had never hesitated in the past to attack, biting without mercy many unfortunate intruders. Realizing her mistake of entering a closed gate without permission, Ananda could only turn to Lord Nrisimhadeva for help. Frozen with fear but always praying to the Lord, suddenly the large German Shepherds seemed to change their demeanor as if they had unexpectedly seen something. Instead of attacking her, the dogs simply dropped their tails and sniffed her. Then the owner opened the door she had knocked on, very much shocked to see Ananda standing there. He quickly explained to her the extreme danger she had been in since his dogs were trained to attack strangers. He told her that they had bitten strangers before. The man ended up buying all of her books, plus he gave her an additional donation for the temple.
Many years later, in 2006, Ananda was in New Deli, India with about a dozen of her friends. Explaining what happened, she said that before leaving for India she had made a vow that she would attend Mangala Arati at each temple she visited. Actually, she wanted everyone to stay in one of the temple’s guest houses and in that way easily attend the early-morning service. But instead, all her friends insisted on staying at a hotel 4 or 5 blocks away so that they could all sleep undisturbed and go shopping the next morning. Determined as ever, before Ananda Vrndavana went to bed she asked the hotel clerk if it would be safe if she walked to the temple by herself, early the next morning. After being told, yes, it is safe, the next morning Ananda woke up and quietly slipped out of the hotel room, just like she had as a young girl back at home in the Philippines.
Chanting the Holy Names of Lord Krishna, she said that looking about, the streets were completely empty. Remembering which way to go, Ananda began to walk toward the temple. However, she soon discovered to her horror that she was not alone. Not even half way to her destination she suddenly stopped on the street, surrounded everywhere she looked by a snarling pack of wild-street dogs. It is not that uncommon for humans to be killed by packs of street dogs in India.
NEW DELHI - Authorities in the southern city of Bangalore have killed more than 200 strays in a bid to rid the city of dangerous packs of dogs, officials said on Tuesday. (However) the killing of the animals in India's high-tech hub have sparked protests and allegations of animal cruelty. Officials launched a drive to round up strays last week after a young child was mauled to death by a pack of street dogs, the second such deadly incident in three months, Municipal Commissioner K. Jairaj told The Associated Press. Elsewhere, in Karnataka the state government ordered the "merciless" drive against an estimated 76,000 stray dogs after two children were mauled to death in the city by vicious packs of neighborhood strays. Though not sure about the number of dogs quoted, the street-dog menace in India is definitely a cause of worry for public safety. People who commute at night, especially those who ride two-wheelers, can vouch for this as a fact. Chasing dog’s have caused serious accidents that are even fatal at times. Parents are worried of letting their children play outside after dark. Recent incidents like the one in Chandra Layout, where a little girl was mauled to death by a pack of nine dogs, has brought this menace to the forefront. (3/13/2007 11:13:00 AM. Story by Gavin Rabinowitz/Associated Press)
Just as Ananda has mentioned, because the street was completely deserted, there was nobody to call out to for help. Also, when the dogs had forced her to stop, she was too far from either the hotel or the temple to take shelter. Adding to her horror was the rough and unkempt appearance of the dogs. Many were growling and some were even drooling at the mouth. The degree of Ananda’s terror was unfathomable as the pack inched closer and closer. Understanding her helplessness and beginning to cry, again Ananda turned to Lord Krishna for help, struggling thru her enormous fear to remember the Lord Nrsingadeva prayers.
Then the most amazing thing happened. In the distance and moving directly for her, Ananda described how a very large dog with a shinny, black coat of fur suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She could tell that the other dogs were afraid of him. And even she was. Consumed with fear, at first Ananda thought that this was the leader of the pack and that it was this big dog who was going to move in and kill her. But instead, the large black dog, who looked very beautiful and well kept, made the other dogs back away. Reaching her side, the big black dog looked up at her with loving eyes that said to her, “You don’t have to worry, now. I’m here for you. Don't worry.” Again, Ananda could tell that all the street dogs were afraid of this big, black, shinny dog and slowly her fear began to reside. She even started talking to the black dog, thanking him over and over and over again for saving her life. The other dogs, instead of attacking, moved aside and allowed Ananda and the black dog to walk toward the temple. Unable to hardly fathom all that was happening, Ananda kept thanking the large black dog as they walked and walked and walked toward the temple. The black dog escorted her right to the temple’s lower set of stairs. But he didn’t stop there; leading her up those and even up the last flight of stairs, right to the temple door. Ananda thanked the large black dog and said to it, “Whoever you are, thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much.” She thanked the dog from the bottom of her heart. Not a day goes by that Ananda fails to think about what happened to her and the large black dog that appeared out of nowhere and saved her life. As she was telling me this story over the phone, Ananda told me that in her mind’s eye she could see it all happen over again.
Contributed by H.G. Sudarshan das
AAhobilam: Place of Lord Nrsimhadeva the Divine Protector
The divine protector Nrsimhadeva, with his ferocious half-man half-lion form, is one of the most recognizable avatars of Lord Krishna. Vaishnavas pray to Him when they're in danger, remembering how he saved the boy devotee Prahlad from his tyrannical father, the demon Hiranyakashipu. But how much do we really know about Nrsimha? Would we recognize the more than seventy forms of Him described in the Vaishnava worship texts, the Pancharatra-Agama?
Dhruva Dasa, an ISKCON youth who grew up worshipping Nrsimhadeva, has spent the last ten years of his life researching the feline Lord and his many aspects. "As Nrismha burst out of the pillar in Hiranyakashipu's palace, and the dust settled, he took in the sight of both Prahlad and Hiranyakashipu," he says. "As soon as he saw the demon, he flew into such a formidable rage that he was ready to destroy the world, taking on the form known as Sthanu Nrsimha." Depictions of this form show half of Nrsimha looking at Hiranyakashipu in anger, while the other half gazes on Prahlad with love.
Nrsimhadeva fought the demon, and in his anger took on the form of Jwala, or fire. Next, in his form known as Vira, he seized Hiranyakashipu, dragged him onto his lap, and tore him open with his fingernails, embodying the famous form of Ugra-Nrsimha. At this point he became so terrifying that even his consort Lakshmidevi ran away from him. Hurt and offended, she turned to Prahlad. "I don't know my Lord like this," she said. "He'll only accept you, Prahlad - you must go to Him." As Nrsimhadeva finally became pacified by Prahlada's prayers, Lakshmi returned to sit on his lap.
|
"It's generally directed that family men don't worship Ugra Nrsimha, as they have their wife with them, and that form of the Lord doesn't," Dhruva explains. "It's like being unfaithful -- there's no devotion that will override that fact." Householders are therefore advised to worship the form of Lakshmi-Nrsimha, who is enjoying with his wife and in a peaceful mood.
According to Dhruva, even the seventy forms of Nrsimha described in the Pancharatna Agama only touch the tip of the iceberg. "After years of searching, I've realized that there's only so much you can learn in books about Nrsimha worship in India," he says. "Every different caste, dynasty, and province worship him differently. In Kerala, they dress Him as Nrsimhadeva at night, and as Krishna just before the sun comes up. In Rajasthan, they worship a form of Him as a child with adorable glittery ornaments, who barely even looks like Nrsimha. In Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, they worship Him opulently and with awe and reverence. And in Andhra Pradesh, he's worshipped by uneducated, tribal people who actually offer Him meat."
Over three hundred temples in India house these different forms of Nrsimhadeva. Perhaps the most famous of all is Ahobilam, a remote place in the hills of Andhra Pradesh, South India, said to be the very spot where Nrsimhadeva killed Hiranyakashipu. Ahobilam Dham was widely introduced to ISKCON by Indradyumna Swami, whose dramatic account of his visit there in 1979 inspired several young men to undertake a spiritual adventure and see Vaishnava culture in its authentic, raw element.
One of these was ISKCON News managing editor Ekendra Dasa, who at twenty-four, embarked on his journey armed with a large Crocodile Dundee style knife, a compass, a one-man tent, a basic survival kit, and a prayer book called Nrsimha-Mala-Stotra. Fortunately only the last item turned out to be essential, as in the close to twenty years since Indradyumna Swami had visited, there were now some dirt roads and even a guesthouse at the remote temple of Lower Ahobila Nrsimha.
"It still wasn't without danger though," says Ekendra, who visited Ahobilam in 1998. "A young man who became my tour guide took me to the nine Nrsimhadeva shrines located in a 5 km circle around the main temple, and we did have to travel through some jungle. As we hiked, I chanted prayers from my book to Nrsimha, asking him for his protection. When I saw the occasional cobra creep across our path, I was surprised to find that they didn't frighten me. I felt very safe and secure, just like my child does when he's in my arms. And I realized that Lord Nrsimha really does protect his devotees, and that he enjoys doing it."
|
Upon visiting the shrines, Ekendra found that they contained stone carvings, with the original deities kept in the temple of Prahladavarada Varadhan ("Protector of Prahlad") for security reasons. When Ekendra saw the deities, he realized why - they were beautifully decorated in solid gold and what seemed like precious jems.
Next to the deities, the most popular pilgrim spot is a large stone column on Ahobilam's highest peak, which members of the Sri Vaishnava Ahobilam Math say is the original pillar that Nrsimha emerged from. This is a somewhat controversial claim because the Srimad-Bhagavatam relates that the fight between Nrsimhadeva and Hiranyakashipu took place in the heavenly planets, not on Earth.
Adding to this is Srila Prabhupada's lack of reference to Ahobilam, and the fact that the Ahobilam Math are an esoteric group, to say the least. Their first Jeeyar, or guru, claims to have been initiated into sannyasa by Lord Nrsimhadeva Himself in 1398, while current Jeeyar Krishnamacharya headed for the US recently to preach, saying that Nrismha instructed him to do so in a dream.
|
Both Ekendra and Dhruva, who first visited Ahovalam in 1999, say that while some may question their credibility, there is much that points towards the authenticity of the Sri Ahobilam Math.
Most prominent is the fact that according to the Caitanya-Caritamrita, Lord Chaitanya Himself visited Ahobilam on his South Indian pilgrimage, which could validate that it is in fact the holy land of Lord Nrsimha, just as Vrindavana is Krishna's holy land.
Next is the story in the Stala Purana describing how Ahovalam came into being when the great devotee Garuda asked for a vision of Nrsimhadeva. To fulfill his wish, the Lord manifested Ahovalam Dhama, now also known as Garudadri and Garudacalam. This implies that while Ahobilam may or may not have been the original place of Nrsimha's appearance, it became so through the wish of a pure devotee.
"Whether it is the original place or not, what's the difference?" Dhruva says. "Nrsimhadeva is everywhere, and so he's in Ahobilam too."
Dhruva adds that there is without doubt something special about the Ugra-stambha pillar. "If you stand on it, gazing out over Ahobilam, and try to remove all your doubts, all your modern scientific rationalizing, you'll realize that there's something there. You'll also notice that although the rest of Ahobilam is lush, green jungle, there aren't many nice trees in the area around the pillar, and what's more, every year there's a forest fire that destroys any remaining greenery. The locals say that it's a residual effect from when the pillar exploded and Nrsimhadeva burst from it."
|
But more convincing than any of this is the genuine compassion, warmth, and devotion for Lord Nrsimhadeva that the residents of Ahobilam show. "I felt very fortunate to be there," Ekendra says. "Despite the caste consciousness prevalent in Indian temples, these devotees treated me, technically an untouchable, like a Vaishnava. I remember once when I was hungry, I asked a family cooking rotis in a shop there if I could have one. They kindly invited me to share their lunch with them, and affectionately called me the 'Australian Brahmana'. The temple priests were very concerned that I got to see the Deities and take Their prasadam. Everything they did proved to me that they were authentic Vaishnavas."
Dhruva adds, "They didn't want to take anything from me - they just wanted to share their love of Nrsimhadeva with me."
However, the effects of a darker age are falling upon even such a pure place, and Dhruva advises those who want to visit Ahobilam and other Nrsimha temples to go as soon they can. "They're very quickly losing their charm," he says. "It's very sad. Ahobilam has become a tourist hub like Tirupati and Sri Rangam - at the cost of attracting more interest, they're destroying the antiquity of the place."
But there's a much darker reason why devotees should visit immediately. "Most of these temples won't be around in a couple of years," says Dhruva. "Antique collectors and treasure hunters are stealing Nrsimhadeva deities and selling them for millions of dollars to fine arts auction houses and other companies."
He relates how last year, he finally found a temple in South India that he'd been searching for years, home to a large solid gold deity of Nrismhadeva with thirty-two arms. He was too late. Treasure hunters had pillaged the temple, stolen the deity and killed the brahmana priests.
"We have to put the word out there that these temples need to be protected," says Dhruva, who has already enlisted some wealthy private individuals to help him secure several. "And we have to educate and protect the temple's priests, who often are so poor that they'd rather sell the deities, and make the kind of money that they would otherwise never have seen in their entire life. We must keep them encouraged in their service to these beautiful temples and deities."
Dhruva also urges people who have visited Nrsimhadeva temples to write about their experiences. He's currently working on Divine Protector: Nrsimhadeva, a four hundred page coffee-table book featuring temples of the half-man half-lion avatar. The book also gives a factual, modern academic viewpoint on Nrsimha, why and how he's worshipped, and the artwork, paintings and sculptures that he inspires.
Dhruva has seen over 300 Nrsimha temples on his travels. But he's opted to feature only 108 of these, excluding more well-known temples such as Ahovalam, Simhachalam and Mangala Giri and instead highlighting unique and lesser known places of worship. "The book also focuses on the different types of worship in each province, historic devotees of Nrsimhadeva such as Ramanujacarya, and contemporary devotees I've met on my travels, such as Indradyumna Swami and Gaudiya Math guru Puri Maharaja."
Dhruva, who took many of the book's photographs himself along with professional ISKCON youth photographers Bimala and Radhanath, says that the book will be available sometime next year. "This project has taken up so many years of my life - I've been working on it since 1998," he says. "It's given me so much joy, and introduced me to so many great people. I hope readers will find it upbeat and fun and gain joy from it too."
One thing is for sure: Whatever cruel effects modern times have on India's ancient Nrsimhadeva temples, this wonderful incarnation of Krishna will continue to protect his devotees forever, and they will continue to worship Him, somehow or another.
*************************************************************************
Although I have intended to have this blog just for Lord Nrsimha's blessings on his devotees, there is something about Lord Vishnu I would really like to share with all, so here goes:
LORD VISHNU'S NAMES ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN THE GREATEST HOLY PLACES
The power of the Lord's holy names is also related in the following story. It is described in the Padma Purana that many years ago when asked by the sages at the forest of Naimisharanya which one single act will bring the fruit of visiting the many holy places, Suta Gosvami answered in this way: Out of so many rituals and rites that are prescribed, only one is superior. There is no doubt that one who has devotion to Lord Vishnu has undoubtedly conquered everything. Hari, [Vishnu, Krishna], the Lord of all gods, should alone be propitiated. The goblin of sin will perish by means of the great sacred hymns in the form of the names of Vishnu. There is no doubt that those with pure hearts, going around Vishnu even once, get (the fruit of) having bathed at all the holy places. A man would obtain the fruit of (having visited) all holy places by seeing Vishnu's image. Chanting the excellent name of Vishnu, a man would obtain (the result) of having chanted all the sacred hymns. A man having once smelt the tulasi plant, the grace of Vishnu, does not see the huge and terrible face of Yama [Yamaraja, the lord of death]. A man having (but) once saluted Krishna does not drink the mother's milk [does not need to be reborn again]. I always repeatedly salute them whose mind is (fixed) on the feet of Vishnu. Even [those of lower tribes, such as] pulkasas, chandalas, or other mleccha tribes, who serve the feet of Vishnu alone are fit to be saluted. Then what about the meritorious and devoted brahmanas and royal sages? Having placed one's devotion in Vishnu, a person does not experience confinement in the womb (is not reborn). A man who with high sounds chants the name of Vishnu purifies the world as does the Ganga [Ganges River]. There is no doubt that a man is freed from sins like murder of a brahmana by seeing (the image of), touching (the feet of), reciting (the name of), and devoting oneself (to Vishnu). Circumambulating (the image of) Hari [Vishnu, Krishna], and loudly chanting His names in a sweet and melodious voice, accompanied with clapping of the hands, a man has struck the sin of murdering a brahmana from his hands. A man becomes pure by just seeing Him, who having narrated His story, would listen to a narrative about Him. Then, O best of sages, how can there be the slightest doubt about such a person's sins. (Padma Purana, 3.50.1-17)"O great sages, Vishnu's name is the best holy place of all holy places. Those who have uttered the name of Krishna make the world a holy place. Therefore, O best of sages, they consider nothing more meritorious than this. A man using and holding on his head the remains of offered flowers to Vishnu, would beckon Vishnu, who is the destroyer of grief due to fear of Yamaraja. Undoubtedly, Vishnu (alone) is to be worshiped and saluted. Therefore, see and worship Vishnu only who has no beginning or end, who is the soul (of everything), and who is unmanifest. Those who look upon Vishnu and another deity as equal, go to terrible hells. Vishnu would not care for them. Vishnu, the Lord Himself, liberates a fool or a chandala to whom Vishnu is dear. There is none greater than Vishnu, who is like a wild fire for (burning) heaps of sins. A man, even after having committed a terrible sin, is freed by the name of Vishnu. Lord Vishnu, the Father of the worlds, has put greater strength than Himself into His name. Therefore a man looking highly upon Vishnu's name should be devoted to Hari. The name of Vishnu is a great destructive weapon like the thunderbolt in rending the mountain of sins. His feet are fruitful and move for that (only). The hands that worship Him are alone said to be blessed. That head which bends before Hari (Vishnu) is the best part of the body. That is (really) the tongue that extols Vishnu. That is the mind which follows His feet. That is the hair that bristles [stands up in ecstasy] at the utterance of His name. Those are the tears that are shed due to devotion to Lord Vishnu. Oh, people are very much duped by their faults if they do not resort to (Him) by merely chanting His names. Those who though having got a tongue do not utter the name of Vishnu, easily fall [back into the cycles of birth and death] even after having secured the stairway to liberation. Therefore, a man should carefully (please) Lord Vishnu by means of worldly and religious rites [devotional service]. Lord Vishnu is pleased with worldly and religious rites, not otherwise. The worship of Vishnu is said to be a holier place than a holy place. A man obtains that fruit by serving Vishnu which he obtains by bathing at and drinking (the water from) all the holy places. Only blessed men worship Vishnu by means of worldly and religious rites [devotional service]. Therefore, O sages, worship Krishna (Vishnu), who is the most auspicious. (Padma Purana3.50.17-39)
*************************************************************************
Above are some of the stories I have gathered, once I get time I will add more, In the mean time I hope you all have been inspired by these stories like me and my family were. I will add by saying that once you have totally surrendered to Lord Nrsimha I can almost guarantee that you will never look back and with Nrsimhadev being very instant on helping out his devotees, you will be shocked at how quick and how obvious Nrsimhadev helps and lets his devotees know that they are not alone, and that he is always protecting his devotees. Infact I have also shared some of these stories with some of my friends and family, not all, but some have tried with all their faith and today I cannot believe how much of love and faith they have for Nrsimhadev.
Please Note: I have not written these stories, I have just copied and pasted them from different sites/blogs, so if you recognise any of these stories, bear in mind I am just trying to create a blog for mainly myself and family/friends to share with, so it saves me the trouble to send emails or printing them out. If for any reason you are the person who has actually written any of these stories and feel I shouldn't have it in my blog to share with other devotees, please feel free to email me. If you are ok with that, then thank you for helping to be able to share your experiances in spreading the benefits and blessings of Sri Nrsimha.
Please Note: I have not written these stories, I have just copied and pasted them from different sites/blogs, so if you recognise any of these stories, bear in mind I am just trying to create a blog for mainly myself and family/friends to share with, so it saves me the trouble to send emails or printing them out. If for any reason you are the person who has actually written any of these stories and feel I shouldn't have it in my blog to share with other devotees, please feel free to email me. If you are ok with that, then thank you for helping to be able to share your experiances in spreading the benefits and blessings of Sri Nrsimha.
Jay Shri Nrsimha to all.
