Before reading into
the topic, Read the Sthala puranam of Ahobilam temple
Karanja Narasimha:
Karanja is a tree. Hanuman did
penance to see Lord Rama (Another incarnation of Vishnu) in Ahobilam and the
Lord appeared as Narasimha. Hanuman requested him to give darshan as Rama. So
the Lord gave darshan along with bow and arrow with the celestial serpent as
umbrella (to show that he is Maha Vishnu) to Hanuman here under the Karanja
tree( Punga tree in Tamil). So he is called as Karanja Narasimhar. There is a
shrine for Hanuman facing the Lord. Hanuman gives in standing pose with hands
in woshipping position.
The Himalayas rise high to the Everest in the north
while the far south of India shows the deep sea - rather communion of the three
oceans. The western region and the eastern region of the Peninsular India, on
the other hand, while tapering towards Kanyakumari, exhibit a wide range of
mountains known as Western Ghats present wholesome sceneries and adventurous
travel both by rail and road, the Eastern Ghats display not only picturesque
view but demonstrate divinity as well. The Eastern Ghats are likened to the
great serpent Adhisesha basking in the sun with its head (or hood) at
Thirumala, its middle at Ahobilam and its tail- end portion at Srisailam - all
the three with famous temples on them.
The subject we have before us is Ahobilam. Of course,
Thirupathi and Srisailam are also frequented pilgrimage centres. Ahobilam
because of this special issue. Not only Mahabharatha; but also ancient puranas
like Koorma Purana, Padma Purana and Vishnu Purana mention about Ahobilam and
its presiding deity Narasimha. In fact, Brahmanda Purana says that this place
was once the palace of Hiranyakasipu who was slain by Sriman Narayana
manifesting as Narasimha from a pillar there for the sake of his staunch
devotee Prahlada. Vagaries of time brought about the destruction of the then
existing structures yielding place to nature's creation of the mountain range
that preserved the site of incarnation as "Svayam Vyakta Kshetram" of
Lord Narasimha.
According to Stala Purana, there are two popular
legends for the derivation of the word 'Ahobilam'. It is stated that the Devas
(Gods), while witnessing the terrific aspect (Ugra Kala), the lord took on in
order to tear to pieces Hiranyakasipu sung in His praise as 'Ahobala' (Lo: the
strength). Hence this place has come to be known as Ahobilam. In support of
this, there is a prapatthi sloka about-Ahobilam that reads:-
"Aho Veeryam Aho Souryarn Aho Bahuparakramah
Naarasimham Param Daivam Ahobilam Aho Balam.
The other version is that because of the great cave,
the Ahobila, where Garuda worshipped, did penance and realised the lord, the
place itself has come to be called Ahobilam. The Ahobilam 'Kaifiyat' gives
support to this legend. (The Ahobilam Kaifiyat forming part of Mackenzie
collections gives very valuable information regarding the Ahobilam temples.
Kaifiyats - the digests from 'Kaviles' or village registers containing
information on the political, social, religious and other conditions of the
villages in Deccan were prepared by Pandits and Mussadis working under Col.
Mackenzie.) The Ahobilam Kaifiyat is in Telugu and available in the State
Archives at Hyderabad (vide "Ahobila Narasimhaswamy temple" -
Monograph by P. Sitapati, Commissioner of Archives).
As per this record, "On one of the mountains in
the Nallamalai hills range, eight amadas from Srisaila Kshetra, Garuda
commenced silent penance to obtain a vision of Lord Narasimha who destroyed
Hiranyakasipu. The Lord in his grace, after long years of the tapas of Garuda,
manifested Himself in the cave of a mountain".
"Ten 'Paruvus' to the north-east of the mountain,
where Garuda was doing penance, a vision of His manifestation was then granted
to Garuda, who after obtaining a sign of the location of the mountain-cave,
gladly traveled thither and saw the embodiment of the Sathsvaroopa,'
Mahapurusha, Lord Jwalanarasimha - not easily accessible to common people.
Garuda then worshipped the Lord and praised him that 'Ahobilam is Mahabalam'
(Ahobilam is a great sustainer with strength). The Lord's Divya Mangala Vigraha
was worshipped by him with several sthotras- Garuda then considered himself as
blessed after a vision of the Lord. This divine place thereafter obtained the
deserving name of Ahobilam".
"The mountain on which Garuda performed tapas
became famous as Garudachala. In the days of yore when truth and dharma
prevailed, great heat was observable 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 Janapadas in
the Kali age, they left for northern lands, covering up the Narasimha cave with
boulders. Traditionally therefore this place is being called the Narasimha
Kshetra.
