SRI NARASIMHA DARSHANAM 7 RAMAPURAM, CHENNAI.

yEntha pEzhvaay vaaLL yeyiRROr kOLariyAy avuNan vaayntha aaham vaLLuhirAl vahirntha Ammaanathu idam Oyntha maavum udayntha kunRum anRiyum ninRazhalAl tEyntha vEyum allathillA SingavEL kunRamE (3) Meaning: AhObilam is the dhivya dEsam of Veda Prasiddha EmperumAn, who became a matchless and majestic Lion with the lustrous cannine teeth fitting ideally with the huge cavern sized mouth. Here Narasimhan tore apart the hard chest of HiraNyan --gained from his severe penance-- with His sharp, adamantine nails. At this Hill of the matchless Simham (Narasimham), wild animals like lion, tiger, and elephants are unable to roam freely due to the wounds in their legs. Why is their free roaming thwarted? Why are they immobilized by the road side? It is because of the intensity of the forest fires that heat up the rocks to the point of the rocks cracking and shooting out in all directions. Treading over these splintered hot rocks and pebbles burns their feet and makes it difficult for them to move about freely. They have to wait for the forest fire to stop and for the floor to cool before they can resume their free movement deep inside the forests instead of hanging around in places, where the sevArtthees travel along narrow foot paths to the Sannidhi of the Lord. These sharp hot splinters present dangers to the pilgrims as well in addition to the dangers posed to them from the wild animals. The forest is full of thorny bamboo bushes. When lightning strikes and the forest fire grows, the bamboo bushes catch fire and explode throwing thorns like shooting stars on to the foot paths used by the pilgrims and the trails used by the wild animals in their natural habitats. The hot thorns inhibit further the progress of the pilgrims and cause consternation to the wild animals. Hot rocky splinters from overheated stones, forest fire and flying hot thorn shreds from the bamboo forests make AhObila dhivya dEsam not an easy place to travel for the sEvai of Narasimhan. It is not a place for the faint hearted and the weak-limbed to travel. It is not an easily accessible dhivya dEsam like Srirangam, where nightingales sing, the

peacocks dance and the region is abundant with pleasing lotus ponds and green rice paddy fields. Only the hardy and determined pilgrims can make their way up the wilderness of Ahobila dhivya dEsam taking their life in their own hands to have the bhAgyam of the SEvai of the Lord in this HiraNya SamhAra KshEthram (AmmAn Idam). Courtesy : www.ahobilavalli.org E-Book # 50

SRI NARASIMHA DARSHANAM 7 RAMAPURAM, CHENNAI.

Sri Amirthavalli Thayar Sametha Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Ramapuram, Chennai 89. Perumal : Lakshmi Narasimhan Thaayar : Amirdhavalli

This temple is more than 750 years old and built by Pallava king. Temple history

According to the sources connected with the history of this temple, it was originally constructed during the tome of the pallava ruler, narasimhavarman II in the 8th century AD. However, the pillars of the temple, especially those in the mandapa, point to this being a creation of the chola times, subsequent to the pallava era. Whatever be the exact antiquity of this temple, the fact remains that for a long time it remained neglected with many parts of the shrine in a dilapidated condition. Luckily, enthusiastic devotees arranged for the renovation of this temple and the consecration (samprokshanam) was performed in 1983. the second samprokshanam was performed in 1994 when the flag staff(dhvajasthambam) was installed and the third samprokshanam was held in November 2007. the street leading to the temple has been known, from the ancient times, as iyengar street, revealing that people of the srivaishnava community had settled here long back. The entire area was known as brindaranya kshetra as there was a large tulasi garden here. Architecture The entrance to this medium-sized temple, as well as the main shrine, faces east. Worshippers enter the temple through a spacious mandapa with the dhvajasthabam, in front of which, directly facing the main shrine, is a tiny image of sri vainateya or garuda with palms together(anjali hasta). Then there is another pillared mandapa

SRI NARASIMHA DARSHANAM 7 RAMAPURAM, CHENNAI.

containing the pillars of the chola era. Enshrined in the main sanctum is the small but very powerful image of sri lakshmi narasimha perumal. Like most images of this deity,here too he is seen with goddess lakshmi seated on his left thigh. His upper hands hold the counch(sankha) and discus (chakra). His lower left hand encircles the waist of the goddess while his right hand is in the posture of assuring his devotees that he will save them from all harm(abaya hasta). Interestingly, this image is of greenish stone (pachaikkal) of a resonanat nature. Sri lakshmi narasimha perumal wears a salagrama garland of 38 salagramas, of which 25 are sri santanagopala saligramas and the rest are sri lakshmi narayana salagramas. The deity is enshrined under the ananda vimana. There is a small images of lord santanakrishna in this temple and it is belived that those who hold this deity in their hands and perform worshp(archana)will be blessed with offspring.

SRI NARASIMHA DARSHANAM 7 RAMAPURAM, CHENNAI.

Agamam and festivals

All the rituals of this temple are conducted according to the vaikhanasa agama.the brahmotsavam, which is celebrated in the tamil month of ani (june july ) during sravanam asterism (nakshatra), was started in 1994. on swathi nakshatra every month,there is a procession for sri Lakshminarasimha perumal.

SRI NARASIMHA DARSHANAM 7 RAMAPURAM, CHENNAI.

Festivals : Aani 10 days Brahmothsavam Swathi,Pournami,Amavasai Bus Route : 18E Parrys to Ramapuram M49R T.Nagar to Ramapuram 21E Parrys to Ramapuram via Adyar M70R Ambattur to Ramapuram Contact No : Damodharan, Vice President, Mob : 9444993055 Phone: 24767217