GITA 9.18
Sri Narasimha Avatar is an important one. For the sake of Prahlada, the Lord appeared as Sri Narasimha and remained in this world for a very short time. In order that the later devotees also should worship Sri Narasimha, the Lord is appearing in many temples all over. We also went to Ahobilam and worshiped Nava Narasimha. But going to Ahobilam frequently [for the people of this region] would be difficult. To satisfy the eagerness of devotees of this region, we have come to a kshetram, where the Lord graces as Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. We have come to the region of Tirumangai Alwar, and we have already visited Sirgazhi and Annan Koil. We have now come to the first of the Pancha Narasimha Kshetram. This place is called Tiruvali [திரு வாலி].
Tirumangai Azhvar with Sri Kumadavalli Nachchiar
This Kshetram is always associated with Tirunagari. Today's [1st July 2008] lecture is from the Dwajasthambam in Tiruvaali temple.
Along with this temple, Sri Narasimha is in Five temples in this region. In Tirunagari, the Lord appears in Two Sri Narsimha forms. In Tirukkuraiyalur and in Mangaimadam, Sri Narasimha can be worshipped. Sri Narasimha made possible, two impossible forms together. Lion's head and a human body can not be seen together, but Sri Narasimha made this possible. Similarly, He has attracted persons going astray, as devotees. Tirumangai Alwar has sung Three decades (Periya Tirumozhi 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7) in praise of the Lord here. Kulasekara Alwar, who appeared long before Tirumangai Alwar, has mentioned this Kshetram [ஆலி நகர்க்கு அதிபதியே!- Perumal Tirumozhi 8.7] in one of his compositions. Sri Narasimha killed Hiranyakasipu and His anger was at its peak. All others did not know how to pacify Him. Lord Brahma prayed Sri Mahalakshmi Thayar and She, along with Prahalada, went near Him. She then sat on His right lap and the Lord also embraced Her with His right hand, while His left hand was on His left lap.
Upper two hands are holding the discus and conch and in this pose the Lord graces here.
We are to see the sloka 17. The Lord indicates various separate materials and living beings in the Four slokas, 16,17,18 and 19, and states that He, as One, is in many forms. All these are His dependents and under His control. In slokas 13, 14 and 15. He told of types of Bhakti - sadhya and sadhana. But to do this bhakti, we should know His greatness. The greatness of devotion and the Person on whom we are to devote should be realised to succeed in Bhakti. Prahlada realised the greatness of the Lord. At the same time, he also realised that the Lord would appear anytime he was in peril, and this simplicity of the Lord also made Prahlada devote to the Lord. Just like He was present in a pillar and appeared to save Prahlada, He is available in everything we see. He is inside every atman. By being inside all, He controls and reigns each and everything. Sloka 17:
Tirumangai Azhvar with Sri Kumadavalli Nachchiar
This Kshetram is always associated with Tirunagari. Today's [1st July 2008] lecture is from the Dwajasthambam in Tiruvaali temple.
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| TIRUVALI TEMPLE |
Along with this temple, Sri Narasimha is in Five temples in this region. In Tirunagari, the Lord appears in Two Sri Narsimha forms. In Tirukkuraiyalur and in Mangaimadam, Sri Narasimha can be worshipped. Sri Narasimha made possible, two impossible forms together. Lion's head and a human body can not be seen together, but Sri Narasimha made this possible. Similarly, He has attracted persons going astray, as devotees. Tirumangai Alwar has sung Three decades (Periya Tirumozhi 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7) in praise of the Lord here. Kulasekara Alwar, who appeared long before Tirumangai Alwar, has mentioned this Kshetram [ஆலி நகர்க்கு அதிபதியே!- Perumal Tirumozhi 8.7] in one of his compositions. Sri Narasimha killed Hiranyakasipu and His anger was at its peak. All others did not know how to pacify Him. Lord Brahma prayed Sri Mahalakshmi Thayar and She, along with Prahalada, went near Him. She then sat on His right lap and the Lord also embraced Her with His right hand, while His left hand was on His left lap.
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| SRI LAKSHMI NARASIMHA |
Upper two hands are holding the discus and conch and in this pose the Lord graces here.
We are to see the sloka 17. The Lord indicates various separate materials and living beings in the Four slokas, 16,17,18 and 19, and states that He, as One, is in many forms. All these are His dependents and under His control. In slokas 13, 14 and 15. He told of types of Bhakti - sadhya and sadhana. But to do this bhakti, we should know His greatness. The greatness of devotion and the Person on whom we are to devote should be realised to succeed in Bhakti. Prahlada realised the greatness of the Lord. At the same time, he also realised that the Lord would appear anytime he was in peril, and this simplicity of the Lord also made Prahlada devote to the Lord. Just like He was present in a pillar and appeared to save Prahlada, He is available in everything we see. He is inside every atman. By being inside all, He controls and reigns each and everything. Sloka 17:
pitaham asya jagato
mata dhata pitamahah
vedyam pavitram omkara
rk sama yajur eva ca
vedyam pavitram omkara
rk sama yajur eva ca
"I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable om. I am also the Rig, the Sama and the Yajur Vedas."
Jagata = in this Universe, aham = I, Sri Krishna, am, pita = Father of all, mata = Mother of all, dhata = all those responsible for the conceiving of an infant and its growth, pitamaha = father's father [Grandfather], pavitram = most sacred or pure, vedyam = concepts in Vedas, omkara = Pranavam or AUM [ considered as the seed for Vedas], rk = Rig veda, yajur = Yajur veda, sama = Sama veda, asya = [I, Sri Krishna] am. The Lord is antharyami in materials as well as atman. He is the father of this Universe. Here we should understand that this means He is the Father of all living beings in this Universe. Thus, He is the Creator. As Mother He sustains all. Though dhata could mean lord Brahma, here the Lord means all those whose help is needed from the time a child is conceived to its growth. By indicating pitamaha or Grandfather, all the generations are covered. He is in every relationship a person can have. Thus, there is no orphan in this world. Even a child without mortal parents, can claim the Lord as its Father and Mother. Vedyam suggests the various concepts in Vedas. Omkara indicates various words used in Vedas. That is, words, as well as the meanings of them, are all He only. Since om is the seed of Vedas, entire Vvedas are all indicated. All are His body and He resides in all as Antaryami.
(continued)
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