Chapter summary
अहोबिलमाहात्म्यम् Ahobila Māhātmyam
The Greatness of Ahobilam
**The revered Sadguru said:**
Though the divine form of Lord Vishnu is all-pervading and His effulgence limitless, His special presence is clearly and powerfully manifest in various sacred places. Among these, in the great holy land of Ahobilam, nestled within the caves of Garuḍādri [Garuda's mountain], He, Lord Narasiṃha, the very ocean of mercy, shines forth in nine distinct forms. (v.1-2)
In ancient times, the great Garuda, seeking to liberate his mother, seized the divine nectar and waged war with the gods. Yet, recognizing Mukunda [Vishnu] as superior even to the celestials, and desiring to attain his own exalted place upon Vishnu's banner, Garuda performed severe penance on this very mountain, meditating upon Lord Nṛsiṃha. Thus, any person who aspires to ascend to the highest position should devoutly worship this illustrious Nṛsiṃha, who is ever affectionate to His devotees. (v.3-4)
The Lord, in His form as Varāha (the Boar), once lifted the Earth, submerged in the great ocean, upon the tip of His tusk. In a similar act of compassion, He now lifts all beings from the waters of the ocean of worldly existence. This Varāha Narasiṃha resides in a cave on the peak of Garuḍācala, bestowing fearlessness upon His devotees, and is worshipped by Bhūmi [the Earth goddess] herself. A person who beholds this Varāha Narasiṃha on the peak of Vedādri attains a kingdom, and a king may regain his lost land. (v.5-6)
Having slain the great demon, this ocean of mercy, worshipped by Prahlāda, then beheld His own fierce yet fear-dispelling form. He consoled the frightened Śrī [Lakṣmī], placing her upon His lap. This Guru of the three worlds, now peaceful and the refuge of the good, Lord Hari, who delights in Lakṣmī, resides on the bank of Lakṣmī-tīrtha. A destitute person who takes refuge in this Mālola Narasiṃha becomes as prosperous as Kubera. Indeed, what is difficult for His devotees to obtain? (v.7-8)
When the lotus-born Brahmā was about to create the worlds, he found his intellect dulled, deluded by a demon. He then installed Lord Narahari here, and by devotedly worshipping Him, the ocean of mercy in His Yogānanda (bliss of yoga) form, he regained his pure intellect and also his own supreme position as Parameṣṭhin [the highest creator]. By seeing Yogānanda Hari on Garuḍācala, the indomitable fickleness of the intellect of devotees is undoubtedly destroyed. (v.9-10)
A great sage named Gobhila, his mind agitated by the analysis of various scriptures, sought supreme and pure knowledge. He meditated on Lord Nṛsiṃha, and here, near a Karañja tree, he attained divine insight, directly realizing the supreme, eternal, and unborn Truth, and thus became tranquil. A person who worships Narasiṃha at the root of the Karañja tree attains divine knowledge, just as the great sage Gobhila did. (v.11-12)
Under a wondrous banyan tree that serves as an umbrella (Chatravaṭa), the Lord Narahari, whose exploits are constantly sung by Indra and other celestial beings, shines forth, beloved by His devotees. The two Gandharvas named Hāhā and Hūhū, having obtained the boon of excellent singing from Narahari, became the foremost among Gandharvas in heaven by the grace of Śrī Nṛsiṃha. People on earth who behold Narasiṃha at Chatravaṭa obtain the power of song and eloquence in assemblies. (v.13-14)
In ancient times, Vasiṣṭha and other sages, by meditating on the Lord who resides on the bank of Bhārgava-tīrtha, attained a high position, great knowledge, and fame here. Even today, Bhārgava (Paraśurāma), solely devoted to the worship of Acyuta, serves this Lord Śrī Narasiṃha, the bestower of all desired things to His devotees. The person who worships Nṛsiṃha on the bank of Bhārgava-tīrtha attains the supreme position and prominence among his own people. (v.15-16)
One should behold Lord Jvālā Nṛsiṃha, the best of gods, who resides in this liberation-granting place, and there, one should light a pure lamp with ghee. It was here that Brahmarṣis, devoted to the yoga of devotion to Acyuta, attained the abode of Vishnu. A seeker of liberation should worship that Vishnu here. A person who offers the flame of a lamp before Jvālā Nṛsiṃha becomes free from the forest fire of worldly existence. (v.17-18)
This is a sacred *tīrtha* [holy water body] where Lord Hari as Nṛsiṃha resides. In the past, the sage Bharadvāja, with great self-control, performed severe penance here. What fortunate person on earth would not take refuge in this holy, sin-destroying, renowned, pure, knowledge-bestowing place, which is served by sages and which destroys all afflictions? On the bank of Pāvana-tīrtha, one should behold the sin-destroying Narasiṃha, installed by Bharadvāja, for the complete annihilation of sins. (v.19-20)
For those who hold in their hearts the Lord of the king of birds' mountain (Ahobila Nṛsiṃha), the one named Potri (Varāha), the one united with the daughter of the ocean (Mālola), the one named Yoga (Yogānanda), the excellent one of the Karañja site, the banyan tree preceded by 'Chatra' (Chatravaṭa) which yields abundant fruit, the one named Jvālā, the one named Bhārgava, and that holy one named Pāvana—all contemplated by the best of yogis dear to the Lord—it yields excellent results. Indeed, in the great holy place of Ahobilam, the best of all holy places on earth, the sight of these nine Nṛsiṃhas is thus the destroyer of all sins. (v.21-22)
Thus, the thirty-third chapter, entitled "The Greatness of Ahobilam," in the First Part of the "Divya Desa Vaibhavam" composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
