(A travelogue by Sri R Varadarajan Swami, Hyderabad)
We had the chance to make a beautiful trip to Ahobila Nava Narasimha Kshetra in January 2023. It was blissful day – the Thirunakshatram of the 6th Azhagiyasingar Shashta Parankusa Yateendra Mahadesikan. After the first Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt i.e. Adivan Satakopa Swami, the 6th Jeeyar Srimath Shashta Parankusa Yatheendra Mahadesikan was renowned for his spiritual and miraculous powers. He travelled upto Badrinath in the Himalayas and performed mangalashasanam at various Divya desams. The Agraharams of Injimedu and Thaiyar were established by this Jeeyar to propagate the Sampradayam.
Our day began with an excellent Viswaroopa darshanam of Prahladavaradan at Lower Ahobilam. Soon after, there was a beautiful thirumanjanam of Sri Ahobilesan, Nammalwar, Adivan Satakopa Swami and
Shashta Parankusa Mahadesikan together. We were blessed with special theertam and Maalai after this combined thirumanjanam. We were also fortunate to perform Aalavatta Kainkaryam (Fan Service) during kattiyam sevai after the thirumanjanam.
The best part of this trip was the darshana bhagyam of the utsavars Prahlada Varadan and Jwala Narasimhar. Both these deities had gone on a 45 day tour for the ‘Paaruvettai’ Utsavam. The Lord of Ahobilam, begins his 45-day journey of inviting his devotees to his marriage. The deities are carried daily from one village to another visiting about 33 villages. This year the deities left Ahobilam to the first village Bachepalle under the supervision of Adivan Satagopa Yatheendra Mahadesika Swamy.
So we went 18 kms from Ahobilam to the village he was in today and had a fantastic sevai of both deities. It was as if the Lord was waiting for us to arrive and have his darshanam . The excitement and fervour in the local villagers was palpable and there was so much excitement to bid farewell to the their son in law who had come to invite them for his wedding festivities. I even noticed a small 1.5 year old child joining in of its own in the celebrations by applying kumkum and tilak to the palanquin handles. Before the deities departed from there they were given harathi and prasadam. As the deities left there was jayagosham and lot of cheering. Flowers were showered. What was left behind was a busy village fair with all the happy villagers wearing their festive colourful best.
