BG 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 Thirumangai 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 Thiruvali [திரு வாலி].


Thirumangai Azhvar with Sri Kumadhavalli nachchiar

This Kshetram is always associated with Thirunagari. Today's [1st July 2008] lecture is from the Dwajasthambam in Thiruvaali temple. Along with this temple, Sri Narasimha is in Five temples in this region. In Thirunagari, the Lord appears in Two Sri Narsimha forms. In Thirukkuraiyalur and in Mangaimadam, Sri Narasimha can be worshiped. Sri Narasimha made possible, two impossible forms together. Lion's head and human body can not be seen together; and Sri Narasimha made this possible. Similarly, He has attracted persons going astray, as devotees. Thirumangai Alwar has sung Three pasurams in praise of the Lord here. Kulasekara Alwar, who appered long before Thirumangai Alwar, has mentioned this Kshetram [ஆலி நகர்க்கு அதிபதியே!] in one of his compositions. Sri Narasimha killed Hiranyakasipu and His anger was at peak; all others did not know how to pacify Him. Lord Brahma prayed Sri MahaLakshmi 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 is 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 indictes 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. Greatness of devotion and the Person on whom we are to devote should be realized to succeed in Bhakti. Prahlada realized the greatness of the Lord; at the same time he also realized that the Lord will appear anytime he was in peril, and this simplicity of the Lord, also made Prahlada to devote in the Lord. Just like He was present in a pillar and appeared to save Prahlada, He is available in everything we see. He si 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

"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 thsi 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 [grand father], 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 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 relation a person can have. Thus there is no orphan in this world. Even a child without mortal parents, can claim the Lord as their Father and Mother. Vedyam suggests the various concepts in Vedas. Omkara indictes 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 vedas are all indicated. All are His body and He resides in all as Antaryami.