Mittwoch, Oktober 01, 2008

Narasimham Village part 2




Not far from this famous Narasimha Temple in the village "Narasimham", is one very old but dilapidated Shiva temple. To get some attention of the stream of Narasimha bhaktas over the centuries, it is now with a big billboard advertised that "Lord Narasimha had come to this near by Shiva Temple to worship Shiva, to get released of the sin of killing the king Hiranyakashipu (even he was a demon). So if Lord Narasimha himself had done so, you as his bhakta should do the same, and visit this temple". From the Narasimha temple it is not very far (walkable distance), so i made it to see what it is all about.
The Shiva temple with a big gopuram is in a very bad condition, as his walls and towers are all fall apart.
Inside the temple complex, full of bats, loose bricks and garbage everywhere. Felt very much greef to see such old and beautiful temple in such a condition, neglected by his devotees. Most likely this temple comes from the Chola time (around 100 years old), built by rich kings of those days. The Shiva Lingam is very big, but no opulence worship is done here today. We can be happy if he gets once a day some puja. But the Linga it self looked very majestic, huge in form and beautiful shiny! Just next to the sanctum sanctorum, you will find a carved scene stone slap, were Lord Narasimha is worshipping this shiva Lingam. It is a old carving for sure, and it might come from the time were the two sects were fighting over the supremacy of each deity.
To me it looks more like a addition to the general understanding of Shiva/Vishnu relationship in the Vedas. Normally Shiva is worshipping Lord Narasimha with the Mantraraja (great King of Mantras, Mahamantra of Narasimha), and praises like Mantrarajapadastotra, Rudram (who are the personification of Lord Narahari, NOT Shiva) and Chamakam are proofs of this. Beside of the pancaratra samhitas, where you will find the teaching of Mantras on Narasimha made by Shiva to his wife Parvati. Of course you will find Shiva puranas, were the opposite is teached. Beside that, those puranas are not considered as very authoritative by vedic scholars, the final understanding of most shivaits is that the unpersonal brahman is above shiva and Lord Vishnu. So then why fighting over those issues, if in the end you have to give up this concept of service/worship anyway? On the other hand, vaishnavas would rather rott in hell, then give up the service to Lord Vishnu. That makes a distinct difference between the worship of those two sects.

1 Kommentar:

ewa hat gesagt…

Hello,
I am following your blog as 2 years ago I visited Ahobilam once...To my happiness you know quite a lot about that charming place and you mentioned Mantrarajapadastotram which is (as I presume) in use in the temples of Ahobilam (or correct me if not). I would like to ask, whether you know, what is the textual source of this stotra? I know that mantraraja is mentioned and explained in Ahirbudhnya samhita belonging to pancaratra school, but still, there is no stotra-text given...I found the text of Mantrarajapadastotram in internet, but there is no hint where to search for it in sanskrit literature. It is very important to me and I would be very grateful for your help.
Ewa