“A Pilgrimage to Ahobelum ~ Lord Nasringadeva’s Appearance ~”

BY: GAURIDASA PANDITA DASA (ACBSP)

Lord Nasringadeva and Sri Prahlada Maharaja

May 15, 2010, San Rapheal Ca. (PRABHUPADANUGA NEWS): I have been to India ten times for a total of three and a half years. I spend most of my time in my favorite place, Sri Vrindavan Dham. I was also fortunate enough to travel to some of the Holy places, which seem to be unlimited. My favorite places outside of Vrindavan are Hrishikesh and Ahobelum in South India. Ahobelum is the place where Lord Sri Nasringadeva appeared.

I went there with an entourage of about 16 devotees headed by Achutyananda Swami and Yasodanandan Swami. We traveled all around India putting on public pandal programs. Our morning program always included chanting the Brahma-Samhita and other mantras together. That was always a pleasure and very purifying and powerful.

Ahobelum is not reachable by public transportation, so not many devotees have gone there. We traveled in a nice bus and thus were able to go to a lot of special places off the beaten path.

We arrived in the Holy land of Ahobelum in the heat of the summer. At first the Ashram/hotel keeper said we could not stay, but was persuaded by Achutyananda Swami who had a letter from the Governor of Madras giving us permission.

Once situated we were treated like royalty by the head pujari and his good family. They served us multi-courses of excellent prasadam on silver plates and even fanned us against our protests while we honored Lord Nasringadeva’s prasadam.

There are eight temples in a circle situated north, south, east, west and the directions in between, northwest etc. There is also a main temple in the middle. It was over 100 degrees when we started hiking up a mountain trail about five miles to reach one of the temples that Lord Chaitanya Himself visited.

On the way we could see the cliff where Sri Prahlada Maharaja was thrown off and caught by Krishna. I was weak from the heat and was even thinking of staying back that day. I decided to go and depend on the Lord for the strength to hike up the mountain trail in the heat. I’m glad I decided to go after all.

When we arrived at the temple, Achutyananda Swami said to put some of the water on our heads from the creek that flowed by the temple before taking darshan of the self-manifested Deity of Lord Sri Nasringadeva. I looked at the water and saw that it was reddish so I didn’t want to wash there, thinking that someone must of sacrificed an animal up stream or something.

Achutyananda told us that it was red because that’s where Nasringadeva washed his nails after He killed the powerful demoniac king, Hiranyakasipu. It’s called Rakta Kunda. After putting some of the water on my head I felt so refreshed and all of my fatigue disappeared. The Lord provides and answers the needs of the devotees.

We entered the temple which is situated in a cave. The pujari opened gate after gate to let us in to the end of the cave where Lord Nasringadeva is situated. A couple of ghee lamps light the cave and waves of spiritual energy were coming from the Deity. Lord Chaitanya is said to have passed out in ecstasy there. Being there was so ecstatic.

It was so awesome that I didn’t want to leave. To see the self-manifested effulgent Deity of Lord Nasringadeva and stand right there where Lord Chaitanya went into ecstatic trance was one of my most awesome experiences I’ve ever had. It was one of the highlights of my life. All of the austerites of being in India became worth it at that time.

Each of the eight temples in Ahobelum are situated in a different environment. One of the temples is situated in a desert area. The temple and Deity are self-manifested! The Temple is a big round blackish rock about 8 feet high that is hollow with a hat like top.

Lord Nasringadeva is called Yogananda Nasringa because he is teaching Prahlada Maharaja some yoga asanas. He is blackish and about seven feet high, seated! He has a big powerful chest and a small waist. You can go in the temple and circumambulate the awesome Deity of Sri Nasringadeva and Prahlada Maharaja.

I highly recommend to all devotees that can, to go to Ahobelum and experience the awesome atmosphere and kind Vaisnava hospitality that we experienced there. These are the treasures of the spiritual world. By visiting this and other Holy places we attained the enthusiasm and strength to push on with the Sankirtan Mission of Sri Sri Guru and Gouranga.

We used to perform Maha Harinama Pandal programs all over South India. Everywhere we went we were well received by the people, sometimes we had crowds of thousands at outside Revival type Pandal/tent programs. We made a lot of life members and devotees and introduced thousands of people to the chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

When large numbers of people chant the Holy Names together it has a very purifying and powerful effect. Swami Srila Prabhupada said that when he was a boy of just a few years old he did Harinam Sankirtan, to save his birth city of Calcutta from a plague. He said he was only up to the knees of the other devotees, but he joined in and they stopped the plague by the power of the Holy Names. Harinam Sankirtan Ki Jai!

Another nice Nasringadeva Deity is at the famous ancient Sri Rangam Temple. The Gurukula children gather there daily and chant nice mantras to Lord Nasringadeva. It is a very pure and powerful experience. Lord Nasringadeva certainly protects His devotees. He’s helped me alot!

Lord Nasringadeva is my favorite incarnation of Lord Krishna after Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He is a favorite of a lot of Gurukuli students and many of the devotees. In this material world we all need protection and call for it in the times of need. Especially at the time of severe sickness and at the time of our or others death! Srila Prabhupada always asked the devotees to pray to Lord Nasringadeva when he was sick or when we needed to protect the movement and the devotees.

On Nasringadeva’s appearance day in 1977, I took my Deity of Nasringadeva into Srila Prabhupada’s quarters in Vrindavan and set Him up on a table. Srila Prabhupada said the Deity was very nice. I used to like to chant mantras on Srila Prabhupada’s steps after my regular services. I would like to chant the Brahma-Samhita and the Nasringa-Kavaca. I heard from Srila Prabhupada that he liked the chanting.

We had 24 hour Kirtan going on for Srila Prabhupada in Sri Vrindavan Dhama, starting in May of 1977, because Srila Prabhupada said he was going to leave the planet soon. There were many very good singers such as Satchitananda Prabhu and the Gurukuli students who would please Srila Prabhupada by their nice pure and humble chanting.

Sometimes scheduled singers did not show up on time. One day in the garden there was no one there to chant and Srila Prabhupada asked me to. My duty was to stand by him all morning with the chamara. I put the chamara down and started to chant for the first time in front of Srila Prabhupada. I was a little nervous.

I looked at Srila Prabhupada and He looked at me for a minute then shut his eyes. I chanted the Nasringadeva mantras along with the Mahamantra to try to get Lord Nasringadeva to help Srila Prabhupada recover his health so we could benefit from his personal association as long as possible.

Now I have a beautiful Deity of Lord Nasringadeva dancing with Laxmi Devi on His lap. It’s a South Indian style, very ecstatic. The Lord is like a kitten to the devotees but a lion to the Demons, like the evil king who he killed with his nails, Hiranya Kasipu.

Hiranya means gold and Kasipu means soft bed. Those are what the evil kings main concerns are, instead of protecting the citizens and working for peace. So Lord Nasringadeva appeared to protect His 5 year old pure devotee, Sri Pralad Maharaja and He continues to protect us all now, who are fortunate enough to seek His shelter and protection.

Sri Nasringa, Jai Nasringa,

Jai Jai Nasringa!!!

All Glories to our jagat guru Srila Prabhupada who brought Lord Nasringadeva to protect us all. Srila Prabhupada preached like a lion and was like a kitten to his devotees. This remains true. He lives forever by his divine instructions and the followers live with him.

By reading his books we can perfect our lives and attain Srila Prabhupada’s and our Sweet Lord’s association again in the spiritual world, Krishnaloka, where the talking is singing and the walking is dancing!

Hoping this meets you in best of health and happiness in Krishna Consciousness!

Your friend and servant,

Gauridasa Pandita Dasa

Chant Hare KRISHNA

and your life will

be Sublime! \o/

May 26th is the Appearance Day of Lord Sri Nasringadeva ~ He appeared after sunset, before dark so most devotees fast all day til dusk ~ Temples celebrate it on that day and sometimes on the weekends to let more guests participate ~ I will celebrate in Berkeley on the 26th where my Deity will get an Abhiseka Bathing Ceremony, Aratika and Kirtan with an Awesome Feast for all ~ then I will celebrate again on the 27th at Open Secret Book Store in San Rapheal Ca. ~ there we will take turns singing devotional songs in honor of Lord Nasringadeva! I’m so excited! Let’s get this party started! \o/ ♥ \o/