Thiruvallikeni School boy and Narasimha devotee Prahladh spots the interchanged Yogananda Narasimha at Ahobilam Divya Desam - Officials now confirm the reversel of the idols during the Previous Samprokshanam
In May last year, this section had featured a story on 10 year old school boy from Thiruvallikeni and his devotional passion to hand sketch Narasimha idols (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/05/prahladh-devotional-drawing.html). A version of this story had also featured earlier in The Hindu Friday Review.
A couple of years ago, this writer had seen the young Narasimha devotee stand in front of the Yoga Narasimha sannidhi at the Parthsarathy Perumal Divya Desam in Thiruvallikeni and within hours sketching the Moolavar idol of Narasimha.
Prahladh spots the interchanged idols
In quite an unbelievable devotional absorption power, Prahladh, who visited the Ahobilam Divya Desam over the weekend spotted the interchange of Swayambu and Pratishta Murthy at the Yogananda Narasimha Sannidhi. Prahladh had been given photographs of the Sannidhi in its previous form and the current structure. When he returned home on Sunday evening and began sketching the idol, he found something odd and his drawing came to an instant halt.
When Prahladh looked deep into the two photographs, he found that the Swayambu and Pratishta idols had been interchanged and his inquisitive instincts enquired as to how and why this had happened.
OLD YOGANANDA NARASIMHA SANNIDHI, AHOBILAMMultiple officials related to Ahobilam that this writer spoke to over the next 48 hours were clueless that such a change had taken place. Ananthapadmanabhanchariar, Upanyasakar and Srikaryam of the Ahobilam Mutt, told this writer that he was not aware of any such changes to the Yogananda Narasimha Sannidhi.
Venu Srinivasan's Ahobilam Restoration but not of Yoga Narasimha Sannidhi
In November last year, this section had featured a story last year on Venu Srinivasan undertaking restoration of the Ahobilam Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/11/ahobilam-temple-restoration.html) but interestingly he had not performed any restoration work in the Yogananda Narasimha Sannidhi for the repair works had already been completed prior to his taking up the restoration work at Ahobilam.
Sources say that the Jeer may have requested Venu Srinivasan to undertake the restoration work in the rest of the Ahobilam Divya Desam temples after seeing the 'modernised' work at the Yogananda Narasimha Sannidhi.
Tiled works and Modernisation of Yoga Narasimha Sannidhi
The Thiruvallikeni devotee also brought to this writer’s attention the modernization of the Yogananda Narasimha Sannidhis as compared to other sannidhis in Ahobilam - with the difference in the stone structure from the earlier period and now clearly visible..
NEW YOGANANDA NARASIMHA SANNIDHI -REVERSED IDOLS AND TILED BACKDROP
When contacted, a source related to Ahobilam who has been associated with the Divya Desam for the last two decades said that the renovation of the Yogananda Narasimha Sannnidhi had been performed a Mutt Sishya as a one off exercise and that this had indeed been completed before Venu Srinivasan took up the works at the Divya Desam.
Clearly, in the one off exercise, one finds tiles replacing the ancient stone structure at this sannidhi.
Historical Background to Prathista Idol
Between 1995 and 98, the Swayambu Idol of Yogananda Narasimha had been damaged. The Power Agent of the time had directed and organised a Prathista Murthy to be sculpted. Till then, there had been only the Swayambu Idol at the Yogananda Narasimha Sannidhi.
When the then Jeer of the Ahobilam Mutt came to know of this development, he ordered that the Swayambu Idol cannot be done away with and directed the repairs of that historical idol. During the 1998 Samprokshanam, both the idols were consecrated. At that event, the Swayambu idol was in the front while the newly sculpted Prathista Murthy was in the background.
Recently, when the consecration of the Yogananda Narasimha Sannidhi took place after the repairs exercise by the private donor, the idols were swapped and one now finds the Swayambu Idol at the back and the Prathista Murthy in the front. Agama experts say that the current order of placement of the two idols is the way it should have been in the original instance.
On Tuesday evening, the official of the Divya Desam confirmed to this writer that the idols were indeed interchanged in the recent Samprokshanam.
Hats off to the 11 year Prahladh for spotting the change!!! It indeed is a reflection of his devotion for Narasimha and his attention to minute details while sketching his favourite Narasimha drawings on a white sheet of Chart paper.
15 comments:
Very nice . What devotion for a such a little boy.
You are really great to come out with real facts and bringing the talented boy to outside world. Hats off to you.
Really great he is
Fantastic story, Prabhu ! May Nrsimha bless the boy with abundance 🙏
Amazing. This little boy had made so much observation. Great devotee who is blessed by Malolan.
Great
It is Narasimha’s grace on his devotee!
Venkatesan
It is Narasimha’s grace on his devotee!
Venkatesan
Wow amazing devotion and observation to details. Powers of devotion good read will read it out to my sons
Prahladh has indeed shown to the world the swapping of the age old Swayambu idol with a new sculpture. Great interest in drawing and great interset in observation of details, devotion to God. I wish him grand days ahead.
Very nice
Wonderful article on the school boy; How did he find out, what others overlooked?
Very nice article by Prahalad. Wishing him success in all his endeavors.
Great
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