06-25-2007, 05:34 AM
I was reading the previous version of this thread from forum archives about Ahobilam. Recently I spent around 7 months in Bharata and was fortunate enough to undertake a few pilgrimages
1) Ahobilam, Sri Sailam and Nandyal - In Ahobilam we managed to visit all but one Narasimhar shrines (8 out of 9 in a single day). Sunder ji had a question about Varaha Murthi in and around Ahobilam. There is a VarahaNarasimhar shrine in Ahobilam. However there is a shrine (Sri Mushnam) near Virudhachalam where Varaha Murthy seems to have appeared as a Swayambhu after Hiranyakshaka vadam. There is tirtham where he took bath and his ugra swarupa gave way to Shanta swarupa. This sthalam was visited by Madvacharya/Narayana Tirtha. I had visited this sthalam twice before coming to the States in 2003/2004 timeframe.
2) Madurai, Srivilliputtur(Andal), Rameshwaram (along with Utarakosha mangai and Tirupullani(where you can find Rama in Sayana Posture on a bed of Dharbai- Rama was supposed to be extremely stressed). Uttarakosha mangai is supposed to one of the oldest Shiva Stalams and does not have nava graham. It was mentioned that Navagrahas in Shiva temples in TN started after Adi Sankara's time.
3) Srirangam, Thiruvanaikovil, Samayapuram, Malaikottai and Thirvallarai (Pundari Kaksha Peruma). It was here Lord Shiva did updesam of Narayana Mandiram to Markandeya Maharishi to attain Mukthi. This is also considered as a place where Shibi Chakravarthy attained Mukthi
4) Upilliappan Koil, Thirucherai (Saranatha Perumal -Kaveri performed Penance here to make her more sacred than Ganga), Nachiyar Koil, Raja Mannargudi alias Dakshina Dwarakai near Kumbakonam.
5) Haridwar, Hrishikesh, Mathura, Brindavan, Kurushektra.
1) Ahobilam, Sri Sailam and Nandyal - In Ahobilam we managed to visit all but one Narasimhar shrines (8 out of 9 in a single day). Sunder ji had a question about Varaha Murthi in and around Ahobilam. There is a VarahaNarasimhar shrine in Ahobilam. However there is a shrine (Sri Mushnam) near Virudhachalam where Varaha Murthy seems to have appeared as a Swayambhu after Hiranyakshaka vadam. There is tirtham where he took bath and his ugra swarupa gave way to Shanta swarupa. This sthalam was visited by Madvacharya/Narayana Tirtha. I had visited this sthalam twice before coming to the States in 2003/2004 timeframe.
2) Madurai, Srivilliputtur(Andal), Rameshwaram (along with Utarakosha mangai and Tirupullani(where you can find Rama in Sayana Posture on a bed of Dharbai- Rama was supposed to be extremely stressed). Uttarakosha mangai is supposed to one of the oldest Shiva Stalams and does not have nava graham. It was mentioned that Navagrahas in Shiva temples in TN started after Adi Sankara's time.
3) Srirangam, Thiruvanaikovil, Samayapuram, Malaikottai and Thirvallarai (Pundari Kaksha Peruma). It was here Lord Shiva did updesam of Narayana Mandiram to Markandeya Maharishi to attain Mukthi. This is also considered as a place where Shibi Chakravarthy attained Mukthi
4) Upilliappan Koil, Thirucherai (Saranatha Perumal -Kaveri performed Penance here to make her more sacred than Ganga), Nachiyar Koil, Raja Mannargudi alias Dakshina Dwarakai near Kumbakonam.
5) Haridwar, Hrishikesh, Mathura, Brindavan, Kurushektra.