From the following discussion it is obvious from Yasodanandana that Srila Prabhupada had stated previously on two occasions that Ahovalam is the place of Lord Narasimhadeva's appearance, and he is actually giving us several hints of where this is stated, namely Brahmanda Purana and Nrsimha Purana, and confirmed by the Alvars and Sripada Ramanujacarya. Srila Prabhupada obviously did not deny those quotes of Yasodanandana as they are indisputable facts, however Srila Prabhupada obviously makes another point to settle the dispute that Lord Narasimhadeva is everywhere. Some devotees must obviously have a pre-conceived notion (maybe that this killing took place in Indra loka), so Srila Prabhupada brushed off the issue as not important.
It would then seem improper in one sense to bring it up again, but since HH Romapada called it an imaginative place, that is why I responded the way I did about Ahovalam.
We still want to prove based on the authorities of sastra that Ahovalam is the actual place of Lord Narasimhadeva's Appearance because being an aspiring Narasimha bhakta, it does matter to us very much that the proper siddhanta be presented. Although HH Jayadvaita Swami in the past seemed to have an issue with this, and at present HH Romapada Swami does, we know these are simply misconceptions about Ahovalam and nothing else (no major fault). However, understanding Ahovalam as the "janma-karma ca me divyam" place of Lord Narasimhadev does make some difference. Also by understanding its significance many will be willing to visit it and get the benefit from such a pilgrimage.
Vrndavana, April 10, 1976
Yasodanandana: Prabhupada, there has been discussion amongst many of the members of the press and the Sanskrit editors regarding the actual place of Nrsimha's pastimes. So I told them that on the occasion of our travel to South India we visited this place Ahobilam, and the panditas, they have scriptural reference from the Brahmanda Purana and the Nrsimha Purana that the place is actually mentioned there, and it has been recognized by Ramanujacarya and many of the great Alwar saints. And yourself have already told me twice personally that this was the actual place where it happened. And on top of the mountain there, there is the pillar, iron pillar, which is the symbol of the spot where Lord Nrsimha killed Hiranyakasipu. So for the benefit of all of these devotees, they were just requesting your actual confirmation.
Prabhupada: Confirmation or no confirmation, Nrsimhadeva is our worshipable Deity, that's all. Why you are bothering where He killed Hiranyakasipu? You worship Him, that's all.
Yasodanandana: They just wanted...
Jayadvaita: The question came up because they have some pictures, photographs from these places, and we wanted to know if they were suitable for publishing or not.
Prabhupada: So why you are bothering with that? Let it be accepted or not accepted. Worship Him.
Aksayananda: Not that important.
Prabhupada: That is the important thing. [break] A man is diseased. He has gone to the physician. So whether is the first duty to investigate wherefrom the disease came or to cure him? Which is important?
Yasodanandana: To cure.
Prabhupada: Similarly, Nrsimhadeva might have done this or here or there, but He is our worshipable Deity, that's all. Why bother with unnecessary things? We know Nrsimha is everywhere. Andantara stha paramanu cayan... That is the conclusion.
Jayadvaita: We were just afraid that if we published a picture that was not correct, then you might become like Nrsimhadeva.
Prabhupada: Hm?
Jayadvaita: We were afraid that if we were to publish a picture that is not correct...
Prabhupada: So when it is disputed, why should you publish that picture? It is controversial. You should not print.
Yasodanandana: The controversy is only amongst the...
Prabhupada: Whatever it may be. As soon as there is little controversy.... I explained yesterday.
Pusta Krsna: For dhatun?(?)
Prabhupada: No, the crow, the crow and the tala fruit. Somebody said this; somebody said this. Then what is that important thing? Crow and a tala. You know the kaka-taliya-nyaya?
Yasodanandana: I never heard that story.
Prabhupada: There was a tree, tala tree, and.... tala tree. So one crow was there, and the tala fruit fell down. Two panditas, they began, "Whether the tala fruit fell down.... Because the crow sat down on it, therefore fell down." The other said, "No, the tala fruit was falling down, and the crow could not sit on it." And they began to fight: "No, this." He said, "No this, no this," go on.
Aksayananda: Or maybe the crow tried to eat it.
Yasodanandana: I think in this case it was just a question that they never knew actually what was the actual position. But if Your Divine Grace does not wish anything to be published regarding that place, then we will not do.
Prabhupada: As soon as there is some controversy, avoid it. That's all. Tala fruit and crow. You worship Nrsimhadeva. Ito nrsimhah parato, yato yato yami tato nrsimhah. Nrsimhadeva is everywhere.
Pusta Krsna: Bahir nrsimho hrdaye...
Prabhupada: Why Nrsimha should be confined: "He was here"? He is everywhere. And as He is everywhere, He is here also. That's all.
It seems unfair that devotees for the next 10,000 years should not know the significance of Ahovalam, so we don't think there is any offense in this presentation, but is what Srila Prabhupada and Lord Narasimhadeva wants us to write.
