Temple visit

The temple at Ahobilam [lower] is known as lakshmi Narsimha temple.

The temple is neat and well maintained.Had a good darshan of Narasimha to the accompaniment of slokas streaming out loudly from a speaker [ of late this loud blaring of slokas from loud speakers of the temples i visit has suddenly become the norm], beating of drums and blowing of nadaswaram.The evening pooja the time of our visit ended with distribution of a scoop of extremely delicious Panagam--[water sweetened with jaggery and spiced slightly with condiments],sweet pongal and sundal.

There were an assortment of pilgrims some of whom struck me as incongruous owing to their attire that looked theatrical and their deliberately unbecoming behaviour ,unsuited in such holy precincts. I guessed it was the work of shakuni, ppts and charlies and i let it pass and concentrated, for what i came for.To pray , meditate and the strength to face the ordeals that life has thrown at me in quick succession .

The place immediately outside the temple is very dirty.The place that was once idyllic with huge trees ,their leaves flapping in the gentle winds along two neat rows of tiled houses is now full of shanties with pigs rolling and grunting in the filth ,twisting my stomach.The profusion of petty shops by the side of open gutters has robbed the sanctity of this place. It is so dirty that it is truly the brave who can overlook this and enter the holy precincts.

Photo: Inner circumbulatory passage at Lakshmi narsimha temple at Lower Ahobilam.