A poem for Prahalada

Foreword Stories are a nice way of providing illustration, so lets assume that the following took place. One day, the Navagrahas approached Prahalada and said, O great devotee, we are associated with the Nava Nrusimhas of Ahobilam as follows: Budha Pavananrusimha Guru Ahobilanrusimha Ketu Kshatravatanrusimha Sukra Malolanrusimha Surya Bhargavanrusimha Sani Yoganandanrusimha Chandra Karanjanrusimha Kuja Jwalanrusimha Rahu Krodanrusimha

But since Ahobilam is the place where your glory was highlighted when Hiranyakashipu was killed, we seek association with you too. So be it, said Prahalada, and forgot all about it because he was meditating upon Nrusimha all the time. Many years passed and the Navagrahas repeated their request. Twice, Navagrahas, you have told me about this. So, twice shall I be associated with you. I shall instruct one of my devotees on Earth to write a poem about me. Since there are nine of you and since you have reminded me about this twice, there will be 18 paras. Since there are nine of you, each para will consist of 9 words in a 3x3 grid the way you are placed in temples. Since you have talked to me twice on this issue, each graha will be associated with me twice. The concerned paragraphs shall also mention the form of Nrusimha associated with the said grahas. And since among you Rahu and Ketu are foreigners and my cousins, the poem will be written in a foreign language. Prahalada continued, If there is any other request, I shall look into it. Before any of the Navagrahas could speak up, Budha chimed in. Poems and slokas are very serious and stuffy, he said, even as Sani glared at him. Could you add some humour? Before Prahalada could reply, Sani said, Slokas are meant to be serious. They should contain a message, young Budha. They should deal with Vairagya. True, said Sukra, But there should be some fun elements too! How about a beautiful palace in the story? Had not Sani glared at him, Sukra would probably have said, Bring on the dancing girls!

How about some elephants? asked Guru, who ruled adipose and could never tolerate Sukra. Well, well. Remind me next time never to ask you Navagrahas for suggestions. All of you want one thing or the other! said Prahalada. But worry not. I shall try to ensure that the poem has a protagonist who seems to be prima facie a materialist who seeks palaces and elephants, but who humorously hides the message of vairagya. Good! Good! When will it get written? How about right now? asked Chandra, who was always in a hurry. Relax, Chandra, said Prahalada. One day, there shall be born a devotee of mine who will write the poem. Since Budha wanted humour, he will have Budhas sign as lagna. Since Sani wanted Vairagya, Budha will be in the house of Sani along with Sukra. Since we are talking about a religious poem, Sanis moolatrikona will fall in the 9th. Sani will keep an eye on both Budha and Sukra so that they dont get carried away. And since Chandra who represents the mind is always causing desires, Sani will keep an eye on Chandra too. Please! No! I am so scared of Sani. His glances burn me, shivered Chandra. Yes, said Prahalada, But doesnt he help the native to think of God when he aspects you? But fear not; Sanis gaze will not harm you because you shall be in your own house when my devotee is born. And so it came to pass that many, many moons later, the said devotee (me, of course; what were you thinking?) of Prahalada was born. Thanks to Prahaladas grace and Sanis gaze, he wrote the poem, which is presented on the next page. Hope you like it! Balaji Narasimhan June 2011 sherlockbalaji@yahoo.com http://www.balaji.ind.in/ PS: As Prahalada said, there are 18 paras and 9 words in each para. The Navagraha sloka is, Adityaya Somaya Mangalaya Budhayacha Guru Shukra Sanibescha Rahavay Ketavay Namaha and so the first two paras refer to Surya, the second two to Chandra, and so on, adding up to 18 paras. The name Prahalada is placed where the graha is placed; For example, in the 1st and 2nd paras, since Surya is in the centre, Prahalada appears in the middle and the line refers to Bhargavanrusimha, who is associated with Surya.

The Prahaladist
The Prahaladist prayed to Prahalada alone thus pleasing Bhargavanrusimha Grant him Moksha, dear Prahalada, said Bhargavanrusimha one day No, Lord, Prahalada opined, but Karanjanrusimha stubbornly decided otherwise My dear Prahalada, Karanjanrusimha said, Moksha Prahaladist deserves definitely Jwalanrusimha went post-haste to Prahaladist. Prahalada is very pleased, Grant I Moksha to please Prahalada? Jwalanrusimha asked Prahaladist Prahalada pleased if Pavananrusimha gives me a hilltop palace Prahalada wants me to have thousands of elephants, Pavananrusimha And so, I, Prahalada, fulfilled his desires, sighed Ahobilanrusimha |01|

|02|

|03|

|04|

|05|

|06|

|07|

|08|

|09|

Ahobilanrusimha said, Dear Prahalada, Prahaladist is just a materialist. Malolanrusimha, Prahalada said, My devotee seeks none but I. Elephants, Prahalada said, Remind him, Malolanrusimha, of my life. Remember, Yoganandanrusimha, You protected me from pachyderms? Prahalada asked When I fell from a hill, Yoganandanrusimha, Prahalada said, You saved me; Prahaladist remembers this, Krodanrusimha, averred Prahalada, Because, of the hilltop palace, Krodanrusimha said bhakta Prahalada Kshatravatanrusimha was pleased My dear devotee Prahalada, your devotees Will always worship you alone, pure Prahalada, blessed Kshatravatanrusimha

|10|

|11|

|12|

|13|

|14|

|15|

|16|

|17|

|18|

***