Lord Narasimha Temples
After Srila Prabhupada rose from his afternoon rest, Ugrasrava arrived with photographic slides of his recent tour with Yasodanandana Swami of the sacred temple sites in South India. Srila Prabhupada agreed to see them, and soon Ugrasrava was setting up a projector and screen in Prabhupada's main darsana room. It was quite a chilly evening, and on Prabhupada's request more heaters were brought into the room. Meanwhile, Prabhupada reclined on his chaise longue engaging in light conversation with the devotees present.
Most of the slides were taken in places purported to be in connection with the pastimes of the Lord's fierce half-man, half-lion incarnation, Lord Nrsimhadeva. Various shots of Nrsimhadeva Deities, both installed and self-manifesting, were shown. Prabhupada was mostly quiet, but when slides of Ahovalam came up, Srila Prabhupada exclaimed, "I have been to this place."
Ugrasrava enthusiastically commented, "Yes, Srila Prabhupada, this is Hiranyakasipu's palace."
Prabhupada shook his head. "This is not the place," he said quietly, in a matter-of-fact manner. "Anyway .. they worship like that."
Prabhupada did not elaborate, but it was obvious that he wanted to avoid controversy. The very same topic had come up on a morning walk only weeks before in Vrndavana. His conclusion then had been clear. "Nrsimhadeva is everywhere," he had said. "Ito nrsimhah, parato nrsimha, yato yato yami tato nrsimhah. Why Nrsimha should be confined: 'He was here'? He is everywhere. And as He is everywhere, He is here also. That's all."
Prabhupada was silent for the rest of the "Indian Travelogue"-style slideshow. When Ugrasrava showed a batch of slides of ISKCON temples in America, however, Srila Prabhupada's mood changed noticeably. It was obvious that Srila Prabhupada was much more enlivened by and interested in news of his world wide society. The restaurant at the New York Temple invoked his most enthusiastic response. "Oh! Our restaurant! How many people?" Prabhupada maintained his interest until the end of the presentation.
- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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