However, it is somehow still confusing and Srila Prabhupada seemed to want to avoid the controversy and just have devotees worship Lord Narasimha. In our book about Lord Narasimha we are still trying to get to the bottom of this with all the sastra pramans, but no conclusion is yet found as to when the killing was in Indra loka (that appears to be the Bhagavatam's version in the 7th Canto) and when it was at Ahovalam. Sri Vaisnavas I met clearly state it only took place in Ahovalam. Whatever is the case, I found this morning walk discussion on Sampradaya Sun the other day between Srila Prabhupada and some disciples:
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. (END)
Lord Narasimha is here there and everywhere, in the heart, outside, and "in the inert matter, in the sky and ground in the water and all pervasive as He is Paramatma and He eternally exists in His supreme abode", Vaikuntha (whether it is in His Half-man, Half lion form as some claim or in His Narayana form, which is also on the cover picture of Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavatam. I recall reading in the Teachings of Lord Caitanya that there are no so-called "animal forms" of the Lord in Vaikuntha. I clearly need lots of help from the Vaisnavas to understand this. Lord Caitanya also described the various weapons in the hands of the different Visnu forms in Vaikuntha. That is in Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya lila. (Hopefully one day "I will be allowed to go and serve Lord Narasimha in His Supreme abode".)
