sahyAmalaka kShetra or Thirunelli as it is popularly known, is located in the Western Ghats of Kerala in the valley of Brahmagiri. Lord nR^isiMha is stationed in this kShetra with the special epithet of devadeva, the Lord of the Lords. The glory of the Lord and this kShetra are described in pAdma, nR^isiMha and other purANas.
sahye tvAmalaka grAme sthito.ahaM kamalodbhava |
devadevasya nAmnA tu tvayA brahman sadArchitaH ||
According to the kShetra mAhatmya described in these purANas, brahmA, while flying over his favorite hill named brahmagiri in the form of a swan, noticed a gigantic Amalaka vR^ikSha (Emblic Myrobalan) filled with juicy fruits. Within the tree, brahmA noticed an idol of the Lord sporting sha~Nkha, chakra, gadA and padma, radiating the tejas of nR^ihari. brahmA established the idol below the tree, constructed a shrine and worshipped the Lord with twelve and seven upachAras.
One who worships nr^isiMha in this kShetra after fasting on ekAdashI attains the grace of rudreshvareshvara:
upavAso munishreShTha ekAdasyAM vidhIyate |
narasiMhaM samabhyarchya sarvapApaiH pramuchyate ||
There are several celebrated tIrthas in this kShetra and bathing in them grants various fruits.
chakra tIrtha:
chakratIrthe naraH snAtvA sarvapApaiH pramuchyate |
bahuvarShasahasrANi brahmaloke mahIyate ||
By taking bath in the chakra tIrtha, one is freed from all sins and attains brahma loka.
sha~Nkha tIrtha:
sha~NkhatIrthe naraH snAtvA vAjapeyaphalaM labhet |
pauShe mAse tu puShyArke tadyAtrAdivasaM mune ||
By taking bath in shankha tIrtha, one attains the virtue of vAjapeya sacrifice.
kuNDikA tIrtha:
brahmA created this tIrtha by filling a kuNDa with the water of devaga~NgA from his kamaNDalu.
tattIrthe manujastatra mantrasiddhimavApnuyAt |
By taking a bath in this tIrtha, one attains mantra siddhi.
trirAtropoShito bhUtvA yastatra snAti mAnavaH |
sarvapApavinirmukto brahmaloke mahIyate ||
One who fasts for three nights and takes a bath in this tIrtha, such a bhAgavata is freed from all sins.
R^iNamochana tIrtha:
R^iNamochanatIrthaM hi tIrthAnAM guhyamuttamam |
trirAtramupoShito yastu tatra snAnaM samAcharet |
R^iNaistribhirasau brahman muchyate nAtra saMshayaH ||
One who fasts for three nights and takes a bath in this tIrtha is freed from the three debts. The three debts are associated with deva, pitR^i and R^iShi or AchArya. Also, one who fasts for five nights and performs pinda pradAna here, pleases his pitR^is who attain sugati. One who places the water of this tIrtha on his head attains the puNya of sarvakratu.
dhanuHpAta tIrtha:
dhanuHpAte mahAtIrthe bhaktyA yaH snAnamAcharet |
AyuryugaphalaM prApya svargaloke mahIyate ||
By taking bath in the dhanuSh tIrtha, one is blessed with long life and svarga thereafter.
vArAha tIrtha:
vArAhatIrthe viprendra sadyaH yaH snAnamAcharet |
ahorAtropoShito bhUtvA viShNuloke mahIyate ||
One who fasts for a day and a night and takes bath in this tIrtha, attains viShNu loka.
AkAshaga~NgA tIrtha:
One who takes bath in the milky white waters of this tIrtha, attains the grace of lord shrImannArAyaNa.
The sentiment of a true bhAgavata as related to shAstra, devatA, tIrtha and dharma is reflected by the following verse:
sarvatIrthamayI ga~NgA sarvadevamayo hariH |
sarvashAstramayI gItA sarvadharmo dayA paraH ||
nArasiMhamayo.asmyaham