Location:
Ahobilam is located near Allagadda taluk headquarters, on the Nandyal - Cuddapah road in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.
Presiding deities :
The Sthala Puraana of Ahobilam in Sanskrit, describes nine forms of Narasimhas which are situated at various places along the different hills and vales here.
The nine forms of Narasimha seen here are 1) Jvaalaa Nrusimha, 2) Ahobila Nrusimha, 3) Maalola Nrusimha, 4) Kroda Nrusimha, 5) Kaarancha Nrusimha, 6) Bhaargava Nrusimha, 7) Yogaananda Nrusimha, 8) Chatravata Nrusimha and 9) Paavana Nrusimha.
In addition to the above mentioned shrines, there is a famous shrine dedicated to God Narasimha Swamy in Lower Ahobilam, which is popularly known as Prahlaada Varada Sannidhi. There are another 2 shrines known as Ugra Sthambham and Prahlaada Mettu.
Sthala Puraana ( Temple in Legends ) :
The Khetra Mahaatmyam of the Simhaachalam temple says that there are four important sacred places on the earth. Ahobilam is one of them, the other three being Simhaachalam, Krutasoucham and Harampapam. The Sthala Puraanam of the temple is said to be an extract fom the Bramhaanda Puraanam with 10 chapters enclosing 1046 verses composed by Maharshi Veda Vyasa. Ahobilam is also mentioned in the Mahabhaarata, Raamaayana, Koorma Puraana, Padma Puraana and the Visnu Puraana.
This sacred place was the kingdom of Hiyanyakasipu in the Krita Yuga and Lord Lakshmi Narasimha came out of the pillar and destroyed him. This place is called Vedaachalam, Garudaachalam and Veera Kshetram. It is also known as Singavel Kundram. Tirumangai Azhwar, a famous vaisnavite saint praised this Lord as " He other than whom nobody can enter reside in this Kshetra."
There are two popular legends for the derivation of the name ' Ahobilam. ' It is stated that the devaas while witnessing the terryfying aspect ( Ugra Kaala ) of the Lord sang His praise as ' Aho Bala ' which beans ' Behold the mighty strength. ' Hence this place came to be known as Ahobalam. This is seen in the following verse -
Ahoveeryam Ahosauryam Ahobaahu: Paraakramah |
Naarasimham Param Daivam Ahobilam Ahobalam ||
The other version is that because of the great cave, the Aho-Bhila, where Garuga worshipped and realised the Lord, the place itself has been come to be called as Ahobhila. It is said that Lord Brahma worshipped the Lord with the Ahobila mantram. Besides Brahma, Ahobila Narasimha was also worshipped by Rudra ( Sri Manthra Raaja Pada Sthothram, Ahirbudhnya Samhita, Paancha Raathra Aagama), Raama ( Vaalmiki Raamaayana ) and Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy also called Srinivaasa. Ahobila Narasimha is praised as " Periya Periya Perumal " in Tamizh.
The Ahobilam Kaifiyat, a digest from the village registers prepared by the Mussaddis working under Col. Mackenzie gives support to this legend. As per this record, " On one of the mountains in the Nallamalai hills range, eight amadas from Srisaila Kshetram, Garuda commenced silent penance to obtain a vision of Lord Narasimha. The Lord in His grace, after long years of penance of Garuda, manifested Himself in the cave of a mountain.
Ten 'Paruvu's to the north-east of the mountain, where Garuda was doing penance, a vision of His manifestaion was then granted to Garuda, who after obtaining a sign of the location of the mountain-cave, gladly travelled thither and saw the embodiment of the Satsvaroopa, MahaaPurusa, Lord Jvaalaa Nrusimha, not easily accessible to common people. Garuda then praised the Lord that " Ahobilam is Mahaa Balam." The Lord's divya mangala vigraha was worshipped by him with several stothraas. Garuda then considered himself blessed. The divine place thereafter ontained the deserving name of Ahobilam.
The mountain on which Garuda performed tapas became famous as Garudaachala. In the days of yore when truth and Dharma prevailed, great heat was observed near the mountain-cave of Ahobila. According to legend, when green grass was put in the cave, it would catch fire and smoke would be emitted. Several great rishis lived there for a time. After sometime with the knowledge that great places would become common Janapadaas in Kali Yuga, they left for northern lands covering up the cave with boulders. Traditionally, the place is being called as Narasimha Kshetra.
Adventures at Ahobilam :
Long long ago, the tamizh mystic bard, Tirumangai Azhwar sang that Singavel Kunram was accessible to none but Gods. This is true even today, since the area and the hills are covered with thick vegetation, thorny bushes and forests where leaves rustle and crickets screech. The whole complex is in two parts - one called Yeguvu / Upper Ahobilam with the Nava Narasimha shrines and the other called Diguvu / Lower Ahobilam with a single shrine for Lakshmi Narasimha connected by a road, stretching a distance of about 12.8km from Lower Ahobilam to Upper Ahobilam. From there, the other shrines are to be reached only by trekking and managing difficult terrain, flowing streams and slippery rocks. The nature is bounteous there affording plenty of water by way of ponds, brooks and resting places under shades of forest growth. One can witness several cave like rocks on the way. Quite an adventurous trip indeed to be enjoyed if one has faith, will power and devotion. Lions dwell in these forests and no wonder that the man-lion manifestation took by Lord Narasimha chose to dwell in similar surroundings. If one can undertake a strenuous traverse of 8 km from Upper Ahobilam, one can see the Ugra Sthambham known as Ukkukambamu, the pillar on the mountain said to be the one from which Lord Narasimha emerged in response to Prahlada's prayers.
Description of the shrines :
Bhaargava Narasimha shrine :
This temple is situated at a distance of two kilometres from Lower Ahobilam, on a hill near a sacred pond known as Bhaargava Theertham where Bhaargava Raama performed His penance. Hence the Lord of the temple is called Bhaargava Narasimha Swaamy.
Yogaananda Narasimha shrine :
This temple is to the south-east of Lower Ahobilam at a distance of two kilometres. The popular legend is that after killing Hiranyakasipu, Lord Narasimha taught Prahlaada several yogic postures. Therefore, the Lord in this aspect is called Yogaananda Narasimha.
Chathravata Narasimha shrine :
About three kilometres from Lower Ahobilam, the image of the deity is installed under a peepal tree, surrounded by thorny bushes. Hence the Lord is called Chathravata Narasimha Swaamy.
Ahobila Narasimha shrine :
The temple, situated on the Upper Ahobilam at a distance of 8 km from Lower Ahobilam, is the main temple and the earliest of all the nine temples here. The Lord here appears in his fierce aspect, called Ugra Narasimha, who is the presiding deity and is known as Ahobila Narasimha. It is firmly believed that the Lord was self-manifest or Svayanbhu here.
Kroda Narasimha shrine :
This temple is 1km away from the main temple of of Ahobila Narasimha on Upper Ahobilam. The deity has the face of a boar called Kroda or Varaha and is seen along with His consort Lakshmi. Hence the Lord is called Krodakara Narasimha.
Kaaraancha Narasimha shrine :
This shrine is situated at a distence of 1km from Upper Ahobilam and one furlong from the road leading to Lower Ahobilam. The image of the deity is installed under a tree, called Kaarancha Vriksham. Hence the Lord is called Kaarancha Narasimha.
Maalola Narasimha shrine :
Nearly 2km from the main temple of Upper Ahobilam, is the famous shrine of Maalola Narasimha. The deity appears here in soumya or graceful form. As the Lord is seen with His consort here, He is called Maalola. Maa means Lakshmi and Lola means beloved. The Utsava murti of this temple appeared to Srimad Aadivan Satakopa Yatheendra Maha Desikan.
Jvaalaa Narasimha shrine :
The temple of Jvaalaa Narasimha Swamy lies higher up the above temple on a hill called Achalachalaya Meru. This is about 4km from the Upper Ahobilam temple. This place is said to be the actual spot, where the fierce anger of the Lord reached its culmination when he tore Hiranyakasipu.
Paavana Narasimha shrine :
Nearby the above temple is the shrine of Paavana Narasimha, on the bank of the river Pavana and is about six kilometres from the Upper Ahobilam temple. Hence the Lord of the shrine is known as Paavana Narasimha Swaamy.
Lower Ahobila shrine :
In addition to the shrines mentioned above, there is a famous shrine dedicated to the Lord Narasimha Swaamy in Lower Ahobilam known as Prahlaada Varada sannidhi, i.e., the Lord whose grace bestows on Prahlada.
Ugra Sthambham :
At a distance of 8 km from the Upper Ahobilam temple, we can see a cleft of the mountain dividing it into two visible parts. It is a long held view that from the cleft, the Lord appeared in the form of Narasimha and this cleft is known as Ugra Sthambham.
Prahlaada Mettu :
The small shrine, situated in a cave on the hill is in between Ugra Sthambham and Upper Ahobilam. It is dedicated to Prahlaada Narasimha Swaamy. The image of Prahlaada is installed in a small cave.
Route to reach Ahobilam :
Situated in the Nallamalai Hills, Ahobilam is about 24km from Allagadda Taluk Headquarters, 112km from Cuddappah and 65km from Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh. It can be reached through bus from Hyderabad and also by rail via Kurnool and then by bus.
