Ahobilam temple is dedicated to Narasimha, the man-lion 4th incarnation of Vishnu. Lord Vishnu’s previous 3 avataras – Matsya, Kurma and Varaha – were in the sea – and this is HIS 1st avatara on land. This holy land is a small village in the Allagadda mandal of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. It is a picturesque place surrounded by the hills of the Eastern Ghats.
The present Narashima temples and the other sites were built by the kings of the Vijayanagara empire in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Ahobilam is said to be the place where the Lord Vishnu killed the demon Hiranyakasipa and saved HIS devotee Prahalada. Mahalakshmi took avathar as Chenchulakshmi and married Vishnu.
The Mahabharatha and other ancient scriptures like Koorma Purana, Padma Purana and Vishnu Purana mention about Ahobilam Narasimha. The Brahmanda Purana says that this place was once the palace of Hiranyakasipu who was slain by Sriman Narayana manifesting as Narasimha from a pillar there to save His devotee Prahlada.
The village has the main temple complex called Lower Ahobilam. The upper Ahobilam is about 8 kilometres away on hills and has more temples.
According to legend, the place derived the name ‘Ahobilam’ becauset the Devas who saw Narasimha tearing up Hiranyakasipu sung His praises as ‘Ahobala’ meaning “Lo: the strength”. There is a sloka about-Ahobilam which says:-
“Aho Veeryam Aho Souryarn Aho Bahuparakramah
Naarasimham Param Daivam Ahobilam Aho Balam.
The other legend says Garuda worshipped and got His vision at the great cave – the Ahobila – so the place it come to be called Ahobilam. Hence this place is also known as Garudadri, Garudachalam, and Garudasailam.
The temple complex of nine shrines is located around a 8 KM circle. The mountain where Garuda didpas is famous as Garudachala. There are nine Narasimha places known as Nava-Narasimhas where great Rishis installed and worshiped. They are The Nine Narasimhasthalas are :-
- BHARGAVA NARASIMHA SWAMY
This temple is 2 km from the Lower Ahobilam, on a hill, near the sacred pond, known as ‘Bhargava Theertham’, where Bhargava Rama performed his tapasya. - YOGANANDA NARASIMHA SWAMY
This temple is 2 km to the south-east of Lower Ahobilam. The popular legend is that after killing Hiranyakasipu, Lord Narasimha taught Prahlada several yogic postures. - CHATRAVATA NARASIMHA SWAMY
About 3 km from lower Ahobilam, the image of the deity is installed under a peepal tree, surrounded by thorny bushes. Hence, the Lord is called as Chatravata Narasimha Swamy. - AHOBILA NARASIMHA SWAMY
The temple, situated on the Upper Ahobilam, at a distance of eight kilometres from the Lower Ahobilam, is the main temple and the earliest of all the nine temples there. The Lord here appears in his fierce aspect, called Ugra Narasimha, who is the presiding deity of the temple and is known as Ahobila Nrisimha Swamy. It is firmly believed the Lord Narasimha was ‘Svayambhu’ (self-manifest) here. - KRODAKARA (VARAHA) NARASIMHA SWAMY
The temple of this Lord is one kilometre away from the main temple of Ahobila Nrisimha Swamy on the Upper Ahobilam. The image of the deity has the face of a boar (varaha or kroda) and the Lord is seen along with his Consort, Lakshmi. Hence the Lord of the temple is known as Krodakara (Varaha) Narasimha Swamy here. - KARANJA NARASIMHA SWAMY
This shrine is situated at a distance of one kilometre from the Upper Ahobilam and one furlong from the road leading to Lower Ahobilam. The image of the deity is installed under a tree, called ‘Karanja Vruksham’. Hence this Lord is called Karanja Narasimha Swamy. - MALOLA NARASIMHA SWAMY
Nearly two kilometres from the main temple of Upper Ahobilam, is the famous shrine of Malola Narasimha Swamy. The deity here appears in ‘soumya’ (graceful) form. As Lord Narasimha is seen with his consort, Lakshmi, He is known as Malola Narasimha Swamy. The word ‘Malola’ means beloved to Lakshmi (Ma=Lakshmi, Lola= beloved). It is said that the ‘utsavamoorthi’ of the Lord appeared to Srimath Adivan Satakopa Jeeyar, the first Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt. Right from the founder, i.e., the first Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt down to the 44th pontiff, Srivan Satakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatheendra Mahadesika, the present jeeyar, the utsavamoorthi of Malola Narasirnha Swamy is worshipped and it is taken by them whenever they are on religious tours, visiting the villages every year. Recently, the 45th Jeeyar Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatheendra Mahadesikan has taken over the worship. - JWALA NARASIMHA SWAMY
The temple of Jwala Nrisimha Swamy, lies higher up the above temple, on a hill called, ‘Achalachaya Meru’. This is about four kilometres 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. - PAVANA NARASIMHA SWAMY
Nearby the above temple, is the shrine of Pavana Narasimha, on the banks of the river, Pavana and it is about six kilometres from the Upper Ahobilam temple. Hence the Lord of the shrine is known as Pavana Narasimha Swamy.
In addition to the shrines mentioned above, there is a famous shrine dedicated to Narasimha Swamy in the Lower Ahobilam, which is popularly known as Prahlada Varada Sannidhi. The other objects of this place are ‘Ugra Sthambham’ and ‘Prahlada Mettu’.
(a) UGRA STHAMBHAM
At a distance of eight kilometres 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’.
Timings : Monday to Sunday (Lower Temple): 6:30 AM – 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Monday to Sunday (Upper Temple): 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Entry Fee : INR 50 Per Person
How to reach:
By air: The nearest Airport is Hyderabad Airport, about 334 km from Ahobilam.
By train: Nandyal is about 63 km
By road: From Hyderabad 380 KM. From Karnool 150 KM. Y
Accommodation: Sri Ahobila Mutt maintains a Guest House called Malola Guest House. There are a total of 14 rooms, 4 single rooms, 6 double rooms, and 4 triple rooms. Of these, two double rooms and two triple rooms are air conditioned. In addition, there are 10 dormitory type rooms.
