Lower
Ahobilam Temple
Garuda wished for a vision of Lord Nrisimha in the form of
the Avathara. To fulfill his wish, the Lord settled in the hills around
Ahobilam in the midst of dense forests in nine different forms. For this reason
this hill came to be known as Garudadri, Garudachalam, and Garudasailam.
Ahobilam is the place where the Lord killed Hiranyakasipu
and saved Prahalada. Mahalakshmi took avathar as Senjulakshmi among the Senju,
tribal hunters of the hills, and married the Lord.
Sri Ahobila Muth, one of the most important Sri Vaishnava
religious institutions in India, was established by Sri Athivan Satakopan at
the instructions of Lord Lakshmi Nrisimha of Ahobilam. In fact, the utsava
moorthy of the Malola Nrisimha temple, one of the nine shrines of Ahobilam, is
the presiding deity of Sri Ahobila Mutham. Sri Malolan accompanies Srimad Azhagiya
Singar, the spiritual and titular head of Sri Ahobila Mutham, on his travels.
Thirumangai Azhvaar has sung ten verses about this temple in
Periya Thirumozhi.
History of Ahobilam Temple ( Sthala
Puranam )
The Himalayas rise high to the Everest in the north while
the far south of India shows the deep sea - rather communion of the three
oceans. The western region and the eastern region of the Peninsular India, on
the other hand, while tapering towards Kanyakumari, exhibit a wide range of
mountains known as Western Ghats present wholesome sceneries and adventurous
travel both by rail and road, the Eastern Ghats display not only picturesque
view but demonstrate divinity as well. The Eastern Ghats are likened to the
great serpent Adhisesha basking in the sun with its head (or hood) at Thirumala,
its middle at Ahobilam and its tail- end portion at Srisailam - all the three
with famous temples on them.
The subject we have before us is Ahobilam. Of course,
Thirupathi and Srisailam are also frequented pilgrimage centres. Ahobilam
because of this special issue. Not only Mahabharatha; but also ancient puranas
like Koorma Purana, Padma Purana and Vishnu Purana mention about Ahobilam and
its presiding deity Narasimha. In fact, 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 for the sake of his staunch
devotee Prahlada. Vagaries of time brought about the destruction of the then
existing structures yielding place to nature's creation of the mountain range
that preserved the site of incarnation as "Svayam Vyakta Kshetram" of
Lord Narasimha.
According to Stala Purana, there are two popular legends for
the derivation of the word 'Ahobilam'. It is stated that the Devas (Gods),
while witnessing the terrific aspect (Ugra Kala), the lord took on in order to
tear to pieces Hiranyakasipu sung in His praise as 'Ahobala' (Lo: the
strength). Hence this place has come to be known as Ahobilam. In support of
this, there is a prapatthi sloka about-Ahobilam that reads:-
"Aho Veeryam Aho Souryarn Aho Bahuparakramah
Naarasimham Param Daivam Ahobilam Aho Balam.
The other version is that because of the great cave, the
Ahobila, where Garuda worshipped, did penance and realised the lord, the place
itself has come to be called Ahobilam. The Ahobilam 'Kaifiyat' gives support to
this legend. (The Ahobilam Kaifiyat forming part of Mackenzie collections gives
very valuable information regarding the Ahobilam temples. Kaifiyats - the
digests from 'Kaviles' or village registers containing information on the
political, social, religious and other conditions of the villages in Deccan
were prepared by Pandits and Mussadis working under Col. Mackenzie.) The
Ahobilam Kaifiyat is in Telugu and available in the State Archives at Hyderabad
(vide "Ahobila Narasimhaswamy temple" - Monograph by P. Sitapati,
Commissioner of Archives).
As per this record, "On one of the mountains in the
Nallamalai hills range, eight amadas from Srisaila Kshetra, Garuda commenced
silent penance to obtain a vision of Lord Narasimha who destroyed
Hiranyakasipu. The Lord in his grace, after long years of the tapas of Garuda,
manifested Himself in the cave of a mountain".
"Ten 'Paruvus' to the north-east of the mountain, where
Garuda was doing penance, a vision of His manifestation was then granted to
Garuda, who after obtaining a sign of the location of the mountain-cave, gladly
traveled thither and saw the embodiment of the Sathsvaroopa,' Mahapurusha, Lord
Jwalanarasimha - not easily accessible to common people. Garuda then worshipped
the Lord and praised him that 'Ahobilam is Mahabalam' (Ahobilam is a great
sustainer with strength). The Lord's Divya Mangala Vigraha was worshipped by
him with several sthotras- Garuda then considered himself as blessed after a
vision of the Lord. This divine place thereafter obtained the deserving name of
Ahobilam".
"The mountain on which Garuda performed tapas became
famous as Garudachala. In the days of yore when truth and dharma prevailed,
great heat was observable 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 Janapadas in the Kali
age, they left for northern lands, covering up the Narasimha cave with
boulders. Traditionally therefore this place is being called the Narasimha
Kshetra. There are thus nine Narasimha places, Nava-Narasimhas; Rishi-
installed and worshipping areas:
Jwala Ahobila Malola Kroda Karanja Bhargava
Yogananda Kshatravata Pavana Nava Moorthayaha.
The Nine
Narasimhasthalas are :- 1. Jwala Narasimha 2. Ahobila Narasimha 3. Malola
Narasimha 4. Kroda Narasimha 5. Karanja Narasimha 6. Bhargava Narasimha 7.
Yogananda Narasimha 8. Kshatravata Narasimha and 9. Pavana or holy Narasimha.
Before visiting these nine shrines, let us see how we
approach the place. Situated in the Nallamalai Hills, Ahobilam is about 24 Kms.
from Allagadda Taluk Headquarters, 112 Kms. from Cudappah and 65 Kms. from
Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh and can be reached by bus from Hyderabad and also by
rail via Kurnool and then by bus from there. Long long ago, the Tamil mystic
bard, Thirumangai Azhwar sang that Singavel Kunram (Ahobilam) was accessible to
none but Gods.
Due to the efforts of the current 45th Srimad
Azhagiyasingar, the access routes to several of the shrines have been greatly
simplified such that people of different age groups are now able to visit the
places easily. The whole complex is in two parts - one called Eguvu Ahobilam
(Upper Ahobilam) with Nava Narasimha shrines and the other called Diguvu
Ahobilam (Lower Ahobilam) with a single shrine for Lakshmee Narasimha connected
by a road, stretching a distance of about 12.8 Kms. from Lower Ahobilam to
Upper Ahobilam.
The Sthalapurana of Ahobilam in Sanskrit gives an account of
nine forms of Narasimha, worshipped here. They are: -
1. BHARGAVA NARASIMHA SWAMY
The Bhargava Narasimha Swamy is situated at a distance of
two kilometres from the Lower Ahobilam, on a hill, near the sacred pond, known
as 'Bhargava Theertham', where Bhargava Rama performed his penance. Hence the
Lord of the temple is known as Bhargava Narasimha Swamy.
2. YOGANANDA NARASIMHA SWAMY
This temple is to the south-east of Lower Ahobilam at a
distance of 2 kilometres. The popular legend is that after killing
Hiranyakasipu, Lord Narasimha taught Prahlada several yogic postures.
Therefore, the Lord in this aspect is called Yogananda Narasimha.
3. CHATRAVATA NARASIMHA SWAMY
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 as Chatravata Narasimha Swamy.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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 God 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'.
(b) PRAHALADA METTU
The small shrine, situated in a cave on the hill, is in
between Ugra Sthambham and the Upper Ahobilam. It is dedicated to Prahlada
Narashimha Swamy. The image of the Prahlada is installed in a small cave.
There are a number of holy 'theerthas' (water ponds) round
this place. Of these, Rakthakundam is the most important. It is stated that
Lord Narasirnha after killing the demon Hiranyakasipu, washed his hands in this
'theertham' and hence the water is still reddish in appearance. (History of the
cult of Narasimha in Andhra Pradesh by Dr. M. Narasimhacharya).
LOWER AHOBILAM
The temple surrounded by three prakaras in the Lower
Ahobilam is dedicated to Prahlada Varada i.e., the Lord whose grace bestows on
Prahlada. With Vijayanagar style noticeable in the structure, there are a
number of mandapas outside the temple. A shrine dedicated to Sri Venkateswara
exists to the south west of this Narasimha temple and lends view to the episode
that Lord Venkateswara obtained the blessings of Narasimha just before his
marriage with Padmavathi. The Mukha Mandapa there, is now used as the Kalyana
Mandapa of Narasimha Swamy. With Lakshmeenarasimha as the presiding Deity, the
main temple consists of a sanctum, Mukhamandapam and Rangamandapam with
numerous pillars intricately carved and carrying rich sculptures. There are
also three smaller shrines for Lakshmi, Andal and Azhwars. In the sanctum are
also kept the Utsava idols of Prahlada Varada, Pavana Narasimha and the
processional idols of Jwala Narasimha endowed with ten hands and with Sreedevi
and Bhoodevi on His either side. A small idol of the first Jeeyar, Sri Adivan
Satakopa Swami is also kept before them.
What is apparent and observable is Lord Narasimha's posture
in three places including the one in a polar of a divine ascetic presenting
ascetic order to the first Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt. Both in the Upper and Lower
Ahobilam, it is a common sight on the pillars of Lord Narasimha wooing His
consort Chenchulakshmi. The Lord chasing Hiranyakasipu in one pillar and
bursting forth from another pillar to tear him are very realistic. Thanks to
the 44th Jeeyar's efforts as also that of the Endowments Department of A.P.
Government, the complex has been renovated, though a lot is desired to be done.
It would not be out of place to mention that good resting places, free or paid
boarding arrangements (as is done in Thirupathi), provision of enough drinking
water and Devasthanam canteens would go a long way to attract more number of
pilgrims. The annual uthsavam (Brahmothsava) performed in February every year
is a great attraction that lure both the common folk and the religious Pandits
to participate in them. Though under the care of the Ahobila Mutt whose Jeeyars
are hereditary trustees, co-operation from the public and the government would
help improve Ahobilam further.
There is a tall Jayasthambham erected in the spacious ground
outside the temple walls to mark the victory of Krishnadeva Raya. The
Kakatheeya Kings especially Prathapa Rudra had also contributed towards
additional structures and maintenance of this Ahobilam complex.
Sri Thirumangai Azhwar describes the place as very hard to
visit (sendru kandarkku ariya kovil, kavvu naayum kazhugum, deivamallal sella
vonna), but due to the efforts of the 45th Azhagiyasingar, this place has
transformed into "sendru kaandarku eliya (easy) kovil. Many devotees visit
ahobilam frequently and the place is well connected with a guest house and
access to trains from Chennai, Bangalore and Bombay. In addition, several
tourist operators also frequently arrange religious trips to Ahobilam from
major cities.
Legend of Chenchu Lakshmi
After slaying Hiranyakashyapa, Lord Narasimha proceeded to
the Nallamala forest in his UgraAvataram (aggressive form). The devas were
worried about this form and prayed to Goddess Lakshmi to pacify him. She took
form as Chenchu Lakshmi, a tribal girl, in the same forest. On seeing her, Lord
Narasimha asked her to marry him. She put him through a lot of tests to calm
him down completely before agreeing to marry him.