Ahobila Kshetra – An insight – I

• Author : Shri Bindumadhavan Narasimhan, Chennai
• Ahobila Kshetra Image Source : Wikimedia

Is it not a rare phenomenon to find Shriman Narayana in different postures of the same manifestation (Avatara) in one of His ancient abodes? Yes it is indeed a bliss to explore such a domicile and bestow our own self to the Almighty for bringing life to our life which is sinking like a ship in this samsaara saagara!

One such kshetra is located in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh (South India) in the hills of the Eastern Ghats, about 400 kms northwest of Chennai and is popularly known as Ahobilam.

This kshetra consists of nine temples dedicated to Lord Narasimha located around a 5 km radius. In addition to these nine temples, there is a temple dedicated to Prahaladavarada Narasimha in the foothills of the mountain. Due to security reasons, many of the utsava idols of the nine shrines are kept & worshipped here in this temple.

Jwala Ahobila Malola Kroda Karanja Bhargava
Yogananda Kshatravata Pavana Nava Moorthayaha.

Garuda wished for a vision of Lord Narasimha. 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.  Ahobilam is the place where the Lord killed Hiranyakashipu and saved Prahalada. Mahalakshmi took avatara as Senjulakshmi amongst the Senju, tribal hunters of the hills and married the Lord.

Sthala Puranam : The Eastern Ghats are likened to the great serpent Adisesha basking with his head (or hood) at Tirumala, the middle at Ahobilam and the tail-end portion at Srisailam – all the three with famous temples on them.

The subject we have before us is Ahobilam. Of course, Tirupathi and Srisailam are also frequented pilgrimage centers. Not only Mahabharatha, but also ancient puranas like Koorma Purana, Padma Purana and Vishnu Purana mention about Ahobilam and its presiding deity Shri Narasimha. In fact, Brahmanda Purana says that this place was once the palace of Hiranyakashipu who was slain by Sriman Narayana manifesting as Shri Narasimha from a pillar there for the sake of his staunch devotee Prahlada. Passage 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 kshetra” of Lord Narasimha.

According to Sthala 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) which the Lord took in order to tear to pieces Hiranyakashipu, sung in His praise as ‘Ahobala’, meaning “Lo: the strength”. Hence this place has come to be known as Ahobalam. In support of this, there is a shloka about-Ahobilam that reads:-

“Aho Veeryam Aho Shouryam Aho Bahuparakramah
Naarasimham Param Daivam Ahobilam Aho Balam.

The other version is that because of the great cave, the Ahobilam, where Garuda worshipped, did penance and realized the Lord, the place itself has come to be called Ahobilam.

The Nine Narasimha sthalas are: 1. Jwala Narasimha 2. Ahobila Narasimha 3. Malola Narasimha 4. Krodha Narasimha 5. Karanja Narasimha 6. Bhargava Narasimha 7. Yogananda Narasimha 8. Kshatravata Narasimha and 9. Pavana Narasimha.

Before visiting these nine temples, let us see how to approach this place. Situated in the Nallamalai Hills, Ahobilam is about 24 kms from Allagadda taluk headquarters, 112 kms from Cuddapah 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.

The once strenuous routes to several of the temples have now been greatly simplified by the local authorities such that people of different age groups are able to visit the places easily. The whole complex is in two parts – one called Eguvu Ahobilam (Upper Ahobilam) and the other called Diguvu Ahobilam (Lower Ahobilam), stretching a distance of about 12.8 kms between the two.

The Sthalapurana of Ahobilam in Sanskrit gives an account of the nine forms of Narasimha worshipped here. They are: –

1. Bhargava Narasimha Swamy : Bhargava Narasimha Swamy temple is situated at a distance of 2 kilometers 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. Yogananga Narasimha Swamy : This temple is to the south-east of Lower Ahobilam at a distance of 2 kilometers. The popular legend is that after killing Hiranyakashipu, Lord Narasimha taught Prahlada several yogic postures. Therefore, the Lord in this aspect is called Yogananda Narasimha.

3. Kshatravata Narasimha Swamy : About 3 kilometers from Lower Ahobilam, the deity is installed under a peepal tree, surrounded by thorny bushes. Hence, the Lord is called as Kshatravata Narasimha Swamy.

4. Ahobila Narasimha Swamy : This temple which is situated at the Upper Ahobilam, at a distance of 8 kilometers from the Lower Ahobilam, is the main temple and the foremost of all the nine temples there. The Lord here appears in his fierce form, called Ugra Narasimha, who is the presiding deity of the temple and is known as Ahobila Narasimha Swamy. It is firmly believed that the Lord Narasimha was ‘Svayambhu’ (self-manifest) here.

5. Krodhakara (Varaha) Narasimha Swamy : The temple of this Lord is 1 kilometer away from the main temple of Ahobila Narasimha Swamy temple further upward from 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 furlong from the road leading to Lower Ahobilam. The deity is installed under a tree, called ‘Karanja Vruksham’. Hence this Lord is called Karanja Narasimha Swamy.

7. Malola Narasimha Swamy : Nearly 2 kilometers 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).

8. Jwala Narasimaha Swamy : The temple of Jwala Narasimha Swamy lies higher up the Malola temple, on a hill called, ‘Achalachaya Meru’. This is about 4 kilometers upper from the Ahobilam Narasimha temple. This place is said to be the actual spot where the fierce anger of the

Lord reached its culmination when he tore Hiranyakashipu.

9. Pavana Narasimha Swamy : The shrine for this deity is on the banks of the river Pavana and hence the Lord is known as Pavana Narasimha Swamy. It is about 6 kilometers from the Ahobila Narasimha Temple.

• To be continued