Famous Temples in India

Architecture

This place is also called as Nava Narasimha Kshetra since Lord Narasimha is worshipped in 9 different forms and separate temples exist for all the forms within a radius of 5 km from the main temple. Jwala Narasimha, Ahobila Narasimha, Malola Narasimha, Kroda Narasimha, Kaaranja Narasimha, Bhargava Narasimha, Yaogananda Narasimha, Chathravata Narasimha and Paavana Narasimha are the nine forms of Lord Narasimha in Ahobilam. Ahobilam Temple is the only place where all the nine forms of the Lord Narasimha Swamy are worshipped. It is said that the entire Nalmalla Hills from Kurnool to chittor is a personification of lord adisesha himself whose tail end is Srisailam, whose middle is Ahobilam and whose head is Tirupati. Lower Ahobilam is a big temple with 5-Tier raja gopuram facing east direction built according to the South Indian style.

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.

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.

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.

AHOBILA NARASIMHA SWAMY : The temple situated on the Upper Ahobilam at a distance of eight kilometres from the Lower Ahobilam 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 Narisimha 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 Narisimha 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. 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 Narasimha 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 Narisimha 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 : 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. 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.

Raktha Kundam : It is said that Lord Narasimha after killing the demon washed his glory hands at this Tirtham and hence, the water is still reddish in appearance.

Lanja Koneru : This Tirtha is 4 km to the north east of the shrine, en route to Bhargava. It is said that once upon a time a courtesan, on having the mere darshan of the Lord here, repented of her ways and built the Tirtham to wash off her sins.

Rama Tirtham : This Tirtham is 8 km from Lower Ahobilam Temple.