SHRI AHOBILAM BAVA NARASIMHA TEMPLES:- (-TO KNOW ABOUT SHIVA/ VAISHANAVA TEMPLES IN SOUTH INDIA-) //// SHRI HARI SARVOTHAMA -- VAYU JEEVOTHAMA //// The temple consists of nine shrines to Lord Nrisimha located around a 5 KM circle. In addition to the nine shrines, there is a temple for Prahaladavarada Varadhan in the foothills of the mountain. Due to security reasons and the difficulty in performing daily worship, many of the utsava vigrahas of the nine shrines are kept in this 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. There are nine temples around the Nallamala Forest range, and in terms of sculpture and architecture all these nine temples stands to be an ultimate testament for the ancient sthapathis in planning and sculpting these temples. A few temples can be reached through trekking. Some temples are inside the cave. Some temples are very difficult to trek to. The nine planets that define the human fates are believed to have worshipped these nine Lord Narasimhas to get relief from Rakshashas (demons) and curses of sages for their actions. This is main theme of the work of the great Telugu poet Errana, the “Nrisimha Puranam”. The hereditary powers of the temple rest with the Pontiff HH Azhagiyasingar of Ahobila Mutt. Currently the 45th Jeeyar of this lineage is the reigning Pontiff. Occasionally when HH Jeeyar performs Mangalasasanam (pays respects at the temple) at Ahobilam, the Serthi Utsavam is performed (the Moolavar of Malola Nrusimhar and the Utsavar) are united. The Nallamala hills are personified as Adisesha with his head at Tirumala, middle at Ahobilam and the tail at Srisailam. Ahobilam is located in Karnool district of Andhra Pradesh in the hills of the eastern ghats, about 400 KM northwest of Chennai. Also it is located at a distance of 40 km from Nandyal and about 150 km from Kurnool, the district headquarters. The Nine Narasimhasthalas are :- 1. Jwala Narasimha 2. Ahobilam Narasimha 3. Malola Narasimha 4. Kroda Narasimha 5. Karanja Narasimha 6. Bhargava Narasimha 7. Yogananda Narasimha 8. Chatravata Narasimha and 9. Pavana Narasimha. The shrine of the Ahobilam temple is situated on the top of the first range and is referred to as Upper Ahobilam and down below is called Lower Ahobilam. A huge temple surrounded by a number of buildings can be seen at the Upper Ahobilam. The main shrine or the sacro sanctum at Upper Ahobilam was carved out of a big egg like rock with mandapams. There is a tank here, which supplies water to the residents of the Upper Ahobliam temple. It is mainly for growing flowers for the shrine. There is a Lower Ahobilam in the below with a big temple and enclosures, It was built according to the South Indian style. Thousands of pilgrims can stay here in this temple. The priests of both Upper and Lower Ahobilam stay there even today. Upper Ahobliam includes the below narasimha temples: 1. Ahobilam Narasimha 2. Kroda Narasimha 3. Jwala Narasimha 4. Malola Narasimha Lower Ahobliam includes the below narasimha temples: 1. Yogananda Narasimha 2. Chatravata Narasimha 3. Pavana Narasimha. 4. Bhargava Narasimha On the way to Upper Ahobilam from Lower Ahobilam, we can see the Karanja Narasimha Temple. Best way to complete all 9 Narasimha is start with Upper Ahobilam, for that you need a guide because it is inside deep forest. 1. AHOBILAM NARASIMHA :-- The temple, situated on the Upper Ahobilam, at a distance of 8km 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. 2. KRODA NARASIMHA :-- The temple of this Lord is 1km away from the main temple of Ahobilam 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. 3. JWALA NARASIMHA :-- The temple of Jwala Nrisimha Swamy, lies higher up the above temple, on a hill called, Achalachaya 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. 4. MALOLA NARASIMHA :-- Nearly 2km 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). 5. KARANJA NARASIMHA :-- This shrine is situated at a distance of 1km 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. 6. YOGANANDA NARASIMHA :-- This temple is to the south-east of Lower Ahobilam at a distance of 2km. 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. It is on the same route to Pavana Narasimha. 7. CHATRAVATA NARASIMHA :-- About 3km 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. It is on the same route to Pavana Narasimha. 8. PAVANA NARASIMHA :-- Pavana Narasimha is on the banks of the river, Pavana and it is about 6km 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 STAMBHAM :-- At a distance of 8km 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. 9. BHARGAVA NARASIMHA :-- The Bhargava Narasimha Swamy is situated at a distance of 2km 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. It is different side of Pavana Narasimha. Secret of this temple is we have to cover all 9 Narasimha temples in a single day. Traveling to Ahobilam from Bangalore:-- From Bangalore, Ahobilam is about 350 K.m. The train timing is not very convenient from Bangalore. Prasant Express leaves Bangalore at 2:00 p.m. and reaches Nandiyal at about 11:50 p.m. From Nandiyal, Ahobilam is about 60 KM via Allagadda. The return train to Bangalore leaves Nandiyal at about 11:10 p.m. and reaches Bangalore at 10 a.m. By road, the travel is via Madanapalli, Cuddapah, and Allagadda. The drive is about 7:30 hours. Also there are many APSRTC bus to Allagadda from Bangalore. From Allagadda, there are many local bus to lower Ahobilam. Few hotels are available ONLY at Lower Ahobilam. November & December is the best season to visit Ahobilam. *************************************************************************** THANKS FOR SOURCES :- temple-of-secrets.blogspot.in/2013/09/ahobilam-nava-narasimha-temples.html en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahobilam ahobilamutt.org/us/information/visitingahobilam.asp divinebrahmanda.blogspot/2010... ********************************************************************* FROM COIMBATORE VENKATASUBBARAO RAGHAVENDRA RAO. //// SHRI HARI KRISHNAARPANA MASTHU ////
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 12:11:15 +0000
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