10. SRI NARASIMHA TEMPLE, AHOBILAM THIRU SINGAVEL KUNDRAM

DivyaDesam– Lord Vishnu	One of the DivyaDesamVishnuSthalam
Region	Vada Naadu
Vada Naadu	10thVishnuSthalam

HISTORY:

This Ahobila sthalam is also known as "SingaveL Kundram". This sthalam is dedicated to Sri Narasimhar, one of the Avatars taken by Sri Maha Vishnu to kill Hiyanyakasibhu. This sthalam is also known as "Nava Narasimha Kshetram" since 9 forms of Narasimhar Moorthies are located.

Thiru Singavel Kundram is also called as "Ahobilam". This divyadesam is said to be of two mountains (i.e.) Upper Ahobilam and Lower Ahobilam. From lower Ahobilam, we have to travel around 6 Kms to reach upper Ahobilam through bus. This Ahobilam sthalam is also named as "Nava Narasimha Kshetram". This Sthala Perumal gives his seva in 9 different ways and it is believed to be so more powerful than NavaGrahaas (the Nine Planets). This sthalam is found inside mountain caves and the Lord Sri Narasimha is giving his seva in 9 different postures.

There are in nine forms of Lord Narasimha in the temple, his appearance from the pillar, tearing Hiranya’s stomach, roaring ferociously and finally the peaceful form (shanti form) all quite realistically depicted.

 ‘Aho’ means Lion. ‘Pilam’ means cave. As the Lord appeared before His devotee Prahladha, He is praised as ‘Prahladha Varadhan’. Sri Garuda the eagle vehicle of Vishnu, His Holiness Sri Azhagia Singar the first Jeer of the Mutt had the darshan of the Lord at the temple at the foot hills. Sri Garuda and Prahladha had the darshan at the hill temple.

The temple enjoys the reputation of being called Nava Narasimha Kshetram as there are 9 Narasimha temples both at the foot and top of the hill totally.

Foot Hill Ahobil temple has 1) Bhargava Narasimha (Sun), 2) Yogananda Narasimha (Saturn), 3) Chakravada Narasimha (Ketu). The hill temple has 4) Ahobila Narasimha (Jupiter), 5)Varaha (Krotha) Narasimha (Rahu), 6) Malola Narasimha (Venus), 7) Jwala Narasimha (Mars), 8) Bhavana Narasimha ( Mercury) and Karancha Narsimha (Moon). Worshipping all the Narasimhas in a day means worshipping all the planets at a time.

There is also a story that Perumal left Vaikunda at the request of Garuda for Narasimha incarnation, He married Mahalakshmi here in the guise of hunter. There is a water falls on the hills named Papanasini. Varaha Narasimha shrine is above this place. Two km away is Malola Narasimha while 3 km away is the place where the pillar stands from which Narasimha Murthy appeared for Prahladha. There is a 85 feet tall pillar made of a single stone before the foothill temple called Jaya Sthamba-pillar of victory. The foundation for the pillar is 30 feet down the ground. It is believed that any prayer before this pillar will be duly responded. It is said that Sri Rama on his way to rescue Sita prayed here and felt that he had won the battle, according to scriptures.

Prahladha, son of demon Hiranya Kasipu was a staunch Vishnu devotee while the father was adamant claiming that he alone was supreme. He demanded son Prahladha to show him his Lord. Undeterred by the threat of his father, Prhaladha said that He was omnipresent and also in the pillar. Hiranya hit the pillar with his club. Lord Narasimha appeared from the pillar and destroyed the demon. The palace where Prahladha said to have lived was reduced to ruins later and is now a jungle. The temple has nine forms of Lord Narasimha as His appearance from the pillar, tearing the stomach of demon Hiranya, his roaring indignantly, cooling down as Shantamurti responding to the prayer of Prahladha and so on. The hill is called Garudachalam and Garudatri as Sri Garuda performed penance here. As Tirupati is called Seshadri, Ahobil is called Garudatri.

 

TEMPLE INFORMATION:

Moolavar	Sri Narashima
Ambal	Sri Amirthavalli
Theertham	Indra, Narasimha, papanasa,gaja and BargavaTheertham

 BELIEF:

Lord grants all the wishes.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL:

Vaikunda Ekadasi in December-January is grandly celebrated in the temple.

 HOW TO REACH:

Ahobilam is situated at a distance of 74 Kms from Nandyal (Kurnool District), around 365 Kms from Hyderabad and around 75 Kms from Tirupathi. Lots of transportation facilities are available. Bus facilities from Cuddapah, Nandyal and Banganapalli are available and at frequent intervels.

TEMPLE ADDRESS:

Sri Narasimha Temple, Ahobilam,

Thiru Singavel Kundram,

Andhra Pradesh.

LOCATION: