Ahobilam Temple

The Ahobilam temple is dedicated to Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. The temple complex has temples of Adi Lakshmi Devi Temple and Chenchu Lakshmi Devi. Ahobilam is a small village renowned for Lord Narasimha Swamy Temple.

Measuring 5 feet 3 inches The sacred Ahonilam Temple was built on the footprint of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. It is believed that a marriage ceremony performed here leads to a happy and fulfilling marriage. When Lord Narasimha came to save his devotee Prahlad, from his father then he was known as the half-man, half-lion form of Lord Vishnu.

History of Ahobilam Temple

Scriptures and legends regard Ahobilam, as the place where Vishnu took the mighty man-lion incarnation of Narasimha, to destroy demon Hiranyakashipu and protect Vishnu devotee, Prahlada. Narasimha is also said to have emerged from a pillar, which is believed to be a rock found here.

Besides, Devas, the celestial beings were said to have been wonderstruck to see Narasimha, the terrific man-lion form, and exclaimed 'Aho Bala,' that is, 'what a might!' And so this place came to be called Aho Balam or Ahobilam.

As per ancient texts like Brahmanda Purana, Garuda, the mighty bird mount of Vishnu did severe penance in these mountains for many years, to get the vision of the Narasimha form that destroyed Hiranya. At last, Garuda is said to have got the exhilarating darshan of Jwala Narasimha in all his glory, in a cave. The mountain range where Garuda performed the penance became Garudachala or Garudadri. As Garuda got Narasimha's vision in a big cave, the place itself got the name 'Aho Bilam,' the great cave.

Senjulakshmi is the Lord's consort here. Legends claim that Goddess Lakshmi was born as Senjulakshmi in the clan of the tribal hunters, here and married the Lord.

It is also said Prahlada meditated here on the Lord for a long time, and that Narasimha taught him many Yogic feats.

Architecture of Ahobilam Temple

The 9 Narasimhas enshrined in the Ahobilam temples is – the Jwala Narasimha, Ahobila Narasimha, Malola Narasimha, Kroda Narasimha, Karanja Narasimha, Bhargava Narasimha, Yogananda Narasimha, Kshatravata Narasimha, and Pavana Narasimha. These deities can be worshipped in their individual temples, situated amidst the mountain ranges of Ahobilam.

In addition to these, Narasimha, as Prahlada Varada can be worshipped in the main temple complex at the base of the mountains, at ground level. The festival deities of many of the hill temples are also housed here, due to security and other considerations.

The temples built in the Dravidian style of architecture have been expanded, rebuilt and renovated principally by the Vijayanagara rulers, in the 15th and 16th century CE.

Up in the mountainous region, there is a cleft of a massive rock, divided somewhat into 2 parts. This is known as the Ugra Sthambham and is believed to be the massive pillar of demon Hiranya's palace, splitting which Lord Narasimha emerged out. Prahlada can also be worshipped in a cave not far from Ugra Sthambham along with Prahlada Narasimha Swamy. This shrine is called Prahlada Mettu. Raktha Kundam is the most sacred of the many water bodies of this place.

It is said that Narasimha cleaned his blood-stained hands in these waters, after killing Hiranya, and that is the reason its waters are reddish in color, even now.