Ahobilam Archives - Tirumala Tirupati Yatra

Nava Narasimha Temples in Telugu States

Posted on by

Lord Narasimha is one of the dasa avatars of Sri Maha Vishnu. However, the Narasimha avatar has a unique significance, especially in South India. There are many Narasimha temples throughout Telugu states.

Nine significant Temples (Nava Narasimha Temples)

Among them, nine significant temples depict different forms of the Lord. In addition to them, there are many Narasimha temples in both states. The reason for this is that Lord Narasimha, after killing Hiranya Kashipa, wandered in the forests of these states and ultimately married Sri Mahalaxmi who donned the avatar of Pratyangira/Chenchu Lakshmi (a tribal girl).

Ahobilam

Ahobilam is a major pilgrimage centre in South India, located in Allagadda mandal in Kurnool district (136 km) in AP. According to local legend, this is where Lord Narasimha blessed Prahlad and killed the demon Hiranya Kashipa. It is an important place of worship for Vaishnavites and is one of the 108 Divya Desams.

Though the main temple is on the plain ground, there are eight more on the hills of Nallamala. Only a few visit them except the one on the first hill, because of the rugged climb and desolate forest area.

Penchalakona

The temple, located 70 km from Nellore is amidst lush trees and waterfalls. It is a very popular temple in that area. The original name PenuSila Kona (penu=big; sila=stone; kona=forest) got transformed into Penchala Kona. The presiding deity in this shrine is Lord Lakshmi Narasimha, along with His consort Chenchu Lakshmi.

It is believed that Lord Narasimha, after killing Hiranya Kashipa, took a bath in the tank nearby and attained tranquillity.

Click here for the Temple location on Google Maps

Kadiri

Sri Kadiri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple is located in Kadiri, 94 km from Anantapur of AP. Kadiri is an alternative name for the Sanskrit word, Khadri, meaning canary wood or Indian mulberry. The town has derived its name from the legend that Sri Narasimha Swamy emerged from a Khadri tree.

The presiding deity in this temple is seen with eight hands and hence is known as Ashtabahu Narasimha. Prahlad is seen standing with folded hands beside the Lord. The amazing fact is that sweat comes out of the sacred idol after Abhishekam is performed. The more the priests wipe it, the more it oozes out of the idol.

Click here for the Temple location on Google Maps

Simhachalam (Simhadri)

Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy dwells in Simhachalam, on the outskirts of Vishakhapatnam. Facing West, the temple is built in the Kalinga architectural style atop a scenic hill. The idol is a composite form of Varaha and Narasimha.

The main idol is always smeared with sandalwood paste (to ward off the ferocity) in an oval shape which is removed only once a year on Vaisakha Sudha Tadiya. The oval form is decorated with thirunama on it. This temple is very popular in the northern Andhra districts. Locals fondly refer to the deity as “Simhadri Appanna”.

Antarvedi

Antharvedi is located at a distance of 130 km from Kakinada, and 100 km from Rajahmundry. Sri Lakshmi Narasimha temple is situated at the estuary i.e., where the Bay of Bengal and Vashista Godavari converge. It is the place where Lord Brahma performed Rudrayaga and installed Lord Neela Kantheswara.

As that place was made a stage or “Vedik” to perform the Yaga, it was named as “ANTARVEDI”. It is the place where Lord Narasimha killed Rakta Vilochana, the son of Hiranyaksha, who was a menace to dharma.

Mangalagiri

Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple

This temple is located at the foot of a hill and it is traced to the time of Yudhishtira. About 200 years ago a stupendous gopuram on the eastern gate was built. It is one of the tallest gopurs in South India and the only one of its kind in this part of India. It is 53ft. high and 49 feet wide with 11 tiers.

Panakala Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple

This temple is on a hill. Lord Rama visited this temple. It was also visited by spiritual personages like Sri Adi Sankara, Ramanuja, Chaitanya Prabhu and Sri Krishna Deva Raya.

It is a regular practice in the temple to offer panakam (a beverage made of jaggery and water) as naivedya. The peculiarity of the above offering is that the Lord receives it with a gurgling sound while the beverage is poured into his mouth (whatever the quantity).

Half of the quantity of the beverage comes out of his mouth which is distributed as prasad. Another mysterious fact is the absence of flies or ants of any kind on the hill. Nobody knows where to and how the Panakam goes leaving the entire area always dry.

Vedadri

This temple is right on the banks of the Krishna. Here Lord Narasimha is in Yoga mudra, hence called Yoga Narasimha. The temple can be reached from the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway via Jaggayyapet (15 km). In addition to the main deity, Sri Jwala Narasimha Swamy is also on the hillock, which can be approached from within the temple.

Besides this, Swamy manifests as a hugeSaligrama in the river which is also worshipped by the devotees.

Yadadri (Yadagiri Gutta)

Yadagiri Gutta is 60 km from Hyderabad and is near Bhongir. The deity is in a cave on a hillock. He is also called Yadagiri hence the name Yadagiri Gutta (hill). Recently, it has been renamed as Yadadri. Currently, the temple is being renovated in a big way.

It dates back to Treta Yuga when Yada rishi, the son of the great sage RishyaSrung and Santa Devi did penance inside a cave. Lord Narasimha revealed himself in five different forms Jwala, Yogananda, Gandabherunda, Ugra and Lakshmi narasimha.

It is also called as Pancha Narasimha Kshetram. The idol disappeared after some time but many years later He revealed himself as five majestic avatars through a devout lady.

Dharmapuri

Dharmapuri is situated at a distance of about 28–30 km from Jagityal town and 42 km from Manchiryal railway station on Khazipet- Balharsha line. There is a rare temple of Dattatreya here. It is said that at Dharmapuri, NarasiAha Deva meditated in Yoga mudra, hence worshipped as Yogananda Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy.

Dharmapuri - Nava Narasimha Temples in Telugu States

Apart from the main deity of the temple of Lord Sri Narasimha, there are temples of Brahma Dev and Sri Rama Lingeshwara Swamy here. Because there are three deities Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar in the same temple, this temple is also known as Trimurthy Kshetram.

Some believe that Malyadri is one of the Nava Narasimhas (Nava Narasimha Temples) of Telugu states and not Kadiri. Hence, it is also included here

Malyadri

This temple is very popular in the Prakasam district of AP. One can reach it from Singaraya Konda, a town 144 km from Guntur. Here, Swamy manifests himself as Jwala Narasimha in a cave. Malyadri means hillocks in the form of a mala i.e. a garland of hillocks. It is said that Swamy manifested here at the request of Agastya Rishi.

The idol blesses the devotees with the fourth hand. Swamy grants blessings to Yakshas, Gandharvas, Sidhas, and Devamunis for six days (Sunday to Friday) and to the mortals (Manavas) only on Saturdays.

There are several huge natural caves in this area, all formed of a single stone. Though the temple is open only for one day in a week, from dawn to dusk, thousands of devotees throng this place. People perform weddings all through the year on this holy hill, without bothering about auspicious muhurt.

Darshan of Nava Narasimhas

Posted on by

Nava Narasimhas – Ahobilam

In Ahobilam, Narasimha Swami is incarnated in nine forms. In Brahmanda Purana, the nine Narasimhas were described as

Jwala Ahobila Malola Kroda Karanja Bhargava
Yogananda Kshatravata Pavana Nava Moorthayaha

Except for two or three temples, all the other temples had to be visited only on footway through the hills.

The Nine Narasimhas sthalas are :-

Jwala Narasimha
Ahobila Narasimha
Malola Narasimha
Kroda Narasimha
Karanja Narasimha
Bhargava Narasimha
Yogananda Narasimha
Kshatravata Narasimha and
Pavana or holy Narasimha.

Before visiting these nine shrines, let us see how we approach the place. Situated in the Nallamalai Hills, Ahobilam is about 24 Kms. from Allagadda Taluk Headquarters, 112 Kms. from Cudappah, 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.

Long long ago, the Tamil mystic bard, Thirumangai Azhwar sang that Singavel Kunram (Ahobilam) was accessible to none but Gods. Due to the efforts of the current 45th Srimad Azhagiyasingar, the access routes to several of the shrines have been greatly simplified such that people of different age groups are now able to visit the places easily.

The whole complex is in two parts – one called

Eguvu Ahobilam (Upper Ahobilam) with Nava Narasimha shrines and
the other is called Diguvu Ahobilam (Lower Ahobilam)

with a single shrine for Lakshmee Narasimha connected by a road, stretching a distance of about 12.8 Km. from Lower Ahobilam to Upper Ahobilam.

The Sthalapurana of Ahobilam in Sanskrit gives an account of nine forms of Narasimha, worshipped here.

BHARGAVA NARASIMHA KSHETRAM

The Bhargava Narasimha Swami 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 Swami.

This place is also known as Akshaya Teertham and Bhargoti. Here Swami appears in a posture killing Hiranyakashyapa on his thighs with two hands and holding Conch- Chakra in the other two hands.

YOGANANDA NARASIMHA KSHETRAM

This temple is to the southeast of Lower Ahobilam at a distance of 2km in forest. The popular legend is that after killing Hiranyakashyapa, Lord Narasimha taught Prahlada several yogic postures.

Therefore, the Lord in this aspect is called Yogananda Narasimha. Here Swami appears in yogic posture with two hands placed on knees and holding Conch-Chakra in the other two hands.

CHATRAVATA NARASIMHA KSHETRAM

This temple is about 2km from Yogananda Narasimha temple. ‘Vata’ means peepal tree, ‘chatram’ means umbrella. The image of the deity is installed under a peepal tree, surrounded by thorny bushes. Hence, the Lord is called Chatravata Narasimha Swami.

The deity holds the Conch-Chakra in two hands, abhayahastha (hand in a gesture of fearlessness) and the other hand in a posture of enjoying music.

KARANJA NARASIMHA KSHETRAM

This shrine is situated at a distance of 7km from the lower Ahobilam. ‘Karanja’ means Kanuga tree. In Dwaparayuga, when Hanuman came in search of Sri Rama and performed penance here under this tree, Srihari incarnated in the form of Narasimha Swami. Hanuman desired to see Swami as Srirama hence Swami gave darshan with a bow in his hand.

The deity here appears in a meditating posture with Chakra in the right hand and bow in the left hand instead of the conch. The deity has a third eye on the forehead as found nowhere else. Annamacharya praised this deity in his Keerthana “Phalanethraanala prabalavidyullatha”.

KRODA (VARAHA) NARASIMHA KSHETRAM

The temple of this Lord is 1km away from the Upper Ahobilam temple on the bank of Bhavanasini river. The deity is in Hiranyaksha’s killing posture. The image of the deity bears three forms- the face of a boar (varaha or kroda), the body of a human, and the nails of a lion.

The deity is in a standing posture with both his hands on his waist and is seen along with his Consort, Bhudevi, lying on him.

JWALA NARASIMHA KSHETRAM

This temple lies 2km east of upper Ahobila temple on a hill called, ‘Achalachaya Meru’. This place is said to be the actual spot, where the fierce anger of the Lord reached its culmination when he tore Hiranyakashyapa.

The deity in this cave temple appears in three forms:

Eight-armed Narasimha Swami,
Four-armed Narasimha Swami,
Fierce form of Jwala Narasimha Swami killing Hiranyakashyapa.

The Achala Meru Mountain is divided into two vertical halves with one half slightly bent. In between is the Jwala Narasimha temple. After killing Hiranyakashyapa, Swami washed his hands in the nearby pond as seen today from the water in the pond being red.

MALOLA NARASIMHA KSHETRAM

Nearly two 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). 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.

PAVANA NARASIMHA SWAMI

Pavana Narasimha is about 6km from the Upper Ahobilam temple, on the banks of the river, Pavani. Hence the deity is known as Pavana Narasimha Swami. River Pavani flows taking the form of a snake hence the deity is also known as Pamuleti Narasimha Swami.

Here Swami appears as Lakshmi Narasimha with Abhayahastha sitting under the shade of Seven-hooded Adisesha. The idols of Navaneetha Krishna (crawling Krishna with butter in hand), Gopala Krishna, Varadaraja Swami, and Hanuman are seen beside.

Beginning with Brahmotsavams to Nrisimha Jayanthi, special utsavas are performed every Saturday. Thousands of devotees participate in these utsavams to have darshan.

Lower Ahobilam

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 STHAMBHAM

At a distance of eight kilometers 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 Narasimha Swamy. The image of the Prahlada is installed in a small cave.

There are many holy ‘theerthas’ (water ponds) around this place. Of these, Rakthakundam is the most important. It is stated that Lord Narasimha after killing the demon Hiranyakasipu, washed his hands in this ‘theertham’ and hence the water is still reddish in appearance.

Tag: Ahobilam