Ahobilam

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Ahobilam
type = city
latd = 15.1333
longd = 78.7167
locator_position = right
state_name = Andhra Pradesh
district = Kurnool
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altitude = 327
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Ahobilam or Ahobalam is a major center of pilgrimage in south India. According to the legend, this is where Lord Narasimha blessed Prahlada and killed the demon Hiranyakashipa. It is an important place of worship for Vaishnavas. It is one of the 108 Divya desam.

Ahobilam is located in the Nandyal Taluka of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located at a distance of 40 km from Nandyal, and is conveniently accessibly by bus from Nandyal, Kurnool and Hyderabad. "Ahobilam" is not connected by rail; the closest railway stations are Nandyal (on the Bangalore-Vizag(Vishakapatnam) route) and Cuddapah (on the Mumbai-Chennai route).

The temple

There are nine temples around the Nallamala Forest range. Few temples can be reached through trekking. Some temples are inside the cave. Some temples are very difficult to trek. The holy shrines of Ahobilam (all the Nava are Nine Nrusimhars) are eulogized by Thirumangai Mannan. Hence Ahobilam is one of the 106 Divya Desams. 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. The Azhagiyasingars have the unique privilege of being Aradhakars to a Divya Desam (a distinction no other Pontiff enjoys). 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.This place was visited by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and it is located in remote place far away from main roads.The Nallamala hills are personified as Adisesha with his head at Tirumala, middle at Ahobilam and the tail at Srisailam.

Legend

According to legends it is believed that when the Devas saw the manifestation of Lord Vishnu as half lion half man they shouted "Ahobala" (great strength) as well as "Ahobila" (great cave in which the current sanctum is). Hence this place could be called "Ahobalam" or "Ahobilam".Another Legend talks about that Lord Garuda did penance to see Lord Vishnu in Lord Narasimha form. Hence, Lord Narasimha took nine different forms in this hill. Lord Narasimha in nine forms are
# Varaha Narasimhar
# Malola Narasimhar
# Yogananda Narasimhar
# Pavana Narasimhar
# Karaancha Narasimhar
# Chatra Vata Narasimhar
# Bhargava Narasimhar
# Jwala Narasimhar
# Ahobila Narasimhar

Legend also states that Goddess Mahalakshmi was took birth as a tribe named ChenchuLakshmi and married Lord Narasimha after the death of Hiranyakashpu.

ri Ahobilam Mahatyam

The Lord Narasimha is a vara prasaddhi (boon giver). He is the Lord who had taken a special LionMan form in order to save his devotee. He is there in different form as Ugra Murthi, Shanta Murthy, Yoga Murthy and Kalyana Murthy with his consort Sri Mahalakshmi.

Demographics

Telugu are widely spoken and understood in Ahobilam.

Prasadam

Temples which is present in cave does not have any specific prasadam. Pilgrims offer some fruits for the Lord inside the cave. The temple which is accessible has the Vaishanava traditional prasadams. The local tribes used to offer their traditional offerings to Lord Narasimha.

Darshan, Sevas and Festivals

Narasimha Jayanthi will be celebrated with pomp and glory. The annual festival is during the Tamil month of Maasi. The local tribals celebrate the marriage of Goddess Mahalakshmi as ChenchuLakshmi and Lord Narasimha.

Travel and Stay

Ahobilam is located at coord|15.1333|N|78.7167|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Pedda_Ahobilam.html Falling Rain Genomics.Pedda Ahobilam] ] It has an average elevation of 327 meters (1076 feet).

There are three routes reaching Ahobilam. Pilgrims from the north can get down at Nandyal, which is a Railway junction from Kurnool, and travel by bus to Allagadda and Ahobalam, which is only thirty miles from Nandyal.

The second route is from Dhone which is another railway station and from which one can reach Ahobilam via Banganapalli and Koilakuntla.

The other and easy route is to get down at Cuddapah which is a district headquarters and an important railway station in the Madras - Bombay route. From Cuddapah one has to travel to Allagadda, which is forty miles over and from there by bus to Ahobilam

"'=Other Temples to Visit=

"'Shiva Temples
* Srikalahasti
* Srisailam
* Mukhalingam
* Kapila Theertham

Vishnu Temples
* Bhadrachalam
* ISKCON Temple
* GovindaRajaSwamy Temple
* Alarmelmangai Ammavaru Temple
* KothandaRamaSwamy Temple
* SrinivasaManga Puram
* Mangalagiri
* Simhachalam
* Kadiri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple (Official website: http://www.srikadirinarasimha.org)
* Tirumala Tirupathi Sri venkateshwara Swamy Temple

References

External links

* http://www.srikadirinarasimha.org - Kadiri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple
* [http://www.divyadesamonline.com/hindu/temples/andhra/ahobilam-temple.asp Sri Narasimhaswamy Temple, Ahobilam]
* http://www.ahobilamutt.org/temples/ahobil/ahobil.html
* http://ddtrips.blogspot.com - Ahobilam travelogue
* http://rmadhu.blogspot.com/2006/10/ahobilam-day-1.html - Ahobilam
* [http://www.yadu.info/gallery.php Ahobilam - photogallery]