AHOBILAM - NAVA NARASIMHA KSHETRA
"Jwala Ahobila Malola Kroda Karanja Bhargava
Yogananda Kshatravata Pavana Nava Moorthayaha"
Apart from the mentioned nine temples in the above shlokam, Ugra stambam, Raktha Gundam, Prahalada padi and Lower Ahobilam are also places of Dharsan. All Nava Narasimha Kshetra's are 'Svayambhu' (self-manifest).
Best Time to Visit : Rainy Season
"Every Place has its own history, Don't forgot to get to know from priest of that Temple"
Day 1 (B-Bus,A-Auto,W-Walk)
- Ahobila Narasimha(W)
- Pavana Narasimha(W)
- Karanja Narasimha(A)
- Kshatravata Narasimha(A)
- Yogananda Narasimha(A)
- Bhargava Narasimha(A)
- Bhargava Theertham(A)
- Lower Ahobila Narasimha(W)
Day 2
- Varaha(Kroda) Narasimha(W)
- Jwala Narasimha(W)
- Raktha Gundam(W)
- Ugra Stambam(W)
- Malola Narasimha(W)
- Prahallada Padi (W)
Let me tell you how to cover all places in two days(Saturday and Sunday).
Ahobilam is a holy place in the Allagadda Mandal of Kurnool District of Andrapradesh. Buses are available from Hyderabad to Allagadda directly. Trains are available to Kurnool and Kadapa which are near to Allagadda. Journey between Allagadda and Ahobilam is 45 Minutes. Buses are available for every 60 minutes in day time from Allagadda to Ahobilam, few buses goes to upper Ahobilam via lower Ahobilam and the first bus available at 5:30 AM.
DAY 1
Lower Ahobilam
Satrams and Hotels are available in Ahobilam to stay. Its little bit tough to get the hotel rooms in Festival seasons , remaining time its easy to get a room. We stayed in Reddy satram, booked with the help of Gotirupathi website. They charged for us 830 rupees, but the actual cost is 600. Check into a hotel and fresh up. Don't forgot to have Ugaani as breakfast, Ugaani(puffed rice, Mirchi bajji and Nut powder combination) is Ralayalaseema special breakfast. Only two shops and few items are available at Upper Ahobilam. Buses and Autos are available from Lower to Upper Ahobilam, Journey is about 20 minutes towards deep into Nalamala Forest.
Ahobila Narasimha
This is old and main temple. This shaligrama form of Narasimha is fierce (Ugra) and is in the sukhasana pose. Chechu lakshmi Wife of Narashima also gives darshan in Sukhasana pose.
Lord Narasimha is on fierce after killing the Demon Hiranyakhasi, God's prayed to reduce the fierce of Lord, he don't listen their stotras. Prahalada reduces his fierce by doing penance. Narasimha adored for the penance of Prahalada and self manifested in Ahobila( Aho means Big and Bilam means Cave ).
Pavana Narasimha
This temple is 7 km far from Ahobila temple. Take left behind the Ahobila temple. Shops aren't available till the Pavana temple. So, Bring two to three water bottles along with you. Take a bamboo stick for rent(3rs/day). Moneys will attack if you have any eatable items in your hand. Monkey won't come to you if you have stick in your hand. Walk through the forest for 1.5 hour to reached Pavana Temple. On saturday's you found only few people on the way, on other days you may not find anyone in that way.There is another root to reach this temple by vehicles. My suggestion is visit this temple by walk.
This temple is on the bank of river Pavana, that's why this temple is called Pavana Narasimaha temple and another name of this temple is Pamuleti Narasimha . This place is very cool and peace. Here is the one of the most peaceful form of Narasimha. In this place, Sage Bhardwaja got rid of Bhrama-hatya by doing penance.People believe that the Lord here liberates the sins of past and present lives which might have committed knowingly or unknowingly. we spent almost one hour here.
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| Pavana Narasimha Swamy Temple |
Return journey to Narasimha temple will take two hours.
Lunch
Have lunch at Bhramana satram or any other Satrams for free and don't forgot to donate money for free meals wherever you have.
Hire an auto to visit Karanja, Kshatravata, Yogananda, Bharagava Narasimha and Lower Narasimha temples . All these temples are here and there around 10 Km radius, difficult to go by walk. Auto charges will 600 to 800. For us they charged 700 for 3 Members.
Karanja Narasimha
This Temple is situated on the route to upper Ahobilam from Lower Ahobilam and very close to Upper Ahobilam. The Lord is under Karanja Tree, So, the name is Karanja Narasimha. He is also called as Saranga Narasimha because of holding Saranga or Shanga Danashu(Bow).
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| In Kranaja Temple |
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| Karanja Narasimaha Swamy Temple |
Once Hanuman was penancing Lord Rama by chanting Rama name, Suddenly Lord Narasimha appeared and asked Hanuman, Hey Hanuman, "why you called me?" . Hanuman replied, "I didn't call you, I am praying for my Lord Rama". Don't distrub me, please go away said by Hanuman. I am your Lord, replied by Lord Narasimha. Hanuman got surprise and asked "How can you be my god, you don't have any form of Rama". Suddenly Lord Narasimha appeared with Shanga Danashu(Name of Lord Vishnu Bow) in one hand, Sudharashana Chakra in another hand, with Adiseshu on head and Half Lion and half man Narasimha Avataar, thus convincing Lord Rama that Narayana, Rama and Narasimha are one and same.
Sage Gobila became dullard because of curse by Saga Duravasa. By chanting the Narasimha mantra, he became knowledgeable as before.
Kshatravata Narasimha
This temple is near to Lower Ahobilam, comes on the route to Yogananda Narasimha.
Here the Lord is very unique in attractive pure black color with a broad smile on his face in Padmaasana pose. Once two gandarvas named Haahaa and Hoohoo entertained with their fast dance and music. Lord adored by their dance and blessed by removing their curse. The temple is very small and under the shade of Banyan Tree. The Banayan tree covered the temple like umbrella. Hence the deity is called Kshatravata Narasimha(Kshatra means Umbrealla and Vata means Banyan tree).
Yogananda Narasimha
This temple is near to Lower Ahobilam and route is good. One small Nava Narasimha temple having all nine Shrines(If you wont see any deity clearly, dharashan here) also here. Few matas also present here.
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| Nava Narasimha Swamy Temple |
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| Yogananda Narasimha Swamy Temple |
After killing Demon Hiranyakasipu, Lord Narasimha taught several Yoga postures to Prahalada. Deity here is in yoga posture, Hence the deity is called Yogananda Narasimha.
Bhargava Narasimha
This temple is surrounded by thick forest and the route is like mountain terrain. So,better to visit by local Jeeps/Autos.
Parashurama(Bhargava ) performed penance to please Lord Narasimha. Lord pleased for his penace and gave darshan to him. Parashurama requested to have a dharshan of Lord in the form when he tore the chest of Hiranayakashipu. Lord gave dharshan as requested by Bhargava then Bhragava requested Lord to manifest in that form. The Manifest here like, Hiranayakashipu(with sword) on his thighs, tearing demon body apart with nails and beside Prahalada worshiping Lord. So, the temple is known as Sri Bharagava Narasimha Swamy. This is one of the most ferocious form of Lord Narasimha in Ahobilam.
Bhargava Thirtham
Bhargava Tirtha or Akshaya Tiratha is located at the foor of Bhargava Narasimha temple. Parashurama and other Sages bathe in this Thirtha and used this thirtha water to worship the Lord.
Lower Ahobila Narasimha
This temple surrounded by three prakaras in the Lower Ahobilam is dedicated to Prahlada Varada i.e., the Lord whose grace bestows on Prahlada. With Vijayanagar style noticeable in the structure, there are a number of mandapas outside the temple. A shrine dedicated to Sri Venkateswara exists to the south west of this Narasimha temple and lends view to the episode that Lord Venkateswara obtained the blessings of Narasimha just before his marriage with Padmavathi. The Mukha Mandapa there, is now used as the Kalyana Mandapa of Narasimha Swamy. With Lakshminarasimha as the presiding Deity, the main temple consists of a sanctum, Mukhamandapam and Rangamandapam with numerous pillars intricately carved and carrying rich sculptures. There are also three smaller shrines for Lakshmi, Andal and Azhwars. In the sanctum are also kept the Utsava idols of Prahlada Varada, Pavana Narasimha and the processional idols of Jwala Narasimha endowed with ten hands and with Sreedevi and Bhoodevi on his either side.
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| Lower Ahobilam temple Entrance |
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| Lower Ahobilam gopuram |
Don't forgot to visit temple for 8:00PM Pooja to get Tasty Prasadam.
Have bath with hot water to reduce the legs and body pains and have a nice dinner and take rest. End of Day one.
Day 2
Get ready for day 2 trekking, trekking to Ugra stambam is little bit tough and need such much of strength and energy. Must carry water bottles and stick with you and don't carry any bags , monkeys might attack you if you have bag. Actually we have seen monkeys attacked one lady who have hand bag.
From behind of Ahobila Narasimha temple, take right and many people visits these temples. we visited Varaha, Jwala, Ugra Stambam, Malola and Prahallada badi respectively.
Varaha(Kroda) Narasimha
This temple is one kilometer away from the main temple of upper Ahobilam on the bank of river Bhavnashini.
The deity of Lord Narasimha is Varaha(Wild Boar) and also called as Kroda means animal with single horn. This is the place where Lord take form of Varaha to kill Somakesha and put mother Earth in its original place with his Horn
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| Varaha Narasimha Swamy Temple |
Jwala Narasimha
After having Dharashan of Varaha Narasimha, Start walking along the bank of the river Bhavanashini to reach Jwala Narasimha. Going to Jwala involves climbing through the rocks on the river bed and up a narrow path way for an hour. This is the base of Ugra Stambam and lies on hill called as Achalachaya Meru. One has to go under the Bhavanashini river water fall to reach this temple.
This is the place exactly where Lord Narasimha killed Demon
Hiranyakashipu. The Deity of Lord Narasimha here is seen tearing
Hiranyakashipu with Nails by placing Demon on his thighs
Raktha Gundam
This is exactly in front of Jwala Narasimha Temple. Raktha Gundam is one of the holy Theertham in Ahobilam.
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| Raktha Gundam |
It is stated that Lord Narasimha washed his hands in this Gundam after killing the Demon Hiranayakasipu, that's why the Gundam is in reddish color and name is Raktha Gundam. Water is crystal clear and very sweet.
Ugra Stambam
This comes on the way to Jwala Narasimha Temple. To reach the Ugra Stambam is the hardest , dangerous and breath-taking part of the whole trip. Need full stength, energy, good gripped Shoes, stick in hand, two water bottles without any bag. Trekking is involved in reaching the Ugra Stamabam.
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| Ugra Stambam |
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| Ugra Stambam top point |
This is also called as Ukku Stambam(Iron Pillar). Lord Narasimha came out from this pillar to kill the Demon Hiranyakasipu to prove the sentence true made by his Devotee Prahaladata, "Lord is everwhere , Even in this pillar also"
Malola Narasimha
while returning from Jwala Narasimha temple, Wooden bridge comes , Start walking through the brdige to reach Malola Narasimha. Need to walk along narrow cliff of the hill for 2 Kms.
This temple lies on the Vedadri Hill in a flat place. Malola Ma means Lakshmi. LOLA means Beloved , The diety of god here is in Sowmya form by hugging Laxmi with his left hand. This place is very peaceful.
Prahallada Padi
This cave is behind the Malola Narasimaha Temple, Nearly half Kilometer walk from Malola through the forest along the narrow path of the cliff.
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| Prahalada Padi |
When demons threw Prahlada from the cliff, Prahalda fell through this cavern of the rock and was held by Lord Narayana and also this is the place where Prahalada studied under the Guru Sukracharya and Guru Chandamaraka, that's why this place is called as Prahallada Badi, Badi means school in Telugu. Devotees could see the transcendental letters on the rocks now also.
That's the end of covering all temples in Ahobilam in two days. Way back to Malola Narasima, From Malola Narasimha Temple, there is another route to reach Varaha Narasimha swamy temple. Get an auto reach Lower Ahobilam, from there get bus to reach Allagada. That's the end of Ahobilam Trip with so many memories and full of Devotion.
"How you see is more important than how it Appears"
Bus timings:
From Allagadda to Ahobilam(L-Lower,U-Upper)
5:30(U),6:30(U),8:00(U),9:00(U),10:30(U),11:30(U),13:00(L),14:00(U),15:00(L),16:30(L),17:15(L) and 19:15(L)
Do's
- Download the map of Ahobilam in Google maps(Make sure it is available as offline)
- Always carry a stick
- Have good sport shoes
- Always carry water bottle to keep you hydrated.
Don't s
- Don't carry heavy luggage to upper Ahobilam.
- Don't go alone.
Memories for us
- My friends heard Tiger roar when we are coming from PavanaTemple.
- Chitchat with Ice seller and he is only person we saw twice on the Pavana Temple way.
- One Girl entered into our room mistakenly, when my friend is half naked.Her reaction is ( Oh my God)
- Whenever we saw that girl again, we reacted same way(Oh my God).
- 20/Bucket for hot water.
- Monkey tried to attack at Ugra stambam.
- Started running when we heard some sound from bushes, but those are monkeys.
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| We Three friends |
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