Ahobilam Temple

Ahobilam 

Ahobilam Root Map
History
Ahobhilam (Telugu: అహోబిళం,[1] Sanskrit: अहोबिलं) also known as Ahobalam is located in the Allagadda mandal of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located at a distance of 40 km from Nandyal and about 150 km from Kurnool, the district headquarters. There are two temple houses, lower Ahobilam and upper Ahobilam. According to the legend, this is where Lord Narasimha blessed Prahlada and killed the demon Hiranyakashipu. Contents [hide] 1 Geography 2 Etymology 3 The temple 3.1 Legend 3.2 Diguva and Eguva (Lower and upper Ahobilas) 3.3 Nine(Nava) Narasimhas 4 Gallery 4.1 Sri Ahobilam Mahatyam 4.2 Legend of Chenchu Lakshmi 5 Demographics 5.1 People 6 Transport 7 References 8 External links Geography[edit] Ahobalam is located at 15.1333°N 78.7167°E.[2] It has an average elevation of 327 meters (1076 feet). Etymology[edit] Tamil poems "The Nalayira Divya Prabandham (Tamil: நாலாயிரத் திவ்யப் பிரபந்தம்)" is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses (Naalayira in Tamil means 'four thousand') composed before 8th century AD, by the 12 Alvars, and was compiled in its present form by Nathamuni during the 9th – 10th centurieshas .In this ten poems dedicated to the god of Ahobilam.These were composed by Tirumangai Alwar (Tamil:திருமங்கை அழ்வார்),Tamil saint Tirumangai Alwar(one of the twelve Alvars,who lived in the 8th Century A.D has composed ten poems in praise of the God of Ahobilam.Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.Vaishanava bhakti literature was an all-India phenomenon, which started in the 6th-7th century A.D. in the Tamil-speaking region of South India, with twelve Alvar (one immersed in God) saint-poets, who wrote devotional songs. The religion of Alvar poets, which included a woman peot, Andal, was devotion to God through love (bhakti), and in the ecstasy of such devotions they sang hundreds of songs which embodied both depth of feeling and felicity of expressions (Indian literature(Official Website of Govt of India), Sri Vaishnavam Aho is an exclamation word. Bhalam (bhalam means energy). It is equivalent of 'oh the mighty energy' and thus aho-bhalam of lord Narasimha swamy. One famous slokam that explains this is:

Ahobilam Temple photo
The Temple

There are nine temples around the Nallamala Forest range, and in terms of sculpture and architecture all these nine temples stands to be an ultimate testament for the ancient sthapathis in planning and sculpting these temples. A few temples can be reached through trekking. Some temples are inside the cave. Some temples are very difficult to trek to. The nine planets that define the human fates are believed to have worshipped these nine Lord Narasimhas to get relief from Rakshashas (demons) and curses of sages for their actions. This is main theme of the work of the great Telugu poet Errana, the “Nrisimha Puranam”. 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. 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. The Nallamala hills are personified as Adisesha with his head at Tirumala, middle at Ahobilam and the tail at Srisailam. Legend[edit] 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 either "Ahobalam" or "Ahobilam". The mention of this place is present in Brahmanda Purana. The place where Lord Narayana appeared from the stone pillar to kill Hiranyakashipa can be seen in this place. The name of this pillar is Ugra Sthambha, which is now referred as “Ukku SThambha” in Telugu, which incorrectly translates to iron pillar.