Nava Narasimha Temple, Ahobilam – Legends

Nava Narasimha Temple, Ahobilam – Legends

Narasimha Avatharam:

In Mahavishnu Dasavatharam, the fourth incarnation is of Lord Narasimha and this is believed to have happened on the holy hill of Ahobilam. The Asura king Hiranya Kasipu, once obtained a boon from Lord Brahma that he should not be killed either by a man or a beast, at day or night, on earth or heaven, or with the help of any weapon. The demon ordered all his subjects to worship only him and not any other God as he felt he possessed all the powers and could not be defeated by anyone.

The son of this Asura king was a gifted child by name Prahladha. He had Upadesha (lessons) from Maharishi Narada even when he was in his mother’s womb and was born as an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. Child Prahladha refused to obey his father’s orders and injunctions. Unable to bear this defiance, the demon continued to put his child to untold miseries. Hiranya Kasipu ordered his men to feed Prahladha poison and throw him from the top of the hill and fling him into the sea.

Being a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, Prahladha chanting the name of Narayana surfaced every time they attempted to kill him. A desperate Hiranya Kasipu, one day asked Prahladha to show where his God was. Prahladha in all politeness answered: The Lord is everywhere in the pillar and even in a blade of grass. This provoked Hiranya Kasipu, who in anger targeted a pillar with his mace. To his rude shock, Lord Vishnu emerged from within the pillar in a strange form with a thunderous bolt.

It was half man and half lion (known as Nara-Simha Nara means man and Simha is lion), and it was twilight, neither day nor night. The time had come now for Hiranya Kasipu to meet with his death. Narasimha dragged the demon king to the threshold of the palace and, keeping him on his lap, tore his chest open with his nails, thus fulfilling all conditions laid down by the Asura himself for his death. Prahladha was crowned the King in the presence of the Devas and Rishis.

Swayam Vyatka Kshetram:

In fact, Brahmanda Purana says that this place was once the palace of Hiranyakasipu who was slain by Lord Vishnu manifesting as Narasimha from a pillar there for the sake of his staunch devotee Prahladha. Vagaries of time brought about the destruction of the then existing structures yielding place to nature’s creation of the mountain range that preserved the site of incarnation as “Swayam Vyatka Kshetram” of Lord Narasimha.

Ahobala:

According to Stala Purana, it is stated that the Devas (Gods), while witnessing the terrific aspect (Ugra Kala), the lord took on in order to tear to pieces Hiranyakasipu sung in his praise as 'Ahobala' (Great Strength). Hence this place has come to be known as Ahobilam.

Sacred abode of Lord Vishnu on Earth:

As per the Brahmanda Puranam, there is no deity more supreme in the entire universe than the nine deities of Lord Narasimha residing at the sacred abode of Ahobilam. Neither is there any river more pious than the Bhavanasini which flows through Ahobilam which kills the cycle of rebirth. 

Lord Ahobila Narasimha weds Goddess Chenchu Lakshmi:

It is said after the Lord took the incarnation of the most ferocious form of Jwala Narasimha, even the Gods were afraid and they feared that the Lord's anger would bring about the end of the world. Goddess Lakshmi, was born in a local Chenchu tribe then approached the Lord to pacify and calm him so that his anger was controlled and he could bless the devout. The Lord then wed Goddess Chenchu Lakshmi and bestowed his divine grace on the child Prahladha and the whole mankind.

To date, the local Chenchu tribes treat the Lord as their ‘son in-law’ and Goddess Chenchu Lakshmi as their own daughter. Legend has it that before the annual Brahmotsavams, Lord Jwala Narasimha and Lord Prahladha Varadha travel to forty-eight villages in and around Ahobilam as part of the ‘Parivettai Utsavam,’ to invite the local Chenchu tribes and the locals for his marriage with Goddess Chenchu Lakshmi.

This tradition continues and each time the Lord visits a particular village, the event is celebrated with pomp and gaiety. Special honours are accorded to the local Chenchu tribes on the eve of Makara Sankaranthi, the annual Brahmotsavams as well as on all festive occasions observed at Ahobilam all-round the year.

Ahobilam:

Another meaning of Ahobilam is ‘Lion Cave’, a cave in which Garuda meditated and achieved the blessings of the Lord. With Lord Vishnu taking a sudden trip to this place to fight Hiranyakasipu, he decided to come on his own leaving behind Garuda at Vaikuntam. Hence, Garuda who normally plays the role of the Lord’s vehicle had to miss the Narasimha Avatar. Unhappy with this, Garuda undertook severe penance in this mountain.

Being pleased by his meditation, the Lord manifested Himself in a cave nearby. Garuda was then informed about the location of this cave. He reached there and Lord appeared here as Jwala Narasimha and provided darshan to Garuda. Garuda considered himself blessed and thus this place came to be known as Ahobilam. As per the wishes of Garuda, this Kshetram has been referred to as Garuda Kshetram and the mountain is called Garuda Chalam or Garudathri and Garuda Shailam.

People had darshan of Lord Narasimha here:

His Holiness Sri Azhagia Singar the first Jeer of the Mutt had the darshan of the Lord at the temple at the foot hills. Sri Garuda and Prahladha had the darshan at the hill temple.

Palace of Hiranya Kasipu:

Prahladha, son of demon Hiranya Kasipu was a staunch Vishnu devotee while the father was adamant claiming that he alone was supreme. He demanded son Prahladha to show him his Lord. Undeterred by the threat of his father, Prahladha said that he was omnipresent and also in the pillar. Hiranya hit the pillar with his club. Lord Narasimha appeared from the pillar and destroyed the demon. The palace where Prahladha said to have lived was reduced to ruins later and is now a jungle.

Avathara Kshetram:

While Ayodhya is the Avathara Kshetram of Rama and Mathura is the Avathara Kshetram of Krishna, Ahobilam is the place of incarnation and the Avathara Kshetram of Narasimha. This is the shortest of his Avatharams and unlike other Avatharams, this one was taken for the sake of one person (Prahaladha) answering his sincere prayers.

Ahobilam in different Yugams:

Kritha Yugam:

In Kritha Yugam, Lord Shiva performed pooja here and praised Narasimha as the Supreme Being uttering the Mantra Raja Mrutha Stotram.

Tretha Yugam:

In Tretha Yugam, in search of Sita, Rama visited this place and worshipped Ahobila Narasimha singing praise on the Lord in 5 verses - Narasimha Pancha Mrutha Stotram.

Dwapara Yugam:

In Dwapara Yugam, the Pandavas reached Ahobila Kshetram and invoked the blessings of Narasimha.

Kali Yugam:

In Kali Yugam, Srinivasa of Tirupathi presented ‘Thaligai’ to Lord Narasimha of Ahobilam prior to tying the knot on Padmavathi Thaayar.

Karavalamaba Stotram:

Adi Sankara who was attacked by evil forces here at Ahobilam praised Narasimha through the Karavalamaba Stotram for protecting him. He also installed a Siva Lingam at the Ahobila Narasimha temple.

References in Puranas:

Ahobilam and its presiding deity has been mentioned in Mahabharatha, Koorma Purana, Padma Purana and Vishnu Purana.

Eastern Ghats:

The entire Eastern Ghats range is compared to Sri Adi Sesha – the great serpent bed of Lord Vishnu. On his seven hoods lays Tirupati, on stomach Ahobilam and on its tail lays Sri Shailam.