Prahladha Varadan Temple (Lower Ahobilam Temple), Ahobilam, Andhra Pradesh

Prahladha Varadan Temple (Lower Ahobilam Temple), Ahobilam, Andhra Pradesh

Prahladha Varadan Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Lower Ahobilam in Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh. The Temple is also called as Lower Ahobilam Temple. This place is also called as Chinna Ahobilam / Diguva Tirupati / Diguva Ahobilam. This is the main temple in Lower Ahobilam.

Legends

According to legend, the idol of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha at Lower Ahobilam was installed by Lord Venkateswara himself. He sought the blessings of Narasimha before is wedding but finding Narasimha in a fierce form in the upper Ahobila, he is said to have installed the peaceful form in the lower Ahobila.

The Temple

The Temple is facing east with seven-tiered Raja Gopuram with three prakaras. This temple is situated in Lower Ahobilam. The temple is built in south Indian style with grand architectural design and the sculptures in the pillars and walls. Presiding Deity is Lakshmi Narasimhar with Mother Lakshmi in his left lap. He is in a seated posture facing east. He is also called as Prahladha Varadan. Prahaladha Varadhan means the Lord whose bestows his grace on Prahaladha. Mother is called as Amirthavalli Thaayar.

Utsava idols of Prahladha Varada, Pavana Narasimha and the processional idols of Jwala Narasimha endowed with ten hands and with Sreedevi and Bhoodevi on his either side are kept in the sanctum. A small idol of the first Jeeyar, Sri Adivan Sadagopa Swami is also kept before them in the sanctum. There are festival images of 8 of the Narasimhas, other than Malola Narasimha in this Temple. The festival image of Malola Narasimha is located in the Ahobila Mutt.

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 Lakshmi Narasimha as the presiding Deity, the main temple consists of a sanctum, Mukhamandapam and Ranga Mandapam with numerous pillars intricately carved and carrying rich sculptures.

There is a tall Jaya sthambam erected in the spacious ground outside the temple walls to mark the victory of Krishnadeva Raya. The Kakatheeya Kings especially Prathapa Rudra had also contributed towards additional structures and maintenance of this Ahobilam complex. There are also smaller shrines for Lord Venkateswara, Godha Devi, Rama, Andal and Azhwars in the Temple premises.

The speciality of this Temple is Lord Narasimha's posture in the pillars. In one pillar, he is represented as a divine ascetic presenting ascetic order to the first Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt. Both in the Upper and Lower Ahobilam, it is a common sight on the pillars of Lord Narasimha wooing his consort Chenchu Lakshmi. The Lord chasing Hiranyakasipu in one pillar and bursting forth from another pillar to tear him are very realistic.

Bhashyakara Sannidhi (Sri Ramanujar Sannidhi) is located in a large compound, adjoining Sri Prahladha Varadan Sannidhi. Temple Pushkarini is located opposite to Bhashyakara Sannidhi. There is a small shrine for Hanuman located at the end of the sannidhi street in front of Sri Prahladha Varadan Sannidhi.

Festivals

Many festivals are held here throughout the year. The annual Uthsavam (Brahmothsava) performed in February every year is a great attraction. Swati festival which falls every month on the Swati Nakshatram day (birth star of Lord Narasimhan) is a very popular in this temple. Lord Prahladha Varadan also goes on Parivettai (visiting surrounding villages) for 40 days.

Worship Practices

It is a common practice to worship the Prahladha Varada Narasimha (the Narasimha who gave boons to Prahladha) in lower Ahobila before worshipping Yeguva (Upper) Ahobila Narasimha, situated at about 8 Kms away on a hilltop inside a cave. After worshipping the Lord, it is another practice to visit Nava Narasimhas (Nine Narasimhas). 

Prayers

Those who pray at this shrine with devotion would obtain the grace of the Lord and the Goddess.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 500 meters from Diguva Ahobilam Bus Stop, 27 Kms from Allagadda, 50 Kms from Gazulapalli Railway Station, 54 Kms from Koilakuntla Railway Station, 61 Kms from Nandyal, 64 Kms from Nandyal Railway Junction, 67 Kms from Banaganapalli, 118 Kms from Dhone, 140 Kms from Kurnool, 227 Kms from Ongole, 322 Kms from Amaravathi, 335 Kms from Hyderabad Airport and 351 Kms from Hyderabad.

Ahobilam is accessible by bus from Nandyal, Kurnool and Hyderabad. Ahobilam is not connected by rail; the nearest railway stations are Gazulapalli, Koilakuntla and Nandyal. Pilgrims from the north can get down at Nandyal, which is a railway junction from Kurnool, and travel by bus to Allagadda and Ahobilam. The other route is from Dhone which is another railway station and from which one can reach Ahobilam via Banaganapalli and Koilakuntla. Nearest Airport is located at Hyderabad.

Location | Photos