Monday, April 26, 2021

worshipping at Ahobilam

Years before I started my blog and started posting in it – I had the habit of circulating some of my thoughts / articles to group of friends through e-mail. In 2006, Me, my friends Surendranath Arya & Saravana Sargunam started from Chennai in car and travelled to Ahobilam – here is an email shared with a group on 28.12.2006.

Dear (s)  ................................

(the photos of Lord are to be worshipped.  You may freely download them for worshipping)

Ahobilam  is one of the most important temples for Vaishnavaites and is one of  the reverred 108 Divya desams.  This sthalam is also known as "Singavel Kundram". This sthalam is dedicated to Sri Narasimhar, one of the Avathaars taken  by  Sriman Narayanan to slay   Hiyanyakasipu.  Legend has it that “Ahobilam”   is  the  place  where  the Lord killed Hiranyakasipu and saved Prahalada.   Thirumangai  Azhvaar  has sung ten verses about this temple in Periya  Thirumozhi. This sthalam is also known as "Nava Narasimha Kshetram" since 9 forms of Narasimhar Moorthies are worshipped. 

This  sacred place  is located in Karnool district of Andhra Pradesh in the hills  of  the  eastern  ghats, about 400 KM northwest of Chennai.   363 km from  Hyderabad,  262  km.  from  Tirupati  and 74 km from Nandyal (Kurnool dist).  From lower Ahobilam, one has to travell around 8 Kms to reach upper Ahobilam.   From  there  one has to trek in the forest for darshan of other Narasimhas.  




The  abode of Jwala Narasimha – is reverred to be actual spot where the fierce anger of the Lord culminated in the killing of Hiranyakasipu.  The idol on the left shows Maha Vishnu emerging from the pillar and on the right - Narasimha toring apart the demon on his lap. 

Among the other Narasimhars,  Pavana Narasimha is difficult to reach as one has to walk through  dense forest (around 2 hrs) from Upper Ahobilam.   Here is a photo of Sri Pavana Narasimhar.

 

from a devotee – S. Sampathkumar
28.12.2006. 

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