Lower Ahobilam temple

On the day of Diwali 10th Nov, 2015 our family of six - self, Venkatraman, Ravi, Archana and the two boys Vaageesh and Vaibhav drove from Bangalore to lower Ahobilam about 350 kms at Karnool district of Andhra pradesh situated in the dense forest of Nallamalai hills of eastern ghats.

   We halted for the night at Malola guest house very close to the temple run by Ahobilam Devastanam.

Next day morning we started the visits of the most auspicious nine Narashimhan temples.

Four temples are situated inside the reserve forest along the hills which can be reached by trek ( about 6 km in all but through the mountainous rocky path), three along the motorable path and two more again deep inside the forest but which can be best reached by jeeps hired from lower Ahobilam. 

We choose to do the tough ones first- the trek through forest.



The upper Ahobilam - Ugra Narashimhan ( Jupiter -Guru)
The temple is just at the start of the trek. It is inside a cave with front mandapams. Here the Lord with Chenchu Lakshmi. It is believed worshiping this form of Lord wipes the fear form the devotees mind and he gets blessed by the ancestors.

Sri Krodha/Varaha Narashimhan (Raahu dedicated)

Just about 1 km trek along the Bhavanashini river, we reach the Kroda Narashimahan temple. This again is in a small cave whee the Lord is with Goddess Lakshmi.

Worshipping here gets the devotee rid of sarpa dosha and they get blessed with success in their chosen paths.

Jwala Narashimhan - (Mars/chevai  planet)After strenuous trek along the rocky outcrops of the rugged mountains, crossing the nalas and rock strewn water ways , climbing along teh thickly wooded mountains of Neela malai for more than 3 kms we reach the important shrine of Lord Narashimha where he came out of the pillar in His fierce avatar as half man and half animal `Nara Simha to save His devotee `Prahaladha from the clutches of his own father `Hiranyakahipu. Here the Lord is known as Jwala Narashimhan. Here the Lord is in seated position tearing the asura seated in his lap.

Worshipping this form of Narshimhan is believed to lead to liberation.    

 

Sri Malola Narashimhan  ( Venus- Sukra planet represented)

From Jwala about 3 km trek towards Lakshmi parvatham along the dense forests , narrow foot paths through the mountain slopes reaches one to Malola Narashimhan. Hee the Lord has shed his ugram and seen with Goddess Lakshmi seated in His lap. The divine couple shower auspicious qualities and believed to bless a happy married life. 

                             Sri Karanaja Narashimhan (Moon/Chandra dedicated) 

Under the shade of Karanja tree Rishis Kobila performed a penance and rid himself of the curse of sage Durvasa. He regained his past knowledge and wisdom. Worshipping the lord in this form bestows the devotee with spiritual knowledge and wisdom 

This is along the motorable route and does not involve any trek.

   

                                                                                   

Sri Chatravata Narashimhan  ( ketu planet)

Further moving along the same road after few kms one reaches the Chatravata Narahimhan. Here the lords form is very pleasing. Two Gandrvas praised lord and sang songs haha, huhu in Lords praise. It is believed people offering prayers here can improve proficiency in fine arts.

Sri Yogananda Narashimhan ( saturn planet) 

The Lord here is in yoga posture and is beleived to have taught various yogic exercise to Prahaladha who meditated on the Lord at this place. Any one who meditates here will get immense  mental peace

Sri Pavana Narashimhan ( Mercury planet)

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The Day -2 ,Travelling along the most treacherous route in the jeep specially catering for this route and more so when we were travelling it had rained heavily previous few days making the al,most non motaralble route along the thickly wooded forest very slushy and slippery. We prayed to Lord to take us safely. After a real rocking ride with the skilful drivers who took us trough we reached the most breath taking and serene `Sri Pavana Narashimahan's shrine where Rishi Bharatvaja has done penance. True to the name it tooked `most `pavana and it is supposed to be the jewel of the shrines. A visit to the shrine is believed to get one rid of the past karma and sufferings.

                                         Sri Bhargava Narashimahan -( Surya - Sun God)
On the  same jeep retracing its ride back and close to Lower Ahobilam on another direction one can reach  the Bhargava Narashimhan. One has to climb 150 rocky steps to reach the shrine which is situated in a isolated hillock where Rishi Bhargava had penanced , hence the name. The devotee on on offering prayers here is said to be blessed with great benevolence and success in life.

The Entrance.

We offered our prayers at Lower Ahobilam the main temple where the principle diety is Lakshmi Narasimhan His consort Godess Amrithavalli.History tells this was established at 1398 A.D. by the seer of Ahobila mutt who brought the diety here to keep it safely from the onslaught of mughals. Later the 45th Jeer in recent times did renovation work of the temple as well the surrounding pathways leading to Nava Nrashimhan temple to facilitate the devotees and make it an important pilgrimage place. This is one o the 108 Divya desams of Lord Vishnu.

Special Kudos to my Grand sons Vaageesh and vaibhav aged seven and five who did admirably well, trekking all along jumping over the boulders and climbing the mountains with ease. Though we had kept doli for them even the younger one refused to climb and insisted on walking. For the weak legged and faint hearted their are dollies and we could spot many adults ( ladies ) using the dollies.  

Hippip puray to Vaageesh and Vaibhav. They didn't want to part with the sticks even after the climb.

Special kiss to Thatha.

At Pavana Narshimhan temple