Ahobilam Shrine: Location, and Its Historical Significance

Context

Recently, the Forest Department and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam (SLNSD) at Ahobilam have imposed certain restrictions on visitors arriving at the shrine, situated within the Nallamala forest.

Ahobilam Paruveta Utsavam Declared a ‘State festival’ by Andhra Pradesh Government

• Recently, the centuries-old ‘Paruveta Utsavam’ (mock hunting festival) observed at the Ahobilam Sri Narasimha Swamy temple has been declared a ‘State festival’ by the Andhra Pradesh government. 
• Reason of Restriction: The restrictions have been imposed in the wake of the intense heat wave that can impact the movement of wild animals. 
  • To ensure the safety of animals, the department has already banned all forms of plastic such as sachets, water cups, tea cups and bottles.

About Ahobilam Shrine

• Location: It is located in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh in the Nallamala ranges of the eastern ghats, about 400 km northwest of Chennai.
• Comprises: The temple consists of nine shrines to Lord Narasimha located around a 5 km circle.
• • These are Jwala Narasimha, Ahobila Narasimha, Malola Narasimha, Kroda Narasimha, Karanja Narasimha, Bhargava Narasimha, Yogananda Narasimha, Kshatravata Narasimha and Pavana or holy Narasimha.
  • There is also a temple for Prahaladavarada Varadhan in the foothills of the mountain. 
    • Due to security reasons and the difficulty in performing daily worship, many of the utsava vigrahas of the nine shrines are kept in this temple.
• Also known as: Singavel Kundram, Nava Narasimha Kshetramm, Garudadri, Garudachalam and Garudasailam.
• Historical Significance: Ahobilam is the place where the Lord Narasimha killed Hiranyakasipu and saved Prahalada. 
  • Mahalakshmi took avathar as Senjulakshmi among the Senju, tribal hunters of the hills, and married the Lord.
• Mentioned in: Mahabharatha, Brahmanda Purana, Sthala Purana, Kurma Purana, Padma Purana and Vishnu Purana.
  • • As per the Brahmanda Purana, Ahobilam is the Avatara Sthala of Bhaghavan Narasimha, and it is a Kruthayuga Kshetra. It is one of the 108 Sri Vaishnava Divya Desams. 
    • As per the Sthala Purana, the lord Narasimha tore to pieces Hiranyakasipu.
    • Sri Thirumangai Alwar, one of the Alwars who lived in the 8th century AD, composed ten Pasurams on Ahobilam.
  • Ahobilam has abundant architectural and epigraphical evidence, chronicled right from the times of the Chalukyas in the eighth century AD.
    • An inscription of Chalukya Kirthivarman II, found at Peddapeta, refers to the name of a person as Vobula (a colloquial form of Ahobila).
  • Ahobilam Kaifiyat, forming part of Mackenzie collections gives very valuable information regarding the Ahobilam temples. The Ahobilam Kaifiyat is in Telugu.
    • Kaifiyats are the digests from ‘Kaviles’ or village registers containing information on the political, social, religious and other conditions of the villages in Deccan were prepared by Pandits and Mussadis working under Col. Mackenzie. 

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