Ahobilam: A journey into spirituality
As per the Brahmanda Puranam, there is no deity more supreme than the eight deities of Lord Narasimha
A pilgrimage to the ‘Nava Narasimha Kshetrams’ at Ahobilam, nestled in the lush green Nallamala forests along the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh is a fascinating spiritual journey which remained beyond the reach of the devotees until the 1970s.
MANIFESTATION OF LORD NARASIMHA AT AHOBILAM
‘Aho Veeryam Aho Sauryam Aho Bah uP ar a kr am ah… Nara sim ham Param Deivam…Ahobilam Aho Balam’ — a shloka recited by none other than the Gods themselves as they witnessed the sheer power with which Lord Sri Maha Vishnu as incarnation of Lord Ugra Narasimha ferociously slayed the demon king Hiranyakashipu using just his finger nails, to save his ardent devotee Sri Prahlada, who was also the son of Hiranyakashipu
While every incarnation of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu is unique, the ‘Nrusimhavathara’ avatar is very special. In ‘Nrusimhavathara,’ Lord Sri Maha Vishnu descended upon Earth only to save a single child Prahlada from the clutches of the demon king Hiranyakashipu who had obtained a peculiar boon from Lord Shiva whereby he could not be killed by a human or an animal, neither in the day nor in the night, neither inside nor outside the palace.
LORD AHOBILA NARASIMHA WEDS GODDESS CHENCHU LAKSHMI
It is said after the Lord took the incarnation of the most ferocious form of Sri 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 who was born in a local Chenchu tribe then approached the Lord to pacify and calm him 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 Sri Prahlada 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 Prahlada Varadha travel to forty eight villages in and around Ahobilam as part of the ‘Parveta 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 Sankranthi, the annual Brahmotsavams as well as on all festive occasions observed at Ahobilam all round the year.
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.
It is also believed that Garudadri is the most sacred hill on Earth, and Prahlada is the most ardent Yogi even though he hailed from the demon clan. There are nine temples of Lord Narasimha at Ahobilam.
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.
To date, the local Chenchu tribes treat the Lord as their ‘son in-law’ and Goddess Chenchu Lakshmi as their own daughter.