Ahobilam (Nava Narasimha)

Sthala Purāṇam

Ahobilam, the Divya Desam known in Tamil as Thiru Singavel Kundram, lies in the Nallamala hills and is revered as the Nava Narasimha Kshetra, where Vishnu is worshipped in nine distinct forms of Narasimha. The core legend is the slaying of the demon Hiranyakashipu, who had obtained a boon making him immune to death by gods, men, or beasts, by day or night, indoors or out, by no weapon. When he kicked a pillar in defiance of his son Prahlada's faith, Vishnu burst forth as Narasimha, half-man and half-lion, and at twilight, neither day nor night, upon the threshold, tore the demon apart on his lap with his claws, fulfilling every condition of the boon and saving the devoted Prahlada. Awestruck, the devas cried Ahobalam (great strength) and Ahobilam (the great cave), giving the place its name; the moolavar abides in a cave (bilam). The nine forms are Jwala, Ahobila, Malola, Kroda (Varaha), Karancha, Bhargava, Yogananda, Chatravata, and Pavana Narasimha. The kshetra is also called Garudadri, for Narasimha granted his first darshan here to Garuda after long penance. The complex spans Upper Ahobilam (Eguva), with the Nava Narasimha shrines, and Lower Ahobilam (Diguva), with Lakshmi Narasimha. The consorts are Amruthavalli and Chenchu (Senji) Lakshmi, a maiden of the hunter clan whom the Lord wedded. The sacred waters form the Bhavanasini river, and Thirumangai Alvar sang ten pasurams in the Periya Thirumozhi glorifying the Lord.

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