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Abodes of Vishnu

74. Arulmigu Chenjulakshmi Rukmani samedha Lakshmi Narasimhar Koil (Ahobilam)

Mulavar   Ahobila Narasimhar, Varaha Narasimhar, Malola Narasimhar, Yoganantha Narasimhar, Bhavana Narasimhar,Kaaranja Narasimhar, Chathravada Narasimhar, Bhargava Narasimhar, Jwala Narasimhar
Utsavar    
Thayar   Amirthavalli, Chenjulakshmi
Kshethram   Veera Kshethram
Pose & Direction   Sitting Pose
Theertham   Kaalava Theertham, Rama-Lakshmana Theertham, Bheema Theertham, Sanga Theertham, Varaha Theertham, Sudharsana Theertham, Soodha Theertham , Thaara Theertham, Gaja Theertham, Vinayaka Theertham, Bairava Theertham, Raktha Theertham
Vimanam    
Sthala Vruksham    
Paadiyavar   Thirumangai Alwar
Travel Base   Guntakal
Nearest Railway Station   Guntakal

Location

Ahobilam is situated at a distance of 74 Kms from Nandyal (Kurnool District), around 365 Kms from Hyderabad and around 75 Kms from Tirupathi. Lots of transportation facilities are available. Bus facilities from Cuddapah, Nandyal and Banganapalli are available and at frequent intervels.

History

This sthalapuranam is related to the 4th Avathaar of Sri Vishnu - the Narasimha Avathaar. Once there lived a king by named "Hiranyan". While knowing about this sthalapuranam, first we should know the story of Hiranyan. The Dhwarabalagas (the two soldiers) who are found as the persons guarding all the entrances of the Paarkadal where Emperumaan is, were very much proud that they are protecting the perumal. But, this proud changed their mind and as a result they got the curse from Maharishis and this curse will be continued for 3 decades. In the first decade, they were born as Jaya - Vijayan and in the second, they born as Hiranyatshakan and Hiyanyakasibhu. They both did tapas towards Brahma and got the boon that the world should be under the control of them. Hiranyatshakan took Bhooma devi into the Badhala Lokam (below the Earth) and finally, Sriman Narayanan took the Avathaar as "Varagha Moorthy", killed Hiranyatshakan and returned along with Bhooma devi. At the same time, Hiranyakasibhu got a typical varam from Brahma. It is that he should not be killed either by any devars (or) by humans (or) by any animals and even the creator, Brahma. At the same time, he should not be killed by using any weapons and he should not be killed in the morning (or) in night. He also added that he should not be killed inside the palace nor outside it. And finally he said that, if he is killed and if even a drop of the blood comes out of his body, it will be considered to be as effective as 1000 Hiranyakasibhu and they has to emerge from it. This is the boon he asked from Brahma and got it too! After getting this kind of Varam from Brahma, he started to explore his strength and spread his victory on many countries. He ordered to the people from then, all should worship him as the God and all poojas has to be dedicated to him. If anyone worshipped Sriman Narayanan, he started to kill them. Like this, he became wild and was in opposition to Sriman Narayanan. He had 4 boy children named Anukiladhan, Samakiladhan, Kiladhan and the last child, Prahaladhan. He had one girl child by named Simaki. But, Hiranyakasibhu shown his love and affection to his last child, Prahaladhan. But, Prahaladhan was gifted with the knowledge and had much affection towards the Emperumaan and always said the Great slokam, the "Om Namo Narayana". On seeing this activity of his child, Hiranyakasibhu got angry and gave severe punishment to him. But, it didn't affect him and still continued to say the Sri Hari's name. Finally, he thought that there is one sakthi behind him and he wanted it to come in front of him. As a result he asked his son that he is always telling the name of Sri Vishnu and asked where is he found ? For this, Prahaladhan replied that He is found everywhere, in this mighty world as trees, rivers, mountains, even in tiny atoms etc. He is also found everywhere, even in the heart of his father. On hearing this, he almost came near to the entrance of his palace where a huge and broad pillar was there. He asked whether his Narayanan is found in this pillar too. For this, Prahaladhan answered that he is found in the pillar too and also even in a small piece of iron. On hearing this, Hiranyakasibhu got wild and kicked the pillar using his leg. As soon as he striked the pillar, Sriman Narayanan burst out from the pillar as Narasimhar. As the boon Hiranyakashibu got from Brahma, the Narasimhan killed Hiranyan by placing his body in his lap using his nails. His varam was that he should not be killed in the earth nor in the sky. Because of this, the Narasimham kept him on his lap. In his varam, he had asked that he should not be killed by an animal nor by an ordinary human. Because of this, the perumal took the Narasimha avathaar, as his head was that of the lion and rest of the body as an ordinary human. He was not killed inside the palace not outside, he was killed in the midst of it and he was not killed using any harmful weapons instead he was killed by the Nails of the Nrasimhar. He was not killed in the morning nor in the night instead, he was killed in the junction time of evening and night just known as Sandhya, which is said to the lowering time of the day and emerging of dark. So, Sriman Narayanan killed Hiranyakasibhu as in the varam, which he had asked. But, after being killed, his blood flowed in the earth. The Narasimhar took the blood from the earth and draked it. Because of this, as asked by Hiranyakasibhu, it had the effect of 1000 Hiranyakasibhus and because of this, the perumal was bursting in anger and he could not be controlled. All the Devas and Brahma was afraid to see this and soght the help of Lord Shiva. Finally, Lord Shiva asked the right person who could reduce the anger of Narasimhar in Lakshmi devi and finally she came and reduced the anger of Narasimhar.

Festival