Ahobilam is a town located in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a famous pilgrimage center for Hindus, especially for those who follow the Vaishnava tradition. The town is situated in the Nallamala Hills, a range of hills that form a part of the Eastern Ghats.
According to Hindu mythology, Ahobilam is the place where Lord Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu, appeared to protect his devotee Prahlada from his demonic father, Hiranyakashipu. The town is known for its 9 Narasimha temples, which are believed to have been built between the 8th and 16th centuries AD.
The nine temples of Ahobilam are divided into two groups - Upper Ahobilam and Lower Ahobilam. The Upper Ahobilam temples are situated on the top of the Nallamala Hills, while the Lower Ahobilam temples are located at the foot of the hills.
The nine temples are:
Prahlada Varadan Temple
Jwala Narasimha Temple
Ahobila Narasimha Temple
Kroda Narasimha Temple
Malola Narasimha Temple
Karanja Narasimha Temple
Bhargava Narasimha Temple
Yogananda Narasimha Temple
Chatravata Narasimha Temple
The Prahlada Varadan Temple is located in Lower Ahobilam and is dedicated to Lord Narasimha in his peaceful form. The temple is believed to have been built by King Hiranyakashipu, the father of Prahlada.
The Jwala Narasimha Temple is located in Upper Ahobilam and is dedicated to Lord Narasimha in his fiery form. The temple is believed to have been built by King Vishnuvardhana of the Eastern Chalukya dynasty.
The Ahobila Narasimha Temple is located in Upper Ahobilam and is considered to be the main temple of Ahobilam. The temple is dedicated to Lord Narasimha in his fierce form and is believed to have been built by the Vijayanagara king, Krishnadevaraya.
The Kroda Narasimha Temple is located in Upper Ahobilam and is dedicated to Lord Narasimha in his mountain form. The temple is believed to have been built by the Pallava king, Mahendra Varman I.
The Malola Narasimha Temple is located in Lower Ahobilam and is dedicated to Lord Narasimha in his tender form. The temple is believed to have been built by the Chola king, Rajendra Chola I.
The Karanja Narasimha Temple is located in Lower Ahobilam and is dedicated to Lord Narasimha in his peaceful form. The temple is believed to have been built by the Vijayanagara king, Bukka I.
The Bhargava Narasimha Temple is located in Upper Ahobilam and is dedicated to Lord Narasimha in his form as the sage Bhargava. The temple is believed to have been built by the Chalukya king, Vikramaditya VI.
The Yogananda Narasimha Temple is located in Upper Ahobilam and is dedicated to Lord Narasimha in his form as Yogananda Narasimha. The temple is believed to have been built by the Vijayanagara king, Achyuta Deva Raya.
The Chatravata Narasimha Temple is located in Lower Ahobilam and is dedicated to Lord Narasimha in his form as the protector.
