Ahobilam Prahladha Varadan Temple (Lower Ahobilam Temple), Andhra Pradesh

Address

Ahobilam, Lower Ahobilam

Andhra Pradesh 518543

Moolavar

Prahladha Varadan (Lakshmi Narasimhar)

Amman

Lakshmi (Amirthavalli Thaayar)

Introduction

Prahladha Varadan Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu located at Lower Ahobilam in Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh. The Temple is also called as Lower Ahobilam Temple. This is the main temple in Lower Ahobilam

Puranic Significance

The temple of Sri Prahlada Varada, where Lord Narasimha is seen blessing Prahlada, is situated in Lower Ahobilam. Lord Narasimha was the family deity of Sri Srinivasa Govinda of Tirupati. Since the Lord was in the fierce form, Srinivasa installed the Deity in the peaceful form and worshiped Him before he married Padmavathi Devi. The utsava Deities of Sri Pavana Narasimha and Jwala Narasimha are worshiped in this temple. This place is also popular by the name Chinna Ahobilam or Diguva Tirupati.

Beliefs

It is a common practice to worship the Prahladha Varada Narasimha (the Narasimha who gave boons to Prahladha) in lower Ahobila before worshipping Yeguva (Upper) Ahobila Narasimha, situated at about 8 Kms away on a hilltop inside a cave. After worshipping the Lord, it is another practice to visit Nava Narasimhas (Nine Narasimhas). Those who pray at this shrine with devotion would obtain the grace of the Lord and the Goddess.

Special Features

This place is also called as Chinna Ahobilam / Diguva Tirupati / Diguva Ahobilam.. The specialty of this Temple is Lord Narasimha’s posture in the pillars. In one pillar, he is represented as a divine ascetic presenting ascetic order to the first Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt. Both in the Upper and Lower Ahobilam, it is a common sight on the pillars of Lord Narasimha wooing his consort Chenchu Lakshmi.