In Ahobilam, Andhra Pradesh, Sri Prahaladavarada Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Ahobilam is dedicated to Lakshmi Narasimha (Vishnu's man-lion avatar), with consort Lakshmi worshipped locally as Pratyangira / Chenchulakshmi. It is also known as Ahobilam Narasimha Swamy Temple, Singavel Kundram, Nava Narasimha Kshetram.
Ahobilam is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham composed by the Alvar poet-saints, praised in ten pasurams by Thirumangai Alvar who called it Singavel Kundram. Uniquely among the Divya Desams, all nine Narasimha shrines of Upper and Lower Ahobilam together are counted as a single Divya Desam, and the site is regarded as one of the most important Narasimha pilgrimage centers in India. According to legend, Ahobilam is where Vishnu appeared in his fierce Narasimha (man-lion) form to kill the demon king Hiranyakashipu and protect his devotee child Prahlada, tearing the demon apart at the threshold of a pillar at twilight.
Andhra Pradesh carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Home to Tirumala, the world's most-visited pilgrimage centre, alongside ancient hill shrines and Shakti Peethas along the Krishna and the Eastern Ghats.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 6:30 AM - 1:00 PM (Lower Ahobilam / Prahaladavarada temple); 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Upper Ahobilam) |
| Evening | 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Lower Ahobilam); 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM (Upper Ahobilam) |
The other Narasimha shrines in the hills are generally accessible from about 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Timings can extend for Swathi Nakshatram and major festival days; visitors are advised to verify current timings before travel.
Poojas and daily rituals
Daily archana and abhishekam; special sevas conducted during Swathi Nakshatram and festival periods
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Brahmotsavam | Major annual festival at the Prahaladavarada temple, Lower Ahobilam | |
| Narasimha Jayanti | Vaishakha month (April-May) | Celebrates the appearance of Lord Narasimha |
History and architecture
Architecture
A cluster of nine Narasimha shrines spread across Upper Ahobilam (Eguva, in the hills near the original Ugra Narasimha cave shrine) and Lower Ahobilam (Diguva, centered on the Prahaladavarada temple, built in Dravidian style with a gopuram and enclosed prakarams)
History
According to legend, Ahobilam is where Vishnu appeared in his fierce Narasimha (man-lion) form to kill the demon king Hiranyakashipu and protect his devotee child Prahlada, tearing the demon apart at the threshold of a pillar at twilight. Over the centuries the Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Reddy kings, Vijayanagara emperors and the Gadwal Samasthanam extended patronage to the temple complex. The temple was raided by Golconda Sultanate forces in 1579. The Ahobila Matha, an important Sri Vaishnava monastic institution, was founded here around the late 15th or early 16th century and continues to administer the site.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Ahobilam is in Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh, about 24 km from Allagadda town. The nearest railway station is Nandyal, and the nearest airports are Kurnool and Tirupati. It is well connected by road to Kurnool, Nandyal and Ahobilam is a common stop for pilgrims travelling between Tirupati and Srisailam.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. The nine-shrine complex is administratively one Divya Desam, so the entry here focuses on the Prahaladavarada temple in Lower Ahobilam as the most prominent shrine; entry fee figure and exact festival dates were not independently confirmed against an official source