EN CASO DE GOPES Y CAIDAS:

Prahlaada Mettu

The small shrine, situated in a cave on the hill is

The small shrine, situated in a cave on the hill is in between Ugrain between Ugra Sthambham and Upper Ahobilam. It is dedicated to

Sthambham and Upper Ahobilam. It is dedicated to Prahlaada NarasimhaPrahlaada Narasimha Swaamy. The image of Prahlaada is installed in a small cave.

Swaamy. The image of Prahlaada is installed in a small cave. The whole complex is in two parts - one

The whole complex is in two parts - one calledcalled YeguvuYeguvu (in Telugu called(in Telugu called Upper) Ahobilam with the Nava Narasimha shrines and

Upper) Ahobilam with the Nava Narasimha shrines and the other calledthe other called  Diguvu

 Diguvu (in Telugu called (in Telugu called Lower ) AhobilaLower ) Ahobilam with a single shrm with a single shrine forine for Lakshmi Narasimha, connected by a road

Lakshmi Narasimha, connected by a road stretching a distance of aboutstretching a distance of about 12.8km from Lower Ahobilam to Upper Ahobilam. From there, the

12.8km from Lower Ahobilam to Upper Ahobilam. From there, the otherother shrines are to be reached only by trekking and managing a difficult terrain, shrines are to be reached only by trekking and managing a difficult terrain, flowing streams and slippery rocks

flowing streams and slippery rocks Ahobilam is located about 24

Ahobilam is located about 24 Km from Arlagadda in Kurnool District of Km from Arlagadda in Kurnool District of  Andhra Pradesh on the banks of sacred river called Bhavanasini. The place Andhra Pradesh on the banks of sacred river called Bhavanasini. The place is located in Nallamala forests of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is on the top is located in Nallamala forests of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is on the top of Vedadri hills about 2800 ft. above the sea level.

of Vedadri hills about 2800 ft. above the sea level. It is recommended to plan a two to three days visit to

It is recommended to plan a two to three days visit to Ahobilam, to cover allAhobilam, to cover all shetrams. There is good

shetrams. There is good accommodataccommodation as well ion as well guides available throughguides available through the Ahobila mutt.

SIMHACHALAM 

SIMHACHALAM 

Simhachalam

Simhachalam, near Visakhapatnam, is , near Visakhapatnam, is one of the one of the most importantmost important Vaishnavite shrines of South India. It has

Vaishnavite shrines of South India. It has Sri Varahalakshmi NarasimhaSri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy as the presiding deity.

Swamy as the presiding deity. The deity at

The deity at SimhachalamSimhachalam, the lion-man incarnation of , the lion-man incarnation of Lord MahavishnuLord Mahavishnu appears like a Sivalinga when covered with sandalwood paste. It is only appears like a Sivalinga when covered with sandalwood paste. It is only once a year, during the

once a year, during the Chandana VisarjanaChandana Visarjana that the sandal paste isthat the sandal paste is removed, and the image is

removed, and the image is seen by pilgrimsseen by pilgrims The original shape of the deity in the

The original shape of the deity in the tribhangatribhanga posture has two hands withposture has two hands with the head of a lion on a

the head of a lion on a human torso. The Simhachalam temhuman torso. The Simhachalam temple faces theple faces the West unlike so many others which face the East. An east

West unlike so many others which face the East. An east-facing entrance,-facing entrance, according to religious belief, brings prosperity while the west

according to religious belief, brings prosperity while the west - facing one- facing one brings victory.

brings victory.

According to the Sthalapurana, Prahlada was the first

According to the Sthalapurana, Prahlada was the first person to construct aperson to construct a temple around the Deity. He accomplished this

temple around the Deity. He accomplished this after his father's death at after his father's death at thethe hands of Narasimha. But at the end of that life-cycle (Krita Yuga), the

hands of Narasimha. But at the end of that life-cycle (Krita Yuga), the

temple was neglected and began to decay. Even the Deity was not taken care temple was neglected and began to decay. Even the Deity was not taken care of and crests of earth slowly gathered round the image. But, at the beginning of and crests of earth slowly gathered round the image. But, at the beginning of another life cycle, the Lord once again was discovered by

of another life cycle, the Lord once again was discovered by PururavaPururava of theof the Lunar Dynasty.

Lunar Dynasty.

Pururava, with his spouse Urvasi, riding on an aerial chariot over the hill of  Pururava, with his spouse Urvasi, riding on an aerial chariot over the hill of  the South was drawn

the South was drawn to Simhachalam by a mysterious power. He discoveredto Simhachalam by a mysterious power. He discovered the Lord on the hill lying imbedded in crests of

the Lord on the hill lying imbedded in crests of earth. He cleared the earthearth. He cleared the earth among the image of the Lord. At that time he heard a

expose the image but to cover it with sandal paste. It also

expose the image but to cover it with sandal paste. It also added that theadded that the Lord should be worshipped in this form, and only once in a year, on the

Lord should be worshipped in this form, and only once in a year, on the thirdthird day in the month of Vysakaha his

day in the month of Vysakaha his Nijaswarupa Nijaswarupa can be revealed. Actingcan be revealed. Acting under the instructions the king applied over the image of an amount of  under the instructions the king applied over the image of an amount of  sandal wood paste, equal to the earth he removed and worshipped the deity sandal wood paste, equal to the earth he removed and worshipped the deity as well built the temple once again around the image. The temple continued as well built the temple once again around the image. The temple continued to flourish since then. Thus Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy is the to flourish since then. Thus Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy is the presiding Deity of Simhachalam.

presiding Deity of Simhachalam.