Thiru Ooragam, Thiru Neeragam, Thiru Kaaragam, Thiru Kaarvannam - Kanchipuram




About the temple

There are four divyadesams in a single temple complex. Lord Vishnu took the Vamana avatharam to stop King Mahabali's attempt to acquire Indra's swarga lokam and restore Indra's powers. When King Mahabali promised to give 3 feet of land to Lord Vishnu who was disguised as a dwarf Brahmin, Lord Vishnu measured the earth and sky with one feet, the heaven with the second feet and asked the King where to keep the third feet. Since the King was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu he asked the Lord to keep the third feet on his head and the Lord did accordingly and sent the King to the nether world, thereby fulfilling his purpose of taking the Vamana avathara. The Lord took the form of Ulagalandha perumal to fulfill the King's wish to see the Lord in full form. The Lord also appeared in a smaller form as Adiseshan. The Lord here is also known as Ooragathaan. The Lord is more than 30ft high with the left leg at right angle parallel to the ground and right leg on Mahabali's head. The two steps taken by the lord are indicated by the two fingers stretched out in the left hand and one finger on the right hand as questioning the King where to keep the third feet.

 Thayar sannadhi


The other three divyadesams in the same temple complex are

Thiru Neeragam - Lord Jagadeeswara,



Thiru Kaaragam - Karunakara perumal





Thiru Kaaravannam -Kalvar .




How to reach

The temple is at a walking distance from Kamakshi amman temple, Vaikunda perumal temple and the Kanchipuram main bus stand. click to enlarge the map




For maps on how to reach the other divyadesams in Kanchipuram, click here

Sannadhis

Thiru Ooragam : Trivikrama/ Ulagalandha perumal/Ooragathaan and Amuthavalli thayar

Thiru Neeragam : Jagadeeswara perumal - utsavar  and Nilamangai thayar

Thiru Kaaragam : Karunaka perumal and Padmamani/Ramamani thayar

Thiru Kaarvanan : Kalvar and Kamalavalli thayar

Vishwaksenar
Garudan
Andal
Manavala mamunigal
Alwars and Acharyas

Pushkarni and Vimanam


Thiru Neeragam : Akrura theertham and Jagadeeswarar vimanam

Thiru Kaaragam : Akraya theertham and Vamana vimanam

Thiru Kaarvanan : Gowrithadakam theertham and Pushkala vimanam

Thiru Ooragam : Naga theertham and Sarasreekara vimanam


Specialty of the temple

There are four divyadesams in a single temple complex.

Thirumangai azhwar praised three divyadesams - Thiru Neeragam, Thiru Kaaragam and Thiru Kaaravannam in a single paasuram along with Thiru Ooragam.

The Lord is said to fulfill the wishes of unmarried girls and childless couples.

Temple timings

The temple is open from 7 am to 12 pm in the mornings and from 4 pm to 8 pm in the evenings.

Temples in proximity

Sri Yoga Narasimhar temple, Sholingur


About the temple

Located close to Chennai, Sholingur Sri Yoga Narasimhar temple is among the 108 divya desams of Sri Vaishnavas. Thirukadigai or Sholingur is among the Thondai Naatu divyadesams. The presiding deity is Sri Yoga Narasimhar. There are two hills here- Big hill called periya malai and Small hill called Chinna malai in tamil.

 

About the big hill : The presiding deity is Sri Yoga Narasimhar and one has to climb almost 1300 steps to reach the shrine. The utsavar deity Sri Bhaktavatsala perumal presides in the temple below the hill in the town.

About the small hill: The presiding deity of the small hill is Sri Yoga Anjaneya and there are 407 steps to the shrine. There are also shrines to Sri Ranganathar and Sri Ramar.


 
The main temple tank is called Takkan kulam or Brahma theertham. There is a huge hanuman statue and an arch welcoming the devotees there.

An average healthy person will take around 40 minutes - 1 hr to climb the big hill and around 20 minutes for the small hill.



How to reach

Sholingur is around 115 kms from Chennai..One can easily walk from the base of the Periya malai to base of Chinna malai. Following the options one can take

1. Catch any superfast train that stops at Sholingur station. Take a bus or auto outside the station..The temple is around 13 kms from the station. Buses going to the Sholingur bus stand stop at Takkan kulam stop. Share autos are available from the bus stop to the temple less than 2 kms away.

2. Local suburban trains to Arakonnam and Tiruttani and most of the superfast trains stop at Arakonnam. Share autos are available outside the railway station at Rs. 5 per person to the busstand. Private and Govt buses from there are available to Sholingur Takkan kulam stop (30 kms) and share autos from the temple tank take you to the temple.

3. Drive via Bangalore Highway to Kaveripakkam and from there reach Sholingur.

Ample Car parking space is available near the temple.

Sannadhis

Big hill :

Sri Yoga Narasimhar
Lakshmi Narasimhar, Chakratazhwar, Kannan, Adiseshan and Garudazhwar
Amritavalli thayar
Namazhwar, Ramanujar, Senaimudalvar and Saptha Rishis


Small hill :

Sri Yoga Chaturbuja Anjaneyar
Bala Ranganathar with Sridevi Bhoodevi
Sri Ramar with Sita, Lakshman, Chakratazhwar, Navaneeta Krishna

Specialty of the temple

It is believed that any person visiting the temple and spending 24 minutes on the hill will attain moksham.

The Lord is said to cure the devotees of Mental disability and chronic diseases.

There is a small window in the big hill temple from where Lord Narasimha gives darshan to Lord Anjaneya on the small hill.

The Lord is referred to as Takkan by Namazhwar in the paasuram wherein Takkan means the Lord who has the right to fulfill all the wishes of the devotees.

It is considered auspicious to go for a Girivalam around the hill on Pournami days.

Temple timings, where to stay 

The temple is open from 8 am to 5 pm on normal days and the timings vary on festival and special ocassions. There are lot of mutts and rooms available for devotees to stay.


Points to note :

One can easily finish off both the temples in half a day's time..so plan your trip accordingly. Although the steps have shelter now to protect the devotees from hot sun, it is better to stay early.

There are lots of monkeys on both the hill..the best way to stay safe from the monkeys is by not teasing them and not carrying anything in the hands that is visible..preferably dont carry anything..there is a shop midway that sells juices and snacks. Also different types of prasadam are available in the temple premises. So one neednt carry any food item with them.

Ahobilam Nava Narasimhar Temples

                                                        Photo courtesy: Sri Ahobila Mutt

About the temples and Specialties

Ahobilam is among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and is the incarnation place of Lord Narasimhar. Lord Narasimha emerged from a pillar here to protect Prahalada and kill the asura Hiranyakashapu. The hills are called Garudadri and are in the shape of Garuda with centre body portion and two wings. The Ahobila Mutt was set up here and the utsava moorthy of Sri Malola Narasimhar is the presiding deity of the mutt.

When Lord Srinivasa married Padmavathi thayar, the neivedyam was offered to Ahobilam's Lord Narasimhar. It is said that the palan a person gets by staying one day in Ahobilam is equal to staying 1000 yugams in Kasi, 100 yugams in Gaya and 20 yugams in Prayag. 

The devotees are said to be freed from Navagraha doshams by worshipping at these temples as each of the nine Narasimhars dominate each of the Navagrahas

Jwala Narasimha            --  Angaraka
Ahobila Narasimha         --  Guru
Malola Narasimha          --  Sukra
Krodha Narasimha         --  Rahu 
Karanja Narasimha        -- Chandra
Bhargava Narasimha      --  Surya 
Yogananda Narasimha   --  Shani
Kshatravata Narasimha  --  Kethu
Paavan Narasimha         --  Budhan


Jwala Narasimha temple



This is said to be the place where Lord Narasimha tore Hiranyakashapu. Jwala Narasimhar is seen here with eight hands, 2 holding shanku and chakram, another 2 holding hiranyakashapu's body, another 2 tearing asuran's body and another 2 arms holding asurans intestines as garland.

There are two more moorthys here- one showing the Lord chasing the asuran and another as emerging from the pillar.

Just outside the temple is the Raktha kundam where the Lord washed his hands after killing the asuran.

Malola Narasimha temple



Ma refers to Lakshmi and Lolan refers to beloved - so Malolan means Lakshmi's beloved. Malola Narasimhar is the special worship deity of the Ahobila Mutt Jeers.

Krodakara/Varaha Narasimha temple





The Lord is seen holding Bhoomidevi in his teeth as in Varaha avatharam of Lord Vishnu. Also we can see Lord Narasimha with Lakshmi devi in his lap besides Varaha swamy.

Ahobila Narasimha temple



This is the main temple among the Nava Narasimhars and the Lord is said to be Svayambu moorthy. The Lord is seen here killing Hiranyakashapu.

There is a seperate sannadhi for thayar here.

Karanja Narasimha temple


The Lord gives darshan under the Karanja tree and hence is called so. Hanuman wished to see Sri Rama in Ahobilam. However the Lord appeared as Narasimhar. Hanuman requested the Lord to give darshan as Ramar and so Narasimhar appears with Bow and arrow in the hands and adiseshan above the head. There is a seperate sannadhi for Anjaneya in the temple.

Chatravarta Narasimha temple



The Lord here is seen smiling and enjoying the music played by the two gandarvas- Aaha and Ooho to cool the Lord after Hiranya samharam. The Lord is seen putting thalam with his left lower hand.

Yogananda Narasimha temple



After Hiranya samharam, Lord Narasimha is believed to have taught Prahalada several yogic postures and hence the Lord is called so.

Bhargava Narasimha temple



Parasuramar or Bhargava Ramar is said to have done penance here to have darshan of Lord Narasimha in the form of Hiranya samharam. So, the Lord is seen in that form with two hands holding shanku chakram and another two hands tearing Hiranyakashapu and is called Bhargava Narasimhar. The pushkarni nearby is called Akshaya theertham.

Pavana Narasimha temple

The temple is situated on the banks of the river Pavana in the middle of the forest. The Lord gives darshan here with a seven headed adiseshan on the head and Senju lakshmi thayar in the lap. Mahalakshmi thayar is said to have taken avatharam as Chenju lakshmi thayar in the local Chenju tribal community and so the tribal community considers Lord Narasimha as their son-in-law. They offer sacrifices to the Lord at regular intervals and more on Saturdays.

Senjulakshmi Guhai/Cave


There is a small cave close to the Pavana Narasimha temple and houses the idols of Senjulakshmi thayar, Shiva and Anjaneya. It is believed that if a person comes out of the small exit from the cave by crawling there, the person would be free from rebirth.

Prahalada Varadan temple - Lower Ahobilam



The temple is at the foothills of the mountain range. The presiding deity is Prahalada Varadan and there is a seperate thayar sannadhi. Also there are sannadhis for Kalyana Srinivasar, Andal, Ramanujar and Ramar. Most of the utsavar moorthy of the Nava Narasimhar temples are in this temple. There are three prakarams in the temple.


Ugra Sthambam


The pillar is visible while going to Jwala Narasimha temple and is about 2 kms from there on a rough path. It is believed that Sri Narasimhar emerged from this pillar and is difficult to reach.

Prahalada mettu


There is a small shrine here inside a cave and this is place where Prahalada studied. Also it is this place where Prahalada was pushed by the asura and Lord Narasimha caught him. It is a scenic place and close to Malola Narasimhar temple on the hill.


How to reach

Cuddapah and Kurnool are the nearest railheads and is accessible from most of the important cities. Autos are available from Kadapah station to the bus stand - Rs 7 per head and from there lot of buses are available to Allagadda. Ahobilam is around 23 kms from Allagadda. You can either wait for bus or take an auto from there - Rs. 200. Allagadda is also accessible by road from Nandyal.

For visiting temples from there -

Autos are available from Lower Ahobilam to Upper Ahobilam - Rs.100 one way and share autos are also available.

From Upper Ahobilam, one has to trek to Jwala, Malola, Varaha, Prahalada padi and Ugra sthambam on one side and Pavana temple on another. Dolis are available for old people.

Ahobila and Karanjya temples are on the way to Upper Ahobilam and accessible by road.

Chatravarta is 3 kms from Lower Ahobilam and it is accessible by road

Yogananda and Bhargava temples are also accessible by road

Pavana temple can be reached by taking a jeep from Lower Ahobilam - Rs. 1600 and 8-10 people can share the jeep. Alternatively one can even trek to Pavana temple from Upper Ahobilam. Senjulakshmi cave is just 5-10 mins trek from Pavana temple


Suggested routes

Route 1:

 Upper Ahobilam ---> Varaha/Kroda ---> Jwala through river route ---> Ugra sthambam (most difficult), ---> Jwala ---> Malola ---> Prahalada Mettu ----> Malola ---> Ahobila ---> Karanja on the way.

Take rest and visit Chatravada, Yogananda, Bhargava and Prahalada Varadhan in the evening.

Next day visit Pavana and Senju lakshmi cave by hiring a jeep (3 hrs travel time to and fro) or take the steps and trekking route from Upper Ahobilam whichever is convenient.

Route 2 :

 Start from Upper Ahobilam ---> Varaha/Kroda ---> Malola --->Prahalada Mettu ---> Malola ---> Jwala ---> Ugra sthambam ---> Jwala ---> Ahobila --- > Karanja

Take rest and visit Chatravada, Yogananda, Bhargava and Prahalada Varadhan in the evening.

Next day visit Pavana and Senju lakshmi cave by hiring a jeep (3 hrs travel time to and fro) or take the steps and trekking route from Upper Ahobilam whichever is convenient


Points to note :

** The time taken from the trekking part covering the first set of temples is around 4 hrs. The second set takes around 2 hours and the third part takes 3 hrs -- All from Lower Ahobilam base.

** The first suggested route is easier as it takes you to the top most part first and then visiting others while getting down.

** There are no proper steps and it is a rough terrian -so go prepared for it..Wearing shoes would help a lot.

** Carry water with you ..there are no shops on the trekking path.

** Start as early as possible in the morning for the trek as you will get more tired in the hot sun and use caps.

** Going in a group will make your experience enjoyable...



Temple search