Malola Narasimha, Ahobilam

మాలోల నరసింహ స్వామి

Narasimha · Malola Narasimha · with Lakshmi

Soumya (gentle) Lakshmi Narasimha, four-armed, Lakshmi seated on his folded left leg

Vedadri hill, Upper Ahobilam, Ahobilam, Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh · Vaishnava tradition

Malola is the gentle (soumya) form among the nine, with Lakshmi seated on his knee.

The story begins: “Afterwards the god sits on Hiranyakashipu's throne in a form so fierce that Brahma, Rudra and the gods keep away.”

Read the story
Directions

At the gate

Walking and access
About 2 km from the Upper Ahobilam temple; the Ahobila Math puts the shrine about 100 steps up off the Kroda route, and a round trip covering Jwala, Kroda and Malola takes about three hours. More on access
Getting there
Train: Nandyal railway stationAir: Kadapa Airport

Not yet confirmed: darshan hours, dress code, phone rules, entry for visitors of other faiths. Ask at the temple office or enquiry counter — and if you know, tell us. hello@aalayakatha.com

Full visiting details

Sthala purana

The story of this place

Told in: The Sri Ahobila Math tradition, with the Deccan Chronicle (2018) on the image and the Bhagavata Purana 7.9 for the frame

The gentle form and the travelling image

The Bhagavata's account of Narasimha does not end with the killing. Afterwards the god sits on Hiranyakashipu's throne in a form so fierce that Brahma, Rudra and the gods keep away. Shri, his consort, is sent to calm him and is herself afraid of the form; she does not go near (7.9.1–2). It is the boy Prahlada who finally approaches.

On Vedadri hill, about 2 km above the Upper Ahobilam temple, the Malola shrine holds the other side of that story. The Ahobila Math describes Malola as the soumya, or gentle, form of Narasimha, shown with Lakshmi. The Deccan Chronicle (2018) describes the image: four-armed, the left leg folded and the right hanging down, with Mahalakshmi seated on the folded leg. Outlook Traveller (2017) describes the same pose as Lakshmi on his knee. The Deccan Chronicle also gives the place another name, Markanda Lakshmi Kshetra, and records the belief that prayer here brings prosperity.

The shrine's importance goes beyond the hill. The Ahobila Math, founded at Ahobilam about 600 years ago by Srimad Adivan Satakopan — born Kidambi Srinivasachar — treats the processional (utsava) image of Malola as its presiding deity. The image travels with the matha's Jeeyar on his tours, so Malola is worshipped wherever the pontiff camps. Adluri dates the matha to the 15th century and credits its pontiffs with tying Narasimha worship at Ahobilam to Sri Vaishnavism.

That is why the name reaches far beyond the hill. Pilgrims who never climb Vedadri still know Malola, because the processional image that carries this shrine's name travels with the Jeeyar of the matha.

Where this account comes from

  • Purana: Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, Adhyaya 9, vv. 1–2 (tr. on wisdomlib.org) wisdomlib.org
  • Temple administration: Sri Ahobila Math, "Visit Ahobilam" (pilgrim guide: shrines, routes, guest house, festivals) ahobilamutt.org · seen 2026-10-09
  • Temple administration: Sri Ahobila Math, home page (founding of the matam at Ahobilam by Srimad Athivan Satakopan) ahobilamutt.org · seen 2026-10-09
  • Press: Deccan Chronicle, "Ahobilam: A journey into spirituality", R. Sandeep Kumar, 9 September 2018 deccanchronicle.com · seen 2026-10-09
  • Press: Outlook Traveller, "Ahobilam: Realm of the Man-Lion", Benny Joshua, 7 June 2017 outlookindia.com · seen 2026-10-09
  • Scholarship: Sucharita Adluri, "Viewing Telugu Inscriptions at Ahobila", South Asian Studies 35:2, Taylor & Francis, 2019, pp. 168–180 (doi:10.1080/02666030.2019.1641968) engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu

In one minute

Why Malola Narasimha, Ahobilam matters

Each line says who it comes from and how settled it is. What the labels mean

  1. Malola is the gentle (soumya) form among the nine, with Lakshmi seated on his knee.

    3 sources for: Malola is the gentle (soumya) form among the nine, with Lakshmi seated on his kn
    • Temple administration: Sri Ahobila Math, "Visit Ahobilam" (pilgrim guide: shrines, routes, guest house, festivals) ahobilamutt.org · seen 2026-10-09
    • Press: Deccan Chronicle, "Ahobilam: A journey into spirituality", R. Sandeep Kumar, 9 September 2018 deccanchronicle.com · seen 2026-10-09
    • Press: Outlook Traveller, "Ahobilam: Realm of the Man-Lion", Benny Joshua, 7 June 2017 outlookindia.com · seen 2026-10-09

  2. Its processional image is the presiding deity of the Sri Ahobila Math and travels with the matha's Jeeyar on his tours.

    Source for: Its processional image is the presiding deity of the Sri Ahobila Math and travel
    • Temple administration: Sri Ahobila Math, "Visit Ahobilam" (pilgrim guide: shrines, routes, guest house, festivals) ahobilamutt.org · seen 2026-10-09

  3. The shrine stands on Vedadri hill about 2 km from the Upper Ahobilam temple, roughly 100 steps up from the Kroda route.

    3 sources for: The shrine stands on Vedadri hill about 2 km from the Upper Ahobilam temple, rou
    • Temple administration: Sri Ahobila Math, "Visit Ahobilam" (pilgrim guide: shrines, routes, guest house, festivals) ahobilamutt.org · seen 2026-10-09
    • Press: Outlook Traveller, "Ahobilam: Realm of the Man-Lion", Benny Joshua, 7 June 2017 outlookindia.com · seen 2026-10-09
    • Press: Deccan Chronicle, "Ahobilam: A journey into spirituality", R. Sandeep Kumar, 9 September 2018 deccanchronicle.com · seen 2026-10-09

Shilpa

When you visit, look for…

Architectural style not yet identified

No published architectural study of the Malola shrine has been found yet.

  • Sanctum

    The Lakshmi Narasimha image

    A four-armed Narasimha with the left leg folded and the right hanging, Lakshmi seated on the folded leg (Deccan Chronicle 2018).

  • Detail

    Vedadri hilltop

    The shrine sits on open flatland on Vedadri hill with views across the Nallamala range (Outlook Traveller 2017).

Yatra

Plan your visit

Darshan times

We could not confirm the opening times from the temple’s own notice, so we are not printing any. Please check with the temple office or the devasthanam before you travel.

Before you go

  • No dress code or entry rules have been confirmed for this temple yet. Traditional, modest clothing is always the safe choice; ask at the entrance.

Walking, steps and access

climb off the Kroda route to the shrine (approximate): 100 steps

About 2 km from the Upper Ahobilam temple; the Ahobila Math puts the shrine about 100 steps up off the Kroda route, and a round trip covering Jwala, Kroda and Malola takes about three hours. Deccan Chronicle (2018) reported a doli (carried chair) service for Kroda, Malola, Jwala and the Ugra Sthambam at roughly Rs 2,500–3,500, and advised trekking in a large group with an experienced guide.

Getting there

  • By air: Kadapa Airport · about 120 kmDistance as given by the Ministry of Tourism's Utsav page for the Ahobilam Brahmotsavam. Outlook Traveller (2017) names Hyderabad as the nearest airport; check current services.
  • By train: Nandyal railway station · about 60 kmThe Utsav portal gives Nandyal at about 60 km and also lists Kadapa (about 120 km). The Ahobila Math's guide describes rail access via Kadapa from Chennai and via Kurnool from Hyderabad, then road.
  • By road: AllagaddaThe Utsav portal gives Allagadda at about 23 km; the Ahobila Math's guide gives about 30 km, with local buses to Ahobilam roughly every 45 minutes. Lower and Upper Ahobilam are linked by a ghat road the matha puts at about 12.8 km.

Routes are general guidance and not yet checked against an official source.

PIN 518543 (not yet checked with India Post)

The order of darshan

No published source gives the order in which to visit the shrines here, so we have not invented one. Follow the queue and the temple staff.

Festivals

  • Swathi Thirumanjanam

    monthly, Swati

    A monthly abhishekam for all nine Narasimhas of Ahobilam on the day of the Swati nakshatra. The Ahobila Math notes that devotees travel in from Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore for it and advises booking rooms in advance.

Itihasa

Through time

Two registers, kept apart on purpose: what the Puranas tell, and what the historical record shows. They answer different questions and we do not force them to agree.

In the Puranas and tradition

No events in this register have been sourced.

In the historical record

  1. c. 1401–1500

    The Ahobila Math adopts Malola as its deity

    The matha was founded at Ahobilam about 600 years ago by Adivan Satakopan (matha) — in the 15th century (Adluri). The matha's processional Malola image is its presiding deity. Neither says when the image was adopted.

    3 sources for: The Ahobila Math adopts Malola as its deity
    • Temple administration: Sri Ahobila Math, home page (founding of the matam at Ahobilam by Srimad Athivan Satakopan) ahobilamutt.org · seen 2026-10-09
    • Temple administration: Sri Ahobila Math, "Visit Ahobilam" (pilgrim guide: shrines, routes, guest house, festivals) ahobilamutt.org · seen 2026-10-09
    • Scholarship: Sucharita Adluri, "Viewing Telugu Inscriptions at Ahobila", South Asian Studies 35:2, Taylor & Francis, 2019, pp. 168–180 (doi:10.1080/02666030.2019.1641968) engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu

Around here

Worth the detour

  • Temple

    Ahobila (Ugra) Narasimha, Upper Ahobilam

    The main cave shrine of Upper Ahobilam, where the Jwala and Pavana trails begin.

  • Temple

    Kroda (Varaha) Narasimha

    About 1 km from the Upper temple, on the Jwala route.

  • Temple

    Jwala Narasimha

    About 4 km beyond the Upper temple on Achalachaya Meru hill; a hard trek.

  • Temple

    Prahlada Varada (Lakshmi Narasimha) temple, Lower Ahobilam

    The main temple of Lower Ahobilam, with three enclosures, carved pillars and the processional images, including a ten-armed Jwala Narasimha (Ahobila Math). It is not one of the nine.

Also in Nandyal district

Sources

Where this page comes from

  • Temple administration: Sri Ahobila Math, "Visit Ahobilam" (pilgrim guide: shrines, routes, guest house, festivals) ahobilamutt.org · seen 2026-10-09
  • Press: Deccan Chronicle, "Ahobilam: A journey into spirituality", R. Sandeep Kumar, 9 September 2018 deccanchronicle.com · seen 2026-10-09
  • Press: Outlook Traveller, "Ahobilam: Realm of the Man-Lion", Benny Joshua, 7 June 2017 outlookindia.com · seen 2026-10-09
  • Purana: Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, Adhyaya 9, vv. 1–2 (tr. on wisdomlib.org) wisdomlib.org
  • Temple administration: Sri Ahobila Math, home page (founding of the matam at Ahobilam by Srimad Athivan Satakopan) ahobilamutt.org · seen 2026-10-09
  • Scholarship: Sucharita Adluri, "Viewing Telugu Inscriptions at Ahobila", South Asian Studies 35:2, Taylor & Francis, 2019, pp. 168–180 (doi:10.1080/02666030.2019.1641968) engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu

Cite this page

Aalaya Katha Foundation, “Malola Narasimha, Ahobilam”, Aalaya Katha, version last reviewed 2026-10-09. https://www.aalayakatha.com/temple/malola-narasimha (accessed ).

Last reviewed 2026-10-09. How we label sources and confidence