The Sanctum Idol
Four-armed, with Prahlada shown at the Lord's feet
The Temple View
On a forested hillock beside the Akshaya Theertham
Named after Bhargava Rama — better known as Parashurama — this fierce form of the Lord was revealed beside a sacred pond where the sixth avatar of Vishnu once performed penance to witness Narasimha's moment of triumph over Hiranyakashipu.
Bhargava Narasimha is shown four-armed — two hands holding the conch and discus, the other two tearing into the body of Hiranyakashipu — with Prahlada depicted at the Lord's feet and the ten avatars of Vishnu (Dasavataram) carved into the prabhai behind him. It is counted among the more fierce of the nine forms.
The shrine stands on a small, forested hillock about two kilometres from Lower Ahobilam, reached by an unpaved, rocky track best covered by local jeep or auto-rickshaw rather than a personal vehicle. Beside it lies the sacred Bhargava Theertham, also called Akshaya Theertham — a pond regarded as being on par with the Pushkara Tirtha.
Bhargava Narasimha's story is unusual among the nine shrines — it tells of one avatar of Vishnu seeking darshan of another, in the exact form he most wished to witness.
Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu and a descendant of Sage Bhrigu — hence his other name, Bhargava — undertook intense penance at this site, bathing daily in the sacred kunda that would later bear his name.
Pleased by his devotion, Lord Narasimha granted him darshan — but Parashurama asked to see the Lord exactly as he had appeared in the instant of tearing open Hiranyakashipu's chest, the peak moment of righteous fury.
Moved by the request, Narasimha chose to remain in Ahobilam forever in exactly that ferocious form — which is why Bhargava Narasimha is counted among the most intense of the nine manifestations.
Tradition holds that Sage Vasishtha and other sages also performed penance at this same site, drawn by the sanctity the pond and shrine had come to hold.
Devotees traditionally bathe in the Akshaya Theertham before entering the sanctum, a ritual said to purify the mind before darshan. Worship of Bhargava Narasimha after this bath is believed to bring Lakshmi Kara — the Lord's blessing of prosperity and well-being in every aspect of life.
Visit the meditative Karanja Narasimha nearby, or return to the full Nava Narasimha overview.