About this stotra
The Sri Ahobala Narasimha Stotram is a devotional hymn honoring Lord Narasimha as He manifests at the sacred hill shrine of Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh. Each verse concludes with the refrain vandē kr̥pānidhim ahōbala nārasiṁham — "I bow to Narasimha of Ahobilam, the treasury of compassion" — anchoring the prayer in both place and divine quality.
The stotram weaves together vivid imagery: the Lord glides like a royal swan upon the lotus-lake of Lakshmi's glances, His form gleams white as camphor and milk's essence, His limbs are adorned with jeweled armlets and earrings, and the full moon adorns His crown. He is praised as beginningless and endless, immeasurable, the primordial deity whose eyes are the sun, moon, and fire, and as one who humbles the pride of demons. The verses also honor Him as the beloved of Lakshmi and Bhudevi, wreathed in fresh tulasi leaves.
Recitation of this stotram is cherished by devotees of the Ahobilam temple and by those who seek the fierce yet compassionate protection of Narasimha, invoking His grace as an inexhaustible ocean of mercy.
Sri Ahobala Narasimha Stotram lyrics and meaning
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
लक्ष्मीकटाक्षसरसीरुहराजहंसं
पक्षीन्द्रशैलभवनं भवनाशमीशम् ।
गोक्षीरसार घनसारपटीरवर्णं
वन्दे कृपानिधिमहोबलनारसिंहम् ॥ १ ॥
lakṣmīkaṭākṣasarasīruharājahaṁsaṁ
pakṣīndraśailabhavanaṁ bhavanāśamīśam |
gōkṣīrasāra ghanasārapaṭīravarṇaṁ
vandē kr̥pānidhimahōbalanārasiṁham || 1 ||
I bow to Narasimha of Ahobilam, the treasury of compassion, who glides like a royal swan upon the lotus-lake of Lakshmi's graceful glances, who dwells upon the mountain of Garuda (Ahobila hill), the Lord who destroys the cycle of worldly existence, whose complexion is radiant like the essence of cow's milk, camphor, and sandalwood.
Word by word
- लक्ष्मी-कटाक्ष-सरसीरुह-राज-हंसं (lakṣmī-kaṭākṣa-sarasīruha-rāja-haṁsaṁ)
- the royal swan on the lotus-lake of Lakshmi's glances (lakṣmī:Lakshmi | kaṭākṣa:sidelong glance | sarasīruha:lotus | rāja-haṁsaṁ:royal swan)
- पक्षीन्द्र-शैल-भवनं (pakṣīndra-śaila-bhavanaṁ)
- whose abode is on the mountain of the king of birds (pakṣīndra:king of birds, Garuda | śaila:mountain | bhavanaṁ:abode)
- भव-नाशम् (bhava-nāśam)
- destroyer of worldly existence (bhava:worldly existence | nāśam:destroyer)
- ईशम् (īśam)
- the Lord
- गो-क्षीर-सार (gō-kṣīra-sāra)
- essence of cow's milk (gō:cow | kṣīra:milk | sāra:essence)
- घन-सार-पटीर-वर्णं (ghana-sāra-paṭīra-varṇaṁ)
- having the color of camphor and sandalwood (ghana-sāra:camphor | paṭīra:sandalwood | varṇaṁ:color)
- वन्दे (vandē)
- I bow, I salute
- कृपा-निधिम् (kr̥pā-nidhim)
- treasury of compassion (kr̥pā:compassion | nidhim:treasury)
- अहोबल-नारसिंहम् (ahōbala-nārasiṁham)
- Narasimha of Ahobilam (ahōbala:Ahobilam | nārasiṁham:Narasimha)
॥ २ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 2
आद्यन्तशून्यमजमव्ययमप्रमेयं
आदित्यचन्द्रशिखिलोचनमादिदेवम् ।
अब्जामुखाब्जमदलोलुपमत्तभृङ्गं
वन्दे कृपानिधिमहोबलनारसिंहम् ॥ २ ॥
ādyantaśūnyamajamavyayamapramēyaṁ
ādityacandraśikhilōcanamādidēvam |
abjāmukhābjamadalōlupamattabhr̥ṅgaṁ
vandē kr̥pānidhimahōbalanārasiṁham || 2 ||
I bow to Narasimha of Ahobala, the treasure-house of compassion — who is without beginning or end, unborn, imperishable, and beyond all measure; whose eyes are the sun, moon, and fire; who is the primordial deity; and who is like an intoxicated bee, ever drawn to the lotus face of Goddess Lakshmi.
Word by word
- आद्य-अन्त-शून्यम् (ādya-anta-śūnyam)
- without beginning or end (ādya:beginning | anta:end | śūnyam:devoid of)
- अजम् (ajam)
- unborn
- अव्ययम् (avyayam)
- imperishable
- अप्रमेयम् (apramēyam)
- immeasurable, beyond comprehension
- आदित्य-चन्द्र-शिखि-लोचनम् (āditya-candra-śikhi-lōcanam)
- whose eyes are the sun, moon, and fire (āditya:sun | candra:moon | śikhi:fire | lōcanam:eyes)
- आदिदेवम् (ādidēvam)
- the primordial deity (ādi:first | dēvam:god)
- अब्जा-मुख-अब्जम् (abjā-mukha-abjam)
- the lotus face of Lakshmi (abjā:lotus-born goddess | mukha:face | abjam:lotus)
- अद-लोलुप-मत्त-भृङ्गम् (ada-lōlupa-matta-bhr̥ṅgam)
- like an intoxicated bee eager to drink (ada:eating/drinking | lōlupa:eager | matta:intoxicated | bhr̥ṅgam:bee)
- वन्दे (vandē)
- I bow to
- कृपा-निधिम् (kr̥pā-nidhim)
- treasure of compassion (kr̥pā:compassion | nidhim:treasure)
- अहोबल-नारसिंहम् (ahōbala-nārasiṁham)
- Narasimha of Ahobala (ahōbala:Ahobala | nārasiṁham:Narasimha)
॥ ३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 3
कोटीरकोटिघटितोज्ज्वलकान्तिकान्तं
केयूरहारमणिकुण्डलमण्डिताङ्गम् ।
चूडाग्ररञ्जितसुधाकरपूर्णबिम्बं
वन्दे कृपानिधिमहोबलनारसिंहम् ॥ ३ ॥
kōṭīrakōṭighaṭitōjjvalakāntikāntaṁ
kēyūrahāramaṇikuṇḍalamaṇḍitāṅgam |
cūḍāgrarañjitasudhākarapūrṇabimbaṁ
vandē kr̥pānidhimahōbalanārasiṁham || 3 ||
I bow to Narasimha of Mahoba, the treasure-house of compassion, whose radiant beauty blazes forth from the rows of gems studding His crown, whose limbs are adorned with armlets, necklaces, jewels, and earrings, and upon whose crest shines the full orb of the moon in all its splendor.
Word by word
- कोटीर-कोटि-घटित-उज्ज्वल-कान्ति-कान्तम् (kōṭīra-kōṭi-ghaṭita-ujjvala-kānti-kāntam)
- beautiful with blazing radiance from rows of crown gems (kōṭīra:crown | kōṭi:multitude/rows | ghaṭita:studded | ujjvala:blazing | kānti:radiance | kāntam:beautiful one)
- केयूर-हार-मणि-कुण्डल-मण्डिताङ्गम् (kēyūra-hāra-maṇi-kuṇḍala-maṇḍita-aṅgam)
- whose limbs are adorned with armlets, necklaces, jewels, and earrings (kēyūra:armlets | hāra:necklace | maṇi:jewels | kuṇḍala:earrings | maṇḍita:adorned | aṅgam:limbs)
- चूडाग्र-रञ्जित-सुधाकर-पूर्ण-बिम्बम् (cūḍā-agra-rañjita-sudhākara-pūrṇa-bimbam)
- with the full moon orb beautifying the crest (cūḍā:crest | agra:tip | rañjita:beautified | sudhākara:moon | pūrṇa:full | bimbam:orb)
- वन्दे (vandē)
- I bow to
- कृपानिधिम् (kr̥pā-nidhim)
- treasure of compassion (kr̥pā:compassion | nidhim:treasure)
- अहोबल-नारसिंहम् (ahōbala-nārasiṁham)
- Narasimha of Ahobala/Mahoba (ahōbala:Ahobala/Mahoba | nārasiṁham:Narasimha)
॥ ४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 4
वराहवामननृसिंहसुभाग्यमीशं
क्रीडाविलोलहृदयं विबुधेन्द्रवन्द्यम् ।
हंसात्मकं परमहंसमनोविहारं
वन्दे कृपानिधिमहोबलनारसिंहम् ॥ ४ ॥
varāhavāmananr̥siṁhasubhāgyamīśaṁ
krīḍāvilōlahr̥dayaṁ vibudhēndravandyam |
haṁsātmakaṁ paramahaṁsamanōvihāraṁ
vandē kr̥pānidhimahōbalanārasiṁham || 4 ||
I bow to the Lord of Ahobala Narasimha, the treasure-house of compassion, who is the auspicious master manifesting as Varaha, Vamana, and Narasimha — whose heart delights playfully in divine sport, who is worshipped by Indra and all the celestial lords, who is the essence of Hamsa (the Supreme Swan), and who dwells in the minds of the highest realized sages.
Word by word
- वराह-वामन-नृसिंह (varāha-vāmana-nr̥siṁha)
- Varaha, Vamana, and Narasimha (varāha:boar incarnation | vāmana:dwarf incarnation | nr̥siṁha:man-lion incarnation)
- सुभाग्यम् (subhāgyam)
- most auspicious, fortunate
- ईशं (īśaṁ)
- the Lord, master
- क्रीडा-विलोल-हृदयं (krīḍā-vilōla-hr̥dayaṁ)
- whose heart delights in playful sport (krīḍā:play | vilōla:moving to and fro, delighting | hr̥dayam:heart)
- विबुध-इन्द्र-वन्द्यम् (vibudha-indra-vandyam)
- worshipped by Indra and the gods (vibudha:the wise ones, gods | indra:Indra | vandyam:worthy of worship)
- हंस-आत्मकं (haṁsa-ātmakaṁ)
- having the nature of Hamsa, the Supreme Swan (haṁsa:swan, Supreme Self | ātmakam:having the nature of)
- परमहंस-मनो-विहारं (paramahaṁsa-manō-vihāraṁ)
- who sports in the minds of the highest sages (paramahaṁsa:supreme realized souls | manaḥ:mind | vihāram:dwelling, sporting)
- वन्दे (vandē)
- I bow, I worship
- कृपा-निधिम् (kr̥pā-nidhim)
- treasure-house of compassion (kr̥pā:compassion | nidhim:treasure, repository)
- अहोबल-नारसिंहम् (ahōbala-nārasiṁham)
- Narasimha of Ahobala (ahōbala:Ahobala | nārasiṁham:man-lion Lord)
॥ ५ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 5
मन्दाकिनीजननहेतुपदारविन्दं
बृन्दारकालयविनोदनमुज्ज्वलाङ्गम् ।
मन्दारपुष्पतुलसीरचिताङ्घ्रिपद्मं
वन्दे कृपानिधिमहोबलनारसिंहम् ॥ ५ ॥
mandākinījananahētupadāravindaṁ
br̥ndārakālayavinōdanamujjvalāṅgam |
mandārapuṣpatulasīracitāṅghripadmaṁ
vandē kr̥pānidhimahōbalanārasiṁham || 5 ||
I worship that Narasimha of Ahobilam, the treasure house of compassion, whose lotus feet are the cause of the origin of the celestial Ganga, whose radiant form delights the abode of the gods, and whose lotus feet are adorned with mandara flowers and tulasi leaves.
Word by word
- मन्दाकिनी-जनन-हेतु-पद-अरविन्दम् (mandākinī-janana-hētu-pada-aravindam)
- whose lotus feet are the cause of the birth of the Ganga (mandākinī:celestial Ganga | janana:birth | hētu:cause | pada:feet | aravindam:lotus)
- बृन्दारक-आलय-विनोदनम् (br̥ndāraka-ālaya-vinōdanam)
- who delights the abode of the gods (br̥ndāraka:gods | ālaya:abode | vinōdanam:delighting)
- उज्ज्वल-अङ्गम् (ujjvala-aṅgam)
- having a radiant body (ujjvala:radiant | aṅgam:body)
- मन्दार-पुष्प-तुलसी-रचित-अङ्घ्रि-पद्मम् (mandāra-puṣpa-tulasī-racita-aṅghri-padmam)
- whose lotus feet are adorned with mandara flowers and tulasi (mandāra:mandara tree | puṣpa:flower | tulasī:tulasi | racita:adorned | aṅghri:feet | padmam:lotus)
- वन्दे (vandē)
- I worship
- कृपा-निधिम् (kr̥pā-nidhim)
- the treasure of compassion (kr̥pā:compassion | nidhim:treasure)
- अहोबल-नारसिंहम् (ahōbala-nārasiṁham)
- Narasimha of Ahobilam (ahōbala:Ahobilam | nārasiṁham:Narasimha)
॥ ६ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 6
तारुण्यकृष्णतुलसीदलधामरम्यं
धात्रीरमाभिरमणं महनीयरूपम् ।
मन्त्राधिराजमथदानवमानभृङ्गं
वन्दे कृपानिधिमहोबलनारसिंहम् ॥ ६ ॥
tāruṇyakr̥ṣṇatulasīdaladhāmaramyaṁ
dhātrīramābhiramaṇaṁ mahanīyarūpam |
mantrādhirājamathadānavamānabhr̥ṅgaṁ
vandē kr̥pānidhimahōbalanārasiṁham || 6 ||
I worship the compassionate treasure, Ahobala Narasimha, whose divine abode is delightful with fresh dark tulasi leaves, who is the beloved of Lakshmi and the Earth Goddess, whose form is most magnificent, who is the supreme king of all mantras, and who is like a bee humbling the pride of demons.
Word by word
- तारुण्य-कृष्ण-तुलसी-दल-धाम-रम्यम् (tāruṇya-kr̥ṣṇa-tulasī-dala-dhāma-ramyam)
- beautiful with fresh dark tulasi leaves as abode (tāruṇya:freshness/youth | kr̥ṣṇa:dark | tulasī:tulasi | dala:leaf | dhāma:abode | ramyam:beautiful/delightful)
- धात्री-रमा-अभिरमणम् (dhātrī-ramā-abhiramaṇam)
- the beloved of Earth and Lakshmi (dhātrī:Earth Goddess | ramā:Lakshmi | abhiramaṇam:one who delights)
- महनीय-रूपम् (mahanīya-rūpam)
- of magnificent form (mahanīya:worthy of worship/magnificent | rūpam:form)
- मन्त्र-अधिराजम् (mantra-adhirājam)
- supreme king of mantras (mantra:mantra | adhirājam:supreme king)
- अथ (atha)
- and/moreover
- दानव-मान-भृङ्गम् (dānava-māna-bhr̥ṅgam)
- bee to the pride of demons (dānava:demon | māna:pride | bhr̥ṅgam:bee)
- वन्दे (vandē)
- I worship
- कृपा-निधिम् (kr̥pā-nidhim)
- treasure of compassion (kr̥pā:compassion | nidhim:treasure)
- अहोबल-नारसिंहम् (ahōbala-nārasiṁham)
- Narasimha of Ahobala (ahōbala:Ahobala | nārasiṁham:Narasimha)
॥ ७ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 7
इति श्री अहोबल नृसिंह स्तोत्रम् ॥
iti śrī ahōbala nr̥siṁha stōtram ||
Thus concludes the sacred hymn to Lord Narasimha of Ahobila.
Word by word
- इति (iti)
- thus
- श्री (śrī)
- sacred, auspicious
- अहोबल (ahōbala)
- Ahobila, the sacred hill
- नृसिंह (nr̥siṁha)
- Narasimha, the man-lion form of Vishnu
- स्तोत्रम् (stōtram)
- hymn of praise
ॐ
