Ahobila Matam is a Sri Vaishnava religious institution establsihed 600 years ago in a place called Ahobilam by Srimad Athivan Satakopan. He was originally known as Kidambi Srinivasachar. He was a student under Gadikasadam Ammal in Kanchipuram. One day, the Lord of Ahobilam, Sri Lakshminrisimha, appeared in Srinivasachar's dream and instructed him to come to the temple town of Ahobilam. After consulting with his Acharya, he proceeded to Ahobilam. At Ahobilam, the Lord himself initiated Srinivasachar into Sanyasam (monasticism) and gave him the title, "Satakopa Jeeyar". (Later, Lord Athippiran of Azhvar Thirunagari added the title Van and Nammazhvar added the title Athi. Thus the Jeeyar came be be known as "Athivan Satakopan".).

Then, one of the nine Nrisimhas of Ahobilam called Malolan jumped into the hands of Athivan Satakopan (see picture on the right) and ordered him to travel the length and breadth of the country. Thus began the institution called Sri Ahobila Matam and the travels of Lord Malolan to village after village so that devotees get a chance to undertake Pancha Samskaram and perform Bhara Nyasam at the lotus feet of the Lord.

SRI VAISHNAVAM

Sri Vaishnavam is the true religion of the Vedas drawing authority from the Prastana Thraiyam, namely, Upanishads, Brahmma Sutra, and Bhagavath Geetha.In addition to the Prastana Thraiyam, Sri Vaishnavas consider the Tamil hymns of twelve saints called Azhvars as equal in authority to that of the Vedas. These hymns are called the Dhivya Prabhandham. The teachings found in Dhivya Prabhandham are completely consistent with the teachings of the Prastana Thraiyam. Therefore, Sri Vaishnavas consider the Dhivya Prabhandhams to be equal in status to the Vedas. For this reason, Sri Vaishnavas are called Ubhaya Vedantis.

The travels thus started 600 years ago continues to this very day. A succession of forty-five ascetics known as Azhagiya Singar have headed Sri Ahobila Matam. They have all taken Lord Malolan to the people. The unique tradition of the Lord traveling to the houses of His devotees continues. The present Jeeyar, who is the 46th in succession, has traveled the length and breadth of the country several times.

Shastras tell us that the Acharya should be as much the object of our worship as the Lord Himself - Devamiva Acharyam Upaaseeta. Just as Stotras are composed on the Lord, it is quite usual to offer tributes in poetry and prose to the Acharya too.

Srimad Azhagiasingar is not only a Maal Uganda Asiriyar (Acharya dear to the Lord), but a Mahangal Uganda Asiriyar (Acharya appreciated by mahans and sages) too. Not only now, but in his poorvashrama too, Srimad Azhagiasingar was an excellent Acharya, having imparted Vedic wisdom to numerous students. Shastras are emphatic that for those born into the Vedic tradition, it is the Acharya who teaches the Vedas who is the Prime Preceptor:

The term Guru is a generic word, referring to anyone who dispels ignorance and imparts wisdom, in any subject. However, an Acharya performs the much more exalted role of blessing us with the wisdom of Vedas and Vedantas, leading to our eventual emancipation. This is why an Acharya is held to be the best among Gurus - Acharya: sreshto guroonaam. This way, Srimad Azhagiasingar has been an exalted Acharya right from his poorvashrama.

The Gitacharya tells us that reciting the Vedas by itself constitutes tapas or penance. Only through constant repetition of Vedas during the process of learning can the divine Shruti be committed to memory and even thereafter, only through constant practice and through parayanam can the memory be retained. Having constantly engaged in this holy endeavour, first by learning all the Vedas himself, through constant parayanam and by imparting these sacred texts to innumerable students, Srimad Azhagiasingar is indeed a tapasvi (adept at penance) of a very high order.