Panchamukhi Anjaneya

Panchmukhi Temple in Andhra Pradesh

This temple was constructed by King Harihara Bukka Raya of the Sangama Dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century. It was built according to Vaishnavaite traditions. One story of the site’s origin is as follows: The sage Agastya wanted to build a temple for Lord Venkateswara on this site. However, the statue that was made could not be installed as the toe nail of the idol got broken. The sage was upset over this and performed a penance for Shiva. When Shiva appeared, he said the place suits Shiva better as it resembles Kailash. Agastya then requested Shiva to give the devotees a Parvathi Goddess as Lord Uma Maheswara in a single stone, which Shiva obliged. A second story is as follows: Chitteppa, a devotee of Shiva, was worshiping Shiva and Shiva appeared to him as a tiger. Chitteppa understood that it was Lord Shiva in tiger form, and shouted Neganti Shivanu ne kanti (meaning: I saw Shiva I saw), and danced with joy. There is a cave called Chitteppa nearby. Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple is one of the few temples patronized by one of the great dynasties of India. Every year Maha Shivaratri is celebrated and a large number of devotees from all over Andhra Pradesh visit. Shiva, Parvati and Nandi are the main deities in this temple.This temple is 14 km away from Banaganipalli in kurnool dt. The saint lord Veerabrahmendra swami stayed here for some time and wrote Kalagnanam.

Sri Varahaswami Temple on the banks of Pushkarini is situated in the northern face of the Venkateshwara Temple in Tirumala. This temple depicts lord in his Varaha incarnation. Legends say that Varaha is the guardian of the hill and lord Venkateswara had to take permission from Lord Varaha to stay here in the hill. So it is customary that the devotees pay their tribute to Varaha before proceeding to Venkateswara. It is also a testamentary practice that Naivedyam should first be offered to Sri Varahaswami. Atri Samhita says that Varaha incarnation can be worshiped in three ways such as Adi Varaha, Pralaya Varaha and Yajna Varaha. The idol of Sri Varahaswami in Tirumala is that of Adi Varaha, which is seen as with his leg raised up and carries Bhumidevi in his arms. It reminds of the depiction of the Adi Varaha Murti in Vaikhanasa agama texts.

Another temple, which holds the Matsya incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Sri Veda Narayanaswami temple is situated in Nagalapuram. This place is 70 km southeast of Tirupati. This legendary temple holds the belief that Vishnu, in the form of Matsya, recovered the Vedas after killing Somakudu. The sanctum sanctorum is adorned by the Matsya form of the Lord with Sridevi and Bhudevi on each side. Sudarsana Chakra of the idol is portrayed in such a way that it is ready for release. This temple is the contribution of Krishnadevaraya Raya, a Vijayanagar emperor and it reflects the richness of Vijayanagar style of architecture. Temple premises holds numerous sub temples in the name of Sri Bhakta Anjaneyaswami, Sri Vedavalli Tayaru, Sri Veeranjaneya Swami, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami and Sri Sita Lakshmana Sameta Ramulavari.

So many natural watercourses whose divinity and sanctity dates back to vedic ages, Tirumala provides an ethereal appeal to the devotees. In one way or the other this torrential water course are connected with the legendary characters in the puranas. Tumburu teertham is not an exception to this common rule. It holds the story of Thumburu, a gandharva who cursed his wife for her laziness. As per this, the lady became a toad who had to survive in the pond till sage Augusthya came there with his disciples. While the great sage described the divinity of the pond to his disciples, the toad regained her Gandharva form and hence this teertham began to be called as Tumburu teertham.

This is the birth place of Satya Sai Baba

A banyan tree planted by Sai Baba in the serene premises of the Ashram is the meditation tree. It has gained much significance in the routine life of the inmates of the Ashram. A thick metal plate placed at the root of the tree is said to be materialized by Sai Baba to enhance the brooding spirit among those who contemplate here. This area is characterised as a special zone for meditation, which overlooks the lovely ambiance of the Ashram. There are separate areas for women and men and the former are not allowed to ponder under the tree after sunset and before sunrise. The surroundings of the tree are designated as a silent zone where the devotees spent hours in contemplation. It is believed that Banyan trees have the power to purify the surrounding air, almost all temples in South India houses a banyan tree in their premises.

Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple is the single most shiva temple in the midst of numerous Vishnu temples. It situates in the foothills of Tirumala, which is just three kilometers north to Tirupati. All important festivals such as Vinayaka Chathurthi, Maha Shivaratri and Annabhishekam and Brahmotsavam are being carried out here. A divine waterfall known as Kapila Teertham or the Alwar teertham makes the temple precincts more divine. This temple premises houses other temples of Sri Lakshminarayanaswamy, Sri Venugopalaswamy and Sri Vinayakaswamy. Since it is the only temple dedicated to the destroyer god, the devotees never spare to visit this holy abode while their pilgrimage in Tirupati.

A 10th century shrine constructed by the chola kings, Sri Kodanadaramaswami temple is dedicated to Sri Rama one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Lakshman and Sita flank the main deity. Stories say that the almighty Lord Rama along with his Goddess Sita and Lakshman made their stay sometime in this temple while their comeback from Ceylon. It is supposed that Narasimharaya Mudiliyar began the temple construction. The Garbha griha and antarala shows Vijayanagara influence while the cornice above the wall is decorated with Simhalalata gables. The Vimana with kuta, panjara, sala, panjara and kutaencompass are ekatala type structures. Above this tala, there is a phalaka containing lions in the four corners. Vertical ribbon in the shikhara belongs to the vesara order. The shikhara is round in shape and it holds a metal kalasa above it.