Best Religious places to see, places to worship, famous places to worship, popular places to worship
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Tirumala is encircled by a number of sacred water bodies and one of the pretty ponds is the Japali theertham. It is quite amazing that even though very beautiful, Japali Teertham is not so crowded like the other holy ponds. A superb location, where the deep woods and a lovely shrine in the name of Hanuman awaits you with awesome vistas. Every important and auspicious festival in the teertham will be held during the time of Kumaradhara Magha Pournami, Tumbhuru Phalguna Pournami, Ramakrishna Pushya Pournami, and Chakra Karthika Masa – Ksheerabdhi Dwadasi. A refreshing trek through the thick woods is really enchanting. Entire atmosphere is so pleasing that it looks like a Hindu mythological site. Devotees visiting Tirumala will never spare a holy bath in Japali Teertham, since it holds the belief that the sacred waters washes away all the sins and evils of the devotees.
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Another important teertham, which holds the holy myths of Lord Vishnu is Kumara Teertham. It is believed that Kumara Teertham is the place where Lord Vishnu took his penance after killing Tarakasura. There is another legend also is prevalent among the devotees. It goes on like this. An ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu had lost his way in the hillside while meditating and the lord appeared to him and asked him to take a dip in the nearby pond. After the holy dip the old man became a sixteen year old boy. After this incident the lake became famous as Kumara Teertham. The devotees strongly believe that a holy dip in Kumara Teertham would avail them with good fortunes.
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Another lovely pond that lies near to Sila thoranam, the Chakra theertham houses a temple with Swayambu lingam. Like all other sacred water bodies in Tirupati, this theertham also holds fabulous legends. It is popularly believed that lord Brahama selected this spot as a perfect location for observing repentance. And to cleanse the place lord Vishnu plunge his Sudarsana Chakram and the place where the Sudarsana Chakram fell on became a deep pit, which is popularly called as Chakra Theertham. It is believed that doing penance here would fetch the devotee the lotus feet of the Lord and so this has been turned as the popular spot in Tirupati.
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The Asthana Mandapam is the place where cultural programs are conducted under the auspices of Dharma Prachara Parishad. This auditorium is also known as Sadas Hall. It situates adjacent to the main temple complex. Asthana Mandapam serves as an elite podium of cultural extravaganzas like discourses, parayanam, bhajans, musical contrives, dance concerts, harikathas. All the programs are aimed for the spiritual and devotional enlightenment of the visitors and the devotees. For the first timers in Tirupathi Devasthanam, this Mandapam would be an apt spot for embarking their spiritual voyage.
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Akasaganga Theertham in Tirupati holds fabulous legends about its origin. One of the waterfalls found in the near surroundings of the main temple, this sacred torrent gains predominance over the others since all the rituals are conducted with the holy waters of this theertha. It situates just five kilometers away from the main temple and traditionally the Tirumala Nambi family is allowed to take water from the waterfall to the temple. Though there is an enormous legend about this lovely waterfall, which blooms to its zenith in the rainy season, the most prevalent among is the one that the lord himself had showed this waterfall to the person who used to bring water for his daily poojas. The gurgling waters of this stream make an awe inspiring scenery in rainy season. Apart from its pictorial visatas, the brook appears so tempting that one could not spare the desire to take a refreshing bath in the gushing stream. This holy theertha is found it’s rendering in the Vedas and it is believed that Akasa Ganga Teertham originates from the feet of the deity.
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Lies within the holy premises of lord Venketeswara, Swami Pushkarini Lake holds much religious significance. It is believed to be the holy pleasure lake of the almighty in Vaikuntha, where he takes his bathe along with his consorts. The popular belief is that Garuda brought this teertha and the water in the tank is holy, redolent, accordant and fortunate. This lake is regarded as so pure that it shares its credentials with ganges and all the sacred rivers. So a holy bathe in this tank would fetch the devotee with great fortune and temporal prosperity. Doing daily rituals and prayers on the banks of the Swamy pushkarini is believed to cure abnormalities of the body. The holy water tank Swami Pushkarini is assumed to wipe out sins and evils.
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Lord Balaji or Lord Venkateswara is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu himself on earth. His abode is on seven hills in Tirumala-Tirupati (the reason why Lord is also called Lord of Seven Hills). His abode is known as “Ananda Nilayam”
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A major visiting place and religious place for Muslims, Hazrathbal Mosque is situated near Vijayawada in Krishna district. Numerous devotees throng to this architectural marvel, the well-known worshiping place of the Muslims every year, specially on an occasion when a sacred relic of the Prophet Mohammed is displayed. The relics was shown only once a year. This occasion is believed as very holy and is the perfect time to offer the devotion. People believe that the mosque has special power to bless the devotees with goodness. This is a major muslim religious place not to be avoided in the tour program of any visitor.
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One of the major Hindu pilgrimage temples in and around Vijayawada, which attracts many people, is Sri Nagarala Sri Maha Lakshmi Ammavaru Temple. This is located in the region of Chitinagar in Vijayawada. With main deity as Maha Lakshmi, the temple is controlled and maintained by the community named Nagarala. The local folks believe that the goddess has miraculous powers and devotees are blessed with more comforts. Major festival observed here is Dusshera during which period thousands of devotees from in and around city visit this temple.
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Located in the Indrakeeladri hillock, Subramanya Swami temple overlooks the city of Vijayawada and the river Krishna, and is one of the most admired temples in Vijayawada. This temple, maintained by a famous family known as Iddipilli, has the special credit of having many regular devotees hailing from Tamil Nadu. Important day in this temple is Skanda Shashti festival and many thousands of devotees visit here during this time. It is also a famous tourist location due to the background settings of the picturesque Indrakeeladri hills.
