HINDHU TEMPLES IN ANDRAPRADESH

LAXMI NARSIMHA SWAMY TEMPLE IN YADAGIRIRUTTA

RAJA RAJESHWARA SWAMY TEMPLE IN VEMULAWADA

VENKATESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE IN THIRUPATHI

LORD SHIVA TEMPLE IN KALAHASTHI

MUKTHESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE IN KALESWARAM

VINAYAKA SWAMY TEMPLE IN KANIPAKAM

SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY TEMPLE IN MANTRALAYAM

MAHANANDHI TEMPLE IN MAHANANDHI

RAMAPPA TEMPLE IN RAMAPPA

LEPAKSHI TEMPLE IN ANANTHAPURAM

KANAKADURGA MAATHA TEMPLE IN VIJAYAWADA

KAPILA THIRTHAM NEAR THIRUPATHI

ANJANEYA SWAMY TEMPLE IN KONDAGATTU

BHIMESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE IN DRAKSHARAMAM

DEVIPURAM TEMPLE NEAR VIZAG

CHILUKURU BALAJI TEMPLE

BIRLA MANDHIR IN HYDERABAD

SRIRAMA TEMPLE IN BHADRACHALAM

BADHRAKALI TEMPLE IN WARANGAL

SARASWATHI MATHA TEMPLE IN BASARA

SATYANARAYANA SWAMY TEMPLE IN ANNAVARAM

ASHTA LAXMI TEMPLE IN HYDERABAD

ANJANEYA SWAMY TEMPLE IN ARDHAGIRI

SURYA NARAYANA SWAMY TEMPLE IN ARASAVALLY

AMARESHWARA SWAMY TEMPLE IN AMARAVATHI

LORD NARASIMHA SWAMY TEMPLE IN AHOBILAM

laxmi sametha narasimha swami temple in yadagiri gutta

What to see : Lakshmi Narasimha Swami temple, shrines of the goddess Andal or Goda Devi, Anjaneya, the five Alwars, Ramalingeswara Swamy and the pushkarini.

Just 60 kilometers from Hyderabad is Yadagirigutta where of the holy shrine of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami is located. Quite a pleasant drive on a now being widened national highway running most of the way parallel to the rail track from Secunderabad to Khazipet, Yadagirigutta is closest to Raigiri Railway station which is only 6 km away.

Yadagirigutta is the abode of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy which is visited by many a people from neighboring towns as well as from neighboring states. It is a big draw with the people from twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

LEGEND

The town acquired its name and fame from a sage called Yadarishi, son of the great sage Rishyasrunga who did penance inside a cave with the blessings of Anjaneya on this hill between Bhongir and Raigiri in Nalgonda district. Pleased with his deep devotion, Lord Narasimha (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) appeared before him in five different forms as Jwala, Yogananda, Gandabherunda, Ugra and Lakshminarasimha. They later manifested themselves into finely sculpted forms that later came to be worshipped as Panchanarasimha Kshetram. As the legend goes, the Lord appeared first as Jwala Narasimha (Lord as a flame), when Yadarishi was unable to face the intensity of this apparition, he appeared in a peaceful form as Yoganarasimha (Lord in a Yogic Padmasana posture with open palms on the knees). Not satisfied with the Lord appearing alone, Yadarishi sought to see him with this consort, so he is said to have appeared with Lakshmi on his lap', known as Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy and as being worshipped by Alwars, his ardent devotees. To see these three forms one has to go through an entrance that narrows itself into a dark cave which in fact is surmised as the urga (fiery) form of Narasimha (the fourth form) because it was beyond the strength of a sage to see that form and gandabherunda ( the garuda pakshi or the eagle) is the fifth form of the Lord which is said to have been found sculpted in rock underneath the Anjaneya, known as 'Kshetrapalaka' (or the one who ruled over that hill). All these forms are known as " swayambhu" or self emanated. Yadarishi is said to have been granted his wish that the place where the Lord appeared will be known by his name as Yadagiri (giri means hill in Sanskrit, and gutta which means a hillock in Telugu seems to have been a latter-day suffix) and that Lord Lakshmi Narasimha will be worshipped for many years to come.

According to the puranas, Lord Narasimha after killing the demon Hiranyakashyapa gave darshan to his ardent devotee Bhakta Prahlada in a cave situated on a hill which of course was not called Yadagiri. But Lord Narasimha was believed to have been worshipped by sages (rushis). But the region of Yadagirigutta has been reputed to be a "Rushi Aradhana Kshetram" or the place of worship for sages.

Ever since, this ancient temple has attracted thousands of pilgrims throughout the year not only from this state but also from other states of the country. As the belief goes, Lord Narasimha has taken on the role of a doctor" at this shrine to cure many chronic diseases and the role of a 'do gooder' to those who are under the influence of bad planets, witch craft and black magic. Many instances are cited of the Lord appearing in the dreams of the devotees, and administering medicines and operated the patients and blessed them with good health.

Mythological & Historical

Sri Maha Vishnu Came from out of the pillar as per the desire of Bhakta Prahladha and killed Hiranya Kashyapa,who is father of Prahladha ,who is beloved devotee of Maha Vishnu.

In Ancient days Sri Yada Maharshi son of Sri Rushyashrunga Maharshi with the Blessings of Anjaneya Swamy had performed great penance for Lord Narasimha Swamy. After securing blessing for his penance Lord Narasimha had come into existence in Five Avatharas called as Sri Jwala Narasimha, Sri Yogananda Narasimha, Sri Ugra Narasimha, Sri Gandaberunda Narasimha, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. As such this is known as “Pancha Narasimha Kshetram”. The devotees who worship this deity with devotion, the problems faced by them in regarding their “Graha”, the difficulties through evil spirits and their all mental problems are being cured by the God & Godess. All the difficulties faced by the devotees are being cured through herbal medicines like fruits, flowers and Tulasi Teertham. The devotees who believe the Lord. He is appearing to them in their dreams and conducting operations also.

Raja Rajeswara swamy temple at vemulavada

Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Devasthanam is located in the town Vemulawada, which is in the Karimnagar district .
Devotees who travel by train to this place are usually get down at Warangal/Kazipet,Hyderabad, from where there are number of buses available to reach Vemulawada in approx. 4 to 5 hours.

Sri Raja Rajeshwara Kshetram (holy place) is one of the most sacred spots in the southern part of the India. There are many evidences of inscriptions on stone to provide information of historical, political, religious, cultural and greatness of this holy place. The greatness of this sacred place came with the very existence of Sri Raja Rajeshwara swamy Suyambulingam, which is ancient than the Vemulawada village.

Once upon a time god Indra went to many holy places after he killed Vrithasura and still could not purify his life. Then he took the advice from the guru of gods, Bruhaspathi to visit Sri Raja Rajeshwara kshetram. There he took the holy dip in dharma-gundam and took the blessings of lord Sri Raja Rajeshwara and ruled a golden age of the history. By this ancient story, history gives us the evidence of existence of lord Sri Raja Rajeshwara in Krita yuga.

Another historical story about how the dharma-gundam was built. Once upon a time a king named Sri Raja Raja Narendra came to this place while hunting wild animals. But accidentally he killed a Brahmin boy with an arrow while the boy was drinking water from a pond. Then with the curse of Brahma hatya he got an incurable disease and went on pilgrimage to many holy places and returned back to this place. One day he drank the holy water from the dharma gundam and slept the night praying the lord Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy. In his dreams lord shiva asked him, that to take lord’s existence, the lingam from the dharma-gundam and put in a temple.

When the king woke up in the morning he found that his incurable disease got cured. Then he built steps to the dharma gundam and cleaned lord Sri Raja Rajeshwara swamy lingam and built a temple on the hill to keep the lingam inside the temple. But while he was sleeping in the night holy sidhas came and established the gods idol inside the temple. When king was worried about missing the chance to establish the shiva linga, god came in to this dreams and promised that kings name will be associated with the place forever.

It is been said in many mythologies that Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy lingam existed in Krita Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dwapara Yuga. And this holy place was visited and praised by many holy persons in Indian ancient history and got never ending importance in holy pilgrimage. Even though the main deity is Lord Shiva at this place, Sri Kodanda Rama Swamy Aalayam, Sri Ananta Padma Nabha Swamy Aalayam are also have the importance from long time for many pilgrims. Because of that reason this place is also called as “ Hari Hara Khestram”.

Main Temple

First of all pilgrims take holy dip in dharma gundam. Then enter the temple from main entrance and visit Bala Rajeshwara and Koti Lingas. Then they proceed further visiting Lord Uma Maheshwara, Lord Someshwara, Goddess Bala Tripura Sundari Devi, Lord Shanmukha, Lord Dakshina Murthy, Lord Chandikeshwara and other deities. Proceed further to visit Nandishwara in the north side of Sri Raja Rajeshwara Temple and enter the main temple from north side. Here pilgrims will find Sri Laxmi Ganapathi statue in north-east part of the temple.Facing south-side is the importance of the Ganapathy statue.

After visiting and offering prayers and abhishekam to Lord Sri Raja Rajeshwara pilgrims proceed further to visit Sri Parvathi Devi. Parvathi Devi statue is located in south side of the temple. The other name of this goddess is “Varaahi”.

After completing prayers at Sri Parvathi Devi, pilgrims visit Sri Parvathi Raja Rajeshwara SwamyLaxmi Sameta Padmanaba swamy’s festiv idols in the glass house located in the south side of the main temple. and

Then devotees visit Sri Ananta padmanabha swamy and Sri Ramachandra swamy temple and take their blessings and come out of it and go around the temple and complete the visit to temple.

Thirumala venkateswara swamy

The town of Tirupati is one of the most ancient and spectacular places of pilgrimage in India. It is situated in the Chittoor district in southern Andhra Pradesh. The town owes its existence to the sacred temple of Lord Sri Venkateswara situated on the Tirumala Hill adjoining it. With a history that dates back to over twelve centuries, the temple is the jewel in the crown of ancient places of worship in southern India.

The Tirumala Hill is 3200 ft above sea level, and is about 10.33 sq miles in area. It comprises seven peaks, representing the seven hoods of Adisesha, thus earning the name, Seshachalam. The seven peaks are called Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrishabhadri, Narayanadri and Venkatadri.

The sacred temple of sri venkateswara is located on the seventh peak, Venkatadri (Venkata Hill), and lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini. There are several legends associated with the manifestation of the Lord in Tirumala.

The name Tirupati, meaning the ‘the Lord of Lakshmi’ should have been appropriately applied to the village on the Venkata Hill, the abode of the Lord. However, it has been popularly assigned to the Municipal town at the foot of the Hill, while the village around the Hill near His temple is called Tirumala (the Sacred Hill).

There is ample literary and epigraphic testimony to the antiquity of the temple of Lord Sri Venkateswara.

All the great dynasties of rulers of the southern peninsula have paid homage to Lord Sri Venkateswara in this ancient shrine. The Pallavas of Kancheepuram (9th century AD), the Cholas of Thanjavur (a century later), the Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings and chieftains of Vijayanagar (14th - 15th century AD) were devotees of the Lord and they competed with one another in endowing the temple with rich offerings and contributions.

It was during the rule of the Vijayanagar dynasty that the contributions to the temple increased. Sri Krishnadevaraya had statues of himself and his consorts installed at the portals of the temple, and these statues can be seen to this day. There is also a statue of Venkatapati Raya in the main temple.

After the decline of the Vijayanagar dynasty, nobles and chieftains from all parts of the country continued to pay their homage and offer gifts to the temple. The Maratha general, Raghoji Bhonsle, visited the temple and set up a permanent endowment for the conduct of worship in the temple. He also presented valuable jewels to the Lord, including a large emerald which is still preserved in a box named after the General. Among the later rulers who have endowed large amounts are the rulers of Mysore and Gadwal.

After the fall of the Hindu kingdoms, the Muslim rulers of Karnataka and then the Britishers took over, and many of the temples came under their supervisory and protective control.

In 1843 AD, the East India Company divested itself of the direct management of non-Christian places of worship and native religious institutions. The administration of the shrine of Sri Venkateswara and a number of estates were then entrusted to Sri Seva Dossji of the Hatiramji Mutt at Tirumala, and the temple remained under the administration of the Mahants for nearly a century, till 1933 AD.

In 1933, the Madras Legislature passed a special act, which empowered the THIRUMALA THIRUPATHI DEVASTHANAM (TTD) Committee to control and administer a fixed group of temples in the Tirumala-Tirupati area, through a Commissioner appointed by the Government of Madras.

In 1951, the Act of 1933 was replaced by an enactment whereby the administration of TTD was entrusted to a Board of Trustees, and an Executive Officer was appointed by the Government .

The provisions of the Act of 1951 were retained by Charitable and Religious Endowments Act, 1966.

Lord shivas temple kalahasthi

Sri Kalahasti temple, situated 36 km away is famous for its Vayudeva temple, which is the only shrine of the god of wind in India. Constructed in the 12th century by the Chola king, Rajarajendra, Vayu is incarnated as Lord Shiva and worshipped as Kalahasteeswara.

This is an important temple dedicated to Lord Siva. This temple has one of the elemental lingas, the vayu (air) linga. There is a lamp inside the inner sanctum that is constantly flickering despite the lack of air movement inside. The air-linga can be observed to move even when the pujaris close off the entrance to the main Deity room, which does not have any windows. You can see the flames on several ghee lamps flicker as if blown by moving air. The linga is white and is considered Swayambhu, or self-manifested.

Kalahasti is surrounded by two sacred hills. The Durgamba temple is on the northern hill. On the south hill there is the shrine of Kannabeswara, in memory of the Sage Kannappa, who offered an eye to the Lord. When he tried to offer his other eye as well, the Lord mercifully stopped him. There is also a temple dedicated to Subramanya on one of the surrounding hills.

The main linga is untouched by human hands, even by the priest. Abhisheka (bathing) is done by pouring a mixture of water, milk, camphor, and panchamrita. Sandal paste, flowers and the sacred thread are offered to the utsava-murti, not the main linga.

This temple is one of the most impressive Siva temples in India. It features an enormous, ancient gopuram (tower) over the main gate. The tower is 36.5m (120 feet) high. The entire temple is carved out of the side of a huge stone hill. It was built in1516 by King Krishnadeva Raya.

The temple is run by neatly dressed Saivite Brahmins, who conduct the worship of the various deities inside. Inside the temple you will find the tremendously ornate and splendid architecture that South India is famous for. Elaborately designed pillars, altars, and paraphernalia abound.

Temple story

The main linga is in the shape of an elephant trunk, with tusks on each side and a figure of a spider at the bottom. If you look at the linga from the top it looks like a snake with five hoods. The spider is call "Sri," the snake "Kala," and the elephant "Hasti." The three names combine together in the name Srikalahasti.

It is said that the spider wove a web above the linga to protect it from the sun and rain. The elephant would get water with its trunk and bath the linga (perform abhisheka) and the snake would also worship the Lord. One day the snake found some bilva leaves and water near the Lord. He thought that someone was trying to harm the Lord, so he surrounded the Lord to protect him. When the elephant came the next day to worship the Lord the snake through he was trying to harm the Lord so he got into his trunk. Unable to handle the pain, the elephant dashed his trunk against the linga killing both the snake and the spider. The elephant also died at this time. Lord Siva being satisfied by their devotion, gave liberation to his three devotees.

THE BEUTY OF THE TEMPLE

The main temple is dedicated to Lord Siva, the destroyer among the Trimurthies (Triumverates).

The linga here is identified as one of the Panchabhutalingas (the five lingas made up of the five elements of the universe) - wind, water, fire, earth and ether. The linga at Srikalahasti is Vayulinga or one made up of wind.

Jalalinga, the Linga made up of water, at Jambukeswara, Jyothirlinga, the linga made up of fire, at Arunachalam, Akshalinga, the Linga made up of ether, at Chidambaram, and Prithvilinga, the Linga made up of earth, at Sivakanchi - are the other four Lingas made up of the other four elements of the universe.

The skillful Yadava architecture of the temple is such that a flame flickers continuously in the sanctum sanctorum, indicating the presence of a shaft of wind near the deity !

Since the shaft of air that is present in the sanctum sanctorum is considered as the Linga or the main deity (Vayulinga), there is another idol, Srikalahastiswara Linga - on to which are embedded images of a spider, snake and elephant - to which the priest performs pooja and rituals.

The Tondaman emperor and later the Pallava rulers contributed to the growth of the temple environs. After Pallavas, the Cholas remodelled the temple premises and built huge walls around it.

The vast temple campus is a maze of intricate structures, and one is likely to loose one's way without a guide. The temple of Srikalahasti has four major entrances each with a huge tower.

There is an "Alms Tower" or Bichchala Gopuram, as it is commonly called. It is a smaller tower constructed by the Yadava kings by collecting alms and hence it got the name.

The breathtakingly huge compound has a large flower garden, rooms for making garlands, eating places and a place for Vasanthotsavam (festival of colors) during Holi in the names of Chookkeswara and Meenakshi - coupling devotion with pleasure.

In the temple compound, there is an underground temple for Ganesh and an entrance leading to the Kannappa Hill.

Since the entrance is dark and it takes a while to go to Kannappa Hill and get back, it is better to plan the trek for the Kannappa hill for the morning.

LEGENDS OF THE SPIDER, SERPENT AND ELEPHANT
Once there was a spider which was a great devotee of Lord Shiva, which expressed its devotion by spinning webs in the shape of temple and Mantapams to Lord Siva, Ganesh, Kumaraswamy (Kartik) and Nandi.

The morning dew drops would make the cobwebs look like pearl houses and sunrays on the dew drops would make them shine like rubies. But all this would break and crumble with the blowing of the wind. The spider would connect the broken threads and weave the web all over again.

One day Siva, to test the spider's devotion, burned all the spider webs with the lamp that was shining near His shrine. The enraged spider swallowed the flame and sacrificed its life. Siva, pleased with its unswerving devotion, offered it a boon. And what did the spider ask the God ? To free it from further births!

Siva merged it into Himself. One can still see the spider on the Linga!

Legend of the serpent (kala) and the elephant (hasti)

Once there was a serpent which used to worship the Siva Linga with precious gems. An elephant, also a devotee of Lord Siva, used to bathe in the nearby Swarnamukhi river, push away all the precious gems and worship the linga with leaves and flowers from the forest.

The next day the snake, finding her precious offerings pushed away, gets enraged. It would push away the leaves and flowers and worship the Linga with the precious gems it brought from underground.

Next day the elephant would push away the gems and worship it with leaves and flowers. This continued for a while. One day the snake got upset and kept a watch hiding under the leaves all night, waiting to catch the mischief maker.

The elephant also lost its temper finding her offerings pushed away day after day. One day it came early and was pleased to find the flowers left undistrubted. It went and took bath in the river and brought fresh flowers and leaves for pooja (worship). While the elephant was clearing the previous day's leaves and flowers, the snake got into the elephant's head through its trunk, causing unbearable pain to the elephant. The elephant ran helter-skelter with pain and banged its head to a mountain. His head split and the elephant died. The snake was crushed to death too. Lord Siva took them into his fold.

That is how all the three creatures, accursed to be born on earth, can be seen on the linga at Srikalahasti.

mukteshwara swmy temple in kaleshwaram

Kaleshwaram is a holy place located exactly at the merging point of the River Pranahita (tributary of Godavari) with the Godavari River. Nerest town to this village is Manthani of Karimnagar district in Andhra Pradesh. Kaleshwaram is also famous as Manthrakuta. Mukteshwaraswamy Temple made Kaleshwaram a sacred place. The temple located in Kaleshwaram (Mukteshwara Swamy) is considered as one of the three Jyotirlingas in Andhra Pradesh and hosts two shivlingas. Significance of Mukteshwara Swamy Temple: This ancient temple holds a unique significance as two Shiva Lingas found on a single pedestal. Saint Gautamashram, the hermitage of Saint Gautama, is well connected from here by road. Bounded by forests, Kaleshwaram is an ideal tourist destination. Mancherial Railway station is located at 40 km from Kaleshwaram. Beside several temples constructed here, one temple is dedicated to Lord Brahma. Sources said that this is the only Brahma Temple in South India. Sri Mukteswara Swamy is known for his miracles as he removes sins of his devotees and make them happy with guiding them towards Mukthi (spiritual life). Thus, the Lord here is called as Mukteswara Swamy. In Kaleswaram, the main festivals celebrated are – Mahashivarathri Kalyanam and Durga Devi Navratri (Sharan Navarathrulu). How to reach Kaleshwaram? Devotees can easily reach Kaleshwaram by bus. It is situated in Karimnagar distrcit and at a distance of 110 kms from Warangal and 130 kms from Karimnagar. Kaleshwaram is well connected by road even from Hyderabad as it is about 250 kms from Hyderabad. By train, devotees can reach through Mancherial, which is 40 kms from Kaleshwaram. Other temples and holy places near Kaleshwaram are: Manthani – Lord Gautameswara Temple vemulavada-lord raja rajeswara swamy Dharmapuri – Lord Narasimha Swamy Temple Kondagattu – Lord Hanuman Temple

vinayaka swamy in kanipakam

Kanipakam is a small village on the bank of Bahuda River.

"Kani" means wetland and "Pakam" means flow of water into wetland. According to the legend of the temple there were three brothers and each one had a handicap. Viz., Dumb, Deaf and Blind. They were earning out their livelihood by cultivating a small piece of land.

In olden days water was drawn from the well by way of 'Piccota System'. As one of them used to irrigate the field through the channels, the other two used to ply on the Piccota. On one such operation they found that the water in the well got dried up and they could no longer continue their job. One of them got into the well and started digging it up. He was taken aback to see the iron implement hitting a stone like formation.
Later, he was shocked to see blood oozing out from it. Within in a few seconds the entire water in the well, turned blood red in colour. Thus, startled by this divine sight, all the three became normal getting rid of their deformities. As soon as the villagers came to know about this miracle, they thronged to the well and tried to deepen the well further. But their attempt proved futile because the 'swayambhu' idol (the self-manifested) of Lord Vinayaka emerged from the swirling waters.
Ultimately they offered many number of coconuts with all prayers- modesty kneeling before the new idol afford “MAGALHARATHI” etc. They declared the ideal of “SWAYAMBHU” and tendered number of coconuts. The coconuts water flowed into the channel to a distance of more than one and a quarter acres. The indication of this led to the modification in the usage of the Tamil word “KANIPARAKAM” and later pronounced as KANIPAKAM. Even today the idol is in the original well and the springs of the well are perennial and the eternal. During the rainy season, the holy water from the well overflows even today.
Another striking and strange feature of the idol is that it is still growing in size. At present, we can see the knees and the abdomen of the idol. Smt. Lakshmamma, an ardent devotee had offered a 'Kavacham' (Armour) to the Lord, fifty years ago but today it is out of size and doesn't fit the idol. The holy water from the well is offered to the devotees as theertham.

The legend behind Bahuda River
Long ago there lived two brothers Sankha and Likhita. They were on a pilgrimage to Kanipakam. As the journey was tiring, the younger brother Likhita felt hungry. Disregarding the advice of the elder brother he plucked a mango from the mango grove. Sankha felt bad and reported this to the ruler of that area and pleaded for punishment for the sin committed during the pilgrimage. Thus Likhita was punished severely being deprived of both arms.

Later they took bath in the river near Kanipakam temple. Lo Behold! The chopped arms were restored to Likhita as soon as he had a dip in the sacred waters of the river. These incidents lead the ruler to rename the river as 'Bahuda' (Bahu means human arm). Thus the river beside Kanipakam temple is now known as 'Bahuda River'.

Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka as up-holder of 'Truth'

The swayambhu idol of Kanipakam is the up-holder of truth. Day to day disputes between people is resolved by taking a 'special oath'. The people in the dispute take a holy dip in the temple tank and swear before the lord. It is taken as gospel truth.

There are instances when the person who committed that sin voluntarily agrees as soon as he had the dip and much before entering the temple itself. It seems the Lord lawns invisibly on the sinner and makes him repent & feel guilty for his sinful deeds.

Thus the glory of Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka spread far and wide and the honorable courts uphold the 'special oath' in their judicial pronouncements.

Lord ragavendra swamy temple in Mantralayam

Mantralayam is situated in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh,in India. Various Buses ply from Madras, Mumbai,Banglore,Hyderabadetc. It is 595 Km from Madras and 690 km from Mumbai and around 360 Km from Hyderabad. It has many tourist facilities for pilgrims to stay. It is situated on the banks of river Thungabadhra. It can also be reached by train. It is on the train route between Mumbai-Madras , Delhi-Banglore , Hyderbad-Tirupathi. The station name is "Mantralayam Road", it is 16 Kms from Mantralayam. You can travel to Mantralayam from Mantralayam Road station by private Jeeps, taxis, autorickshaws or public bus. Approximate cost of travel per person is Rs.50 for private transport and Rs.4 for Public Bus.
Genrally,the temple is open between 06:00 and 14:00 and 16:00 to 21:00 (IST). Few years back the golden chariot was added and is an splendour to watch it come round the prahara. Silver and Ordinary Chariots are also there and is a divine feeling to watch it roll round the temple's prahara.
The Mutt also has accomadation available at low costs kindly contact the mutt Manager for reservations and check out the Room Rates Links too. The Mutt also serves one meal between 11-3 pm (as Prasadam) free everyday (except Ekadasi). However if you would prefer luxurious stay with Cable Tv and other facilities kindly check out the links page for other hotels. We wish you the best, for your visit to Mantralayam! For any queries contact the webmaster about suggested travel plans.
Please remember that Mobile phones dont work in mantralayam and mantralayam is also well connected by phones, however you cannot make direct international calls through IDD, you can make international calls only by trunk call booking for an additional charge. There is also an internet parlour started recently near Hotel Guru Brindavan, which could be used to check personal emails(however remember the connection speed is very very slow). Most People in Mantralayam speak Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi , but English and Tamil are spoken very rarely by people.

mahanandi temple(nandyal)

legend: Rasa Siddha is said to have built the Vimana and for wages he made the workers set up sand mounds, which he converted into wealth by his power. Proof of this is seen on the main gate of the temple facing the west. A copper plate by Krishandevaraya states that Mahanandi is one of the sacred places where the king`s brother Simha Deva Raya gave valuable gifts. The Sthalapurana states that Nanda ruled over Navanandis where Mahanandi is situated. The king once thought to anoint the idol and perform abhishek with milk. Herds of cows were brought in which included a black cow. This cow gave a lot of milk and was allowed to travel freely and graze in the forest.

The cow always seemed to take far longer in the forest than usual and the milk supply seemed depleted when she returned. One day a cowherd followed the cow and found her grazing around an anthill and then she stood right over it letting the milk flow over the anthill. From it a young child emerged said to be Lord Krishna, after which the cow returned. The next day the king followed the cow and, hid in a bush expecting to catch a glimpse of the Lord. The cow arrived and circled the anthill, Krishna appeared and accepted the offering. The king in surprise moved forward, scaring the nervous cow, who stepped on the anthill in fright. The child disappeared, the hoof print remained on the anthill. The king realizing his mistake prayed for forgiveness and the Lord ordained the anthill after it dried would become a Swayambhu linga at Mahanandi. The two signs are still visible on top of the Linga.

Architecture: The temple is at the foothill where a mineral spring flows into the fields from underneath the linga, into the tank in front of the temple. The temple is surrounded by mantapas on all sides. The Vimana over the sanctum is in Nagari style. It has a Shikara at the top. The architectural peculiarities show that the temple dates back to ancient times and it was repaired and rebuilt through the ages by many kings. This temple is famous for its curative powers found in the warm tepid mineral water found in the tank in front of the temple. It is a sixty feet square with a mantapa in the centre. The inlets and outlets of the tank are so arranged that the depth of the water remains constant at five feet for the devotees to swim in. The source of this water has never been traced. The water is said to come from five springs called Srisailadhara, Narasimhadhara, Daivodhinidhara, Nanditirtha and Kailasatirtha.

The sanctum contains a linga and is made from a rough uncut rock, with two sockets. Here the linga is seen just above the earth`s surface without the three Peethams underneath. All can touch and worship the Lord. A huge Nandi is at the front of the shrine and hence it is called Mahanandi Tirtha. The tank that lies behind is known as Rudra gundam and there are two more tanks called Vishnu gundam and Brahma gundam. Close to the main shrine is a shrine dedicated to the Goddess. The Srichakra in front of the deity is said to have been installed by Adisankara himself. The popular belief is that if one meditates upon the God then he will receive a darshan befitting his status in front of the mother. The mukhamantapa of the goddess is a recent construction.

Behind the main shrine there are three small shrines containing a Shivalinga each. It is stated that if these are worshipped, they will take one beyond the Sthoola, Sookshma and Karana Dehas to the Turiya stage. Within ten miles of Mahanandi there are other nine other Nandi temples -
1. Padma Nandi,
2. Naga Nandi,
3. Vinayaka Nandi,
4. Garuda Nandi,
5. Brahma Nandi,
6. Surya Nandi,
7. Vishnu Nandi,
8. Soma Nandi and
9. Siva Nandi.

Festivels: The Sivarathri is the most important festival. In the Kartika masa, pilgrims worship in the shrine of Mallikarjunaswamy and then at the shrine of Padma Nandi, which is two miles further ahead. They then go to the Naga Nandi that is a mile to the west, and then proceed to Brahma Nandi, Soma Nandi, and Siva Nandi, which are all nearby. They move on to Krishna or Vishnu Nandi, three miles to the northeast and from there complete the pilgrimage by worshipping Vinayaka Nandi, Maha Nandi, and Surya Nandi. The traditional belief is that the worship of these Nava Nandis should be finished in a day before sunset. The other festivals like Dasara, Ugadi etc. are also important.

Ramappa temple

The city of Warangal is 157 km from Hyderabad. It was the ancient capital city of the Kakatiya kingdom. Warangal means "history". Its massive fortress has withstood continuous attacks from the Delhi Sultans in the 13th and 14th centuries AD. In the 19th century AD, it was the hunting ground of the nobles. It is noted for its beautiful lakes, magnificent temples, mud-brick forts and wildlife sanctuaries. Warangal today is an important tourist destination.

Palampet is located at a distance of 77 km from Warangal, the ancient capital of the Kakatiyas. It is home to brilliant Kakatiya art as seen in the Ramappa temple. The Ramappa temple is near the ancient engineering marvel of the 13th century AD Ramappa tank. The ancient Ramappa tank can be dated back to the period of Kakatiyas. It is a well-conceived tank where a 2000 ft long earthen dam connects a semi circular chain of hills to form a lake.

The Ramalingeswara Temple is popularly known as the Ramappa temple because the chief sculptor was Ramappa. It is probably the only temple in India to be known by the name of the sculptor who builds it. It was built under the patronage of the King Kakati Ganapathi Deva by his Chief Commander Rudra Samani at Ranakude in the province of Atukuru. The temple has been described as the "brightest star in the galaxy of medieval temples in the Deccan". The temple is approached thorough a royal garden, now just a lawn with tree lined path. The temple is situated in a valley and is built with bricks so light that they can float on water. Yet the temple is so strong that it is still intact after numerous wars, invasions and natural calamities.

The Ramappa temple stands on a 6 ft high platform on a cruciform plan. The sanctum is crowned with a shikhara and is surrounded by a pradakshinapatha. Rich and intricate carvings adorn the walls, pillars and ceilings of this wonderful building. The hall in front of the sanctum has numerous beautifully carved pillars that have been placed to create an effect that combines light and space wonderfully. There are many votive shrines within the temple. There are two subsidiary shrines on either side of the main temple, which are in a good condition.

The entire temple complex is enclosed with a compound wall. At the entrance to the temple is a ruined Nandi mandapam, with an imposing 9 ft high Nandi, which is still intact. The Shivalingam in the sanctum also rises to a height of 9 ft. The east-facing sanctum is surrounded with pilasters crowned with Dravidian and Nagara shikharas in an alternating fashion. There is an additional entrance from the north also leading to the Navaranga mandapam in front of the sanctum. The ceiling is divided into compartments by columns from the bottom and is carved with intricate patterns. There is a richness of carvings in this temple on dark rock with a smooth finish, portraying an amazing range of themes from the Puranas and various Indian mythological stories.

The temple signifies many facets of Shiva, his royal residence, the Himalaya Mountains and his inhabiting a sacred space beyond the mortal realm. The temple is built upon the classical pattern of being first raised upon a platform that separates its sacred functions from the taint of the everyday. This 'sacred mountain' mindset was characteristic of the temple builders in all the cultures. It represented a powerful symbolic representation of a perfect building, an intersection in midair of the spheres of heaven and earth. The platform lifts it above the normal, transcends the profane, declaring with uncompromising firmness that it is a place for un-common activities dedicated to a god.

Maha Shiva Ratri is celebrated for a period of three days in this temple Many of the smaller structures are neglected and are in ruins in the Ramappa temple. There were even instances of people carrying away the bricks, to be proudly exhibited that they can float on water, before the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) took charge of it. The main entrance gate in the outer wall of the temple is ruined, so one can enter only through a small west gat

lepakshi (ananthapuram)

Lepakshi is a small village, which lies 15-km east of Hindupur in Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh. It is the most important place in the district from the historical and archaeological point of view. A trip to Lepakshi is revitalising for those who believe in heritage sites, for those who marvel at the art of our ancestors, and those willing to get away from the routine multiple-destination tourist routes. The place is renowned as the repository of the best mural paintings of the Vijayanagar Kings. Lepakshi consists of three shrines dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and 'Virabhadra'. On one of the hillocks near the place is known as "Kurma Saila" (tortoise shaped hill), are located the temples of 'Papanatheswara', 'Raghunatha', 'Srirama', 'Veerabhadra' and 'Durga', of which the Veerabharadra temple is the most important. Veerabhadra temple is a notable example of the Vijayanagar style of architecture. A reference is made in the 'Skandapurana' to Lepakshi as one of the hundred and eight important 'Shaiva Kshetras' (shrines). Though the temple of Veerabhadra is claimed to have been constructed by Saint 'Agastya' himself, it was developed into the present exquisite shrine by 'Virupanna', the treasurer of the Vijayanagar Kings.He conceived the idea as he found the image of Veerabhadra.

He executed the plan in the absence of the king and used the treasure when he was away at Vijayanagar. When the construction was almost finished and it was being supervised the king returned and found the treasure empty. The king ordered, as a punishment to this heinous crime, that he should be blinded. The treasurer being a loyal person carried out the punishment spot with his own bands.

Even today one can see two dark stains upon the wall near the 'Kalyana Mandapa', which are said to be the marks made by his eyes, which he himself dashed against the wall. The builder did not survive for a long time and the village is called "Lepa-akshi Lepakshi", i.e., a village of the blinded eye.

The temple is divided into three parts - the 'Mukha Mandapa', (also called 'Nitya Mandapa' or 'Ranga Mandapa'), the 'Artha Mandapa' and 'Garbha Griha', and the 'Kalyana Mandapa', with 38 carved monolithic pillars in grey sandstone is unfinished. These three form a triangle with a common Mandapam.

As per local legend Lord Shiva and Parvati were married on the spot where the Kalyana Mandapa stands. The temple is surrounded on all sides by an outer enclosure. A second inner enclosure contains the main portion of the temple. Its finest parts are the 'Natya' (Dancing) and 'Ardha' (worship) Mandapas. The former is decorated with superbly sculptured pillars on, which are carved life-size representations of musicians and dancers in various poses displaying spirit and vigour. The Kalyana Mandapam is a standing monument to the exuberance of Vijayanagar art but it is left unfinished.

The best specimens of the Vijayanagar style of sculpture and mural paintings are found in the Natya and Kalyana Mandapams (dance and wedding halls). These sculptures depict puranic episodes like those of 'Ananthasayana', 'Dattatreya', 'Chaturmukha Bramha', 'Tumburu', 'Narada' and 'Rambha'.

Kanaka durga temple in vijayawada(durga maatha)

How far : About 275 km from Hyderabad

How to go : Air: Vijayawada is connected by air from Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. Rail: It is well connected by rail with every city in India
Road: buses from Madras, Hyderabad, Vizag and Nellore.

Where to stay : AP Tourism's Krishnaveni Motel, Sitanagaram or Star Hotels / Janata Hotels.

What to see : Kanaka Durga temple, Bhavani island, Mary's temple, Gandhi Stupa, Prakasam Barriage, Hazarath Bal Mosque, Victoria Jubilee Regional Museums and Rajiv Gandhi Park, Undavalli Caves, Kuchipudi, Kondapalli.
A pleasant journey through the rich coastal delta of the state takes you to Vijayawada, the "City of Victory", which lies between the Krishna river and its tributary, Budameru. Encircled by a cluster of high hills, Vijayawada is the heart of Andhra Pradesh and the historical, cultural, political and literary center. The place is famous for its luscious mangoes, the classic form of Telugu language and not but not the least, as the abode of Kanaka Durga, goddess of power, riches and benevolence, the presiding deity of the city.



LEGENDS

According to a legend, the now verdant Vijayawada was once a rocky region strewn with hillocks that were obstructing the flow of river Krishna. The land was thus rendered unfit for habitation or cultivation. Invocation to Lord Siva led to His directing the hills to give way to river Krishna. And lo! the river started flowing unimpeded with all its might, through the tunnels or "Bejjam" bored into the hills by Lord Siva. That is how the place got its name Bezawada.

One of the many mythologies associated with this place is that Arjuna prayed to Lord Siva on top of Indrakeela hill to win His blessings and the city derived its name "Vijayawada" after this victory. Yet another popular legend is about the triumph of Goddess Kanakadurga over the demon king Mahishasura. It is said that once upon a time, the growing menace of demons became unendurable for the natives living in this region. Sage Indrakila, took to severe penance and when the Godess appeared, the sage begged Her to reside on his head and keep vigil on the wicked demons. As per his wishes, after killing the demons, goddess Durga made Indrakila Her permanent abode. Later She also slayed the demon king Mahishasura freeing the people of Vijayawada from the evil clutches of the demon.

At the Kanakadurga temple, the enchanting four-foot high icon of the deity bedecked in glittering ornaments and bright flowers, with eight powerful weapons in eight hands is in a standing posture over the demon Mahishashura and piercing him with her trident. The Goddess is the epitome of beauty.

Adjacent to the Kanakadurga temple is the shrine of Malleswara Swamy on the Indrakiladri. By ascending the steps on the hill, one comes across little images of different deities, prominent among them being Kali, Siva and Krishna.

kapila thirtham near Thirupathi

Kapila Theertham is 3 km from the temple town of Tirupati. This is a cascading waterfall which flows from the holy hills of Tirumala. There is a temple here of Lord Shiva here. Legend says that Lord Shiva appeared before the sage Kapila here.
here beautiful attracted mountain places are here to see it is great natural place.
the water falls never end in great summer.

Hanuman temple kondagattu(anjaneya swamy)

About 35Kms from Karimnagar is this breathtaking temple of Lord Anjaneya Swamy. Situated amidst hills, valleys & water springs Kondagattu is blessed by nature and very scenic. According to the folklore, the temple was constructed by a cowherd some 300 years ago. The present day temple has been built 160 years ago by Krishna Rao Deshmukh. It is believed that if a women offers puja for 40 days at this temple then she will be blessed with a child.

Apart from the temple, the fort of Kondalaraya & Bojjapotana caves are worth seeing at Kondagattu.

Lord Hanuman was born in Anjaneri (now a hilltop temple). Anjaneri is near Triambakeshwar, Nasik - a pilgrim village in Maharashtra State. He is the son of Anjani and Maruti, born with the blessings of 'Vayu', the wind god (also called Pavan). He is considered to be an avatar (incarnation) of Lord Shiva.

He is one of the seven Chiranjivis and the only learned scholar who knew the nine Vyakaranas. He learned the shastras from Suryadev, the sun god. He is well versed with the Vedas and other sacred books.

He has exhibited astonishing physical strength and worked many miracles. His valour, wisdom, knowledge of the scriptures and superhuman strength attracted everybody who came near him. He had extraordinary skill in warfare. He is the chosen messenger of Lord Rama and the minister & messenger of Sugreeva. Hanuman is fast, the most agile and oriented god.

Hanumanji is the symbol of Devotion and Service. Like Krishna, Rama is an incarnation of Vishnu whose elevated character and righteous actions are designed to inspire men to divine consciousness. In liberating his consort Sita from the demon Ravana (symbol of material illusion), Rama is greatly aided by the brave Hanuman. Hanuman was the chief of the armies of Sri Ramachandra and took a prominent part in the war against Ravana, the king of Lanka, in the Indian epic poem Ramayana. Hanuman helped restore Sita Devi back to Sri Rama. Recognizing Godhead beneath the human disguise, Hanuman consecrates himself wholly to service of Rama. Depicted in kneeling pose of utter devotion and humility, he symbolized the strength and purity of the Perfect Servant.

Hanumanji is known by many names as Anjaneya, Anjani Putra, Bajarangbali, Hanuman, Mahaveer, Marutinandan, Pavanputra etc. Hanuman, worshipped for his strength, valor, agility, is a man of great teaming.

Hanuman carried Sri Rama and Lakshmana on his shoulder to Sugreeva, the king of all Vanars (monkeys) in Kishkindha and helped them to find Sita. Prior to the war between Sri Rama and Ravana, Anjaneya visited Lanka, met Ravana, created havoc and burnt down the city of Lanka (Lanka Dahan). During the war, when Lakshmana was injured seriously, Sushena, the surgeon/physician of the monkey army, dispatched Marutinandan to bring herbal medicine, Sanjeevini, from the far-off Sumeru Mountain in the Himalayas, before sunrise. Flying over the Himalayas and unable to identify the particular herb fast, Hanuman uprooted and carried the entire mountain in time to save the life of Lakshmana along with the rest of the Vanar army. Hanuman was blessed by Sri Rama with immortality (chiranjeevi) at the end of the war.

Hanuman was a bachelor (brahamachari) and is worshipped in all the temples of India. Every temple of Sri Rama contains an icon of Hanuman. Worship of Sri Rama is complete only with the worship of Hanuman. There are various temples dedicated solely to Lord Hanuman also. Sant Tulsidas composed the 40 stanzas of Hanuman Chalisa in praise of Hanuman.

The worship of Hanuman symbolizes the worship of the Supreme Lord, for acquiring knowledge, physical and mental strength, truthfulness, sincerity, selflessness, humility, loyalty, and profound devotion to the Lord. Students pray to him for intelligence and soldiers for strength. In olden days, there used to be temples of Hanumantha, at the gates of forts. The gymnasium of wrestlers invariably have his picture.

Hanuman Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman.

dhraksharama(bhimeshwara temple)

Sri Bhimeswara Swami Temple, Draksharama

Draksharamam is located 28 Km from Kakinada,50 Km from Rajahmundry and 25 Km from Amalapuram. Throughout the length and breadth of the Sacred "Mother India", there are many pilgrim centers. From amongst them "Draksharama" is the one in the Southern India on the Eastern Bank of the River Godavari. It is colloquially known as Draksharama carrying the implied meaning as "Draksharama" meaning the Abode of Daksha Prajapathi - the Father-in-law of Lord Siva and the beloved Father of 'Sati' the spiritual spouse of Lord Siva.

The history of the Sacred Pilgrimage is exhaustively dealt within the 'Skanda Purana' of Sri Vyasa. To give a brief narration of the same the story goes thus. Once Daksha Prajapathi decided to perform a Yaga. In pursuance of the same, he had been to Kailasa to invite Gods and Goddesses to sanctify his 'Yazna' and accept his hospitality. But when he had been there, Lord Siva was in his Court immersed in his spiritual splendour. But Daksha Prajapathi out of his ego of being the father-in-law of Lord Siva, mistook the Lord's trance as indifference towards him.

So, being put out at the difference of his Son-in-law he came back without inviting the Lord and the Lady to his sacrifice.

Sati in her womanish nature requested Siva to permit her to attend, the sacrifice at her parental home, even uninvited and have the pleasure of the performance and the association of her kith and kin. But Siva explained her the tragic implications that she might have to face at her parental house and let her to at her own wish. But, when she actually stepped into her parental home, none greeted her or even just asked her a mutual exchange of her well-being. Then Sathi was put out with the humiliation she had to face amidst her own blood and then and there, decided to give up her body instead of facing her beloved husband with a fallen face. So, she gave up her body then and there and fell down dead. Siva having come to know of the tragic end, sent his son 'Veerabhadra' to boot down the ego of Daksha. Siva in his pangs of separation with Sati came down to her dead body and shoultered the corpse over his shoulders and danced in 'Pralaya Thandava'.

At this juncture, the Lord Vishnu, the presenting, force of Universe, sent his 'Chakra' to cut down the body of Sathi and redeem the grief of Lord Siva. The Chakra came and cut the body of Sati into eighteen pieces feel in eighteen parts of this 'Punyabhoomi' of ours and came to be known as 'Ashta Dasa Peethas' and out of these eighteen Sri Manikyamba of Draksharama is the Twelfth.

This Holy Pilgrimage is one of the rare few, where the God and Goddess are equally important. One is Varanasi in Northern India with Viswanatha and Annapurna. Second is Srisailam in Southern India with Sri Mallikharjuna and Bramaramba and third is Draksharama with Bhimanatha and Manikyamba. There are many mythological anecdotes scattered in many of the Sacred puranas about the 'Swayambhu' aspect of the Lord's existence here. One of many is for once who is curious to know that Bhimanatha came down from Kailasa and settled here at the request of Parvathi herself who happened to be the daughter of Dakhsa.The historical aspect of the temple goes from the thirteenth century onwards.

This temple is one of the "Pancharamas". This is an ancient and holy pagoda. This is one of the reputed piligrim centers in Andhra Pradesh. Thousands of pilgrims and devotees visit the temple and worship the Lord to receive blessings.

This temple is a protected Monument. The Archaeological Department has to undertake the renovation works of this temple to create beauty and divine atmosphere. The wealth of inscriptions and epigraphical details that can be glanced from the inscriptions on the walls of this temple are a paradise for the epigraphist and the historian. This temple is managed by the Executive Officer under the control of the Endowments Departments. Devi Navaratrulu, Karthika Masam, Dhanurmasam, Birthday Celebration of Sri Bhimeswara Swamy varu, Subrahmanya Shasti, Maha Sivaratri and Kalyanam etc., are the important festivals of this Temple.

devipuram(near vizag)

Devipuram awakens the goddess in you. In contrast to other places of worship, you can request and receive worship as the embodiment of a living Goddess yourself here. It is located 30 km from Vizag city, 25 km from airport and 13 km from Anakapalle rail station. .

Downloads Come here to learn authentic Chakra Pujas according to the great Datta avadhuta tradition which sees divinity in nudity. You can learn the techniques of how to do and receive puja to the body of a living Goddess. Download many excellent learning tools: audios, books, documents, pictures and videos from this site for free or for a donation.

TemplesDevipuram is home to the largest Sri Chakra in the world, 108' x 108' x 54'. You can actually walk into it and see many life size sculptures of Khadgamala shaktis nude. One thousand devotees can do Rudrabhishekam individually to 1000 lingas at the same time in Dakshavati. Couples desiring conjugal bliss or children worship Ananda Bhairava Linga in the form of an unhooded phallus in hill temple. Kamakhya peetham in the form of a yoni along with Goddesses of Dasa Maha Vidyas bless Shakeyas. Regular rituals are performed for Ganapaty, Shyama, Chandi and Varahi, and Lalita, main goddesses of the Sri Vidya tradition. A Pyramid meditation center overlooks the scenic beauty of the place. An open-air auditorium offers a weekly venue for fun, music and dance competitions for youth to enjoy and make friends.

EventsInternational seminars on yoga and tantric rituals, cultural events, corporate workshops, community marriages, upanayana, etc are held frequently here. A calendar of events and Guru tours is available on this website. Ambitious projects for making Devipuram a place of excellence are under way; the project is called Manidveepa.

SeasonHundreds of devotees and fun seeking youngsters visit Devipuram every day for doing pujas, learning tantra in the temples; relax or have fun in the gardens. The rush season is from Oct. to Feb. Ganapati, Sharada Navaratris, Brahmotsavamin Kartika Punnami, New year , Siva Ratri, and Guru pournami are the festive seasons attracting lakhs of visitors every year.

ToursBeaches of Vizag,. Buddhist monuments of Bojjanna Konda; Lotus ponds of Kondakarla; a thousand year old temple of Man-Lion form of Vishnu in Simhachalam are all within 1 hour by cab. Stalactite and stalagmite caves at Borra, tiger reserves and tribal villages of Araku valley are within 3 hrs from Devipuram. You can visit all these easily in three days.

StayCottages, Suites, Rooms, Dorms, Domes, for overnight stay for families and groups participating in workshops are available in standard and economy rates on the property. The prices range from about Rs 200 to Rs 50 per person for lodging depending on availability. A Cafeteria serving veg meals and a Bouquet for buying divine articles are available on property.

How to reachBy Air: All major cities Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata have daily flights to Vizag. Book early to get low fares. Paramount, Jet, Kingfisher, Air India have good flights. From airport, take a cab, go to Sabbavaram, on towards Anakapalle 5km, turn at road sign 1km.
By Rail: Get down at Vizag 30km; or nearer, Anakapalle 13km.
By Road: 5km from Sabbavaram, and 13 km from Anakapalle; Devipuram road sign is on the road between Anakapalle and Sabbavaram. From it, go 1 km inside on a smaller road. The roads are good.

Devipuram past &present

Whorls of hazy blue mist swirl down the verdant hillside, gently blanketing the temple and the tiny cottages. Like a jewel resting in the bosom of the green hills all around, Devipuram is nestled amidst the folds of the Eastern Ghats, near Visakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

If you are looking for a destination that will help you get in touch with your senses, if you are seeking to discover your Self, then visit Devipuram. You will realize that you’ve always belonged to this place. The sacred vibrations here will awaken your dormant spiritual energy and nature.

Devipuram is an enigma to visitors: They talk about it in hushed silence; sometimes even with laughter! What is it? A New Age paradigm, or a vision of a hoary antiquity? Or perhaps it is a call to the spirit of Woman to discover herself and unfold her potential to lead the world into compassion, harmony, peace, and love.

Whatever it is, it is unique in many ways – both tranquil and exciting, and rich with the potential for self-discovery. It is the first pyramidal Sri Chakra Meru that anyone can actually walk into. It measures 108 feet square on the ground, and soars majestically to 54 feet high, in three stories.

There are 108 life-sized icons of the Goddesses of the Khadgamala Stotram here, in living color. You can sit in front of any or each of them inside the Sri Chakra – to meditate, do archana, or even homa. This is the first time one can actually, physically see the deities of the Khadgamala. Some of them are sky-clad, implying that they have nothing to hide, they are pure shaktis. The thousand-eyed Lalita Devi called Sahasrakshi Rajarajeshwari Devi is the pervading presence everywhere. The Sri Meru housing them all is the King of Yantras, offering unbelievable benefits to sincere aspirants who visit. Devipuram is a place with extreme potential; and a place where peace is palpable and tangible.

Who envisioned it? How was the place chosen? Why are some icons of goddesses seductively nude? For what purpose is this temple built?

The visionary behind Devipuram is a former nuclear scientist by the name of Dr. Nishtala Prahlada Sastry. Lovingly called Guruji today, he worked at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai (Bombay) for 23 years; later he worked as a teacher in Africa for two years.

Guruji resigned his job after receiving a wake-up call from Bala Tripura Sundari at the Balaji Temple, Hyderabad. Prompted by Her, he began building this temple to Lalita in the form of the Sri Chakra Meru, in order to share the worlds he had seen and the joys he experienced in Mani Dweepa, the sacred Sri Chakra.

At Her instance, he performed a Devi Yagam in Visakhapatnam in 1983, when he received the place where the temple stands today. After coming here, he saw the Goddess of Creativity, Kamakhya Devi, in a triangular pit formation in a rock boulder nearby. She showed him all the various deity forms who receive puja in Sri Chakra, and gave him many experiences of the Kula pujas of yore, which she enjoys. He recorded these visions of yoginis and deities through the visual medium of sculpture. She guided him at every step in the building of the present temple. He struggled for 11 years in this wilderness to bring this Sri Meru Nilayam temple into reality.

Not content with merely sharing his spiritual visions, Dr. Sastry – by this time known by his Diksha name Amritanandanatha – founded a registered public charitable trust called the Sri Vidya Trust. Assisted by a band of committed youngsters, he initiated an array of rural development activities, including 50 night schools for dropouts in the 6-14 age group; mobilizing 4,000 women to run a Macts(mutually aided cooperative thrift society); a self-help, thrift-banking project called Jagruthi; a hospital on wheels; designs for low-cost housing; a computer-assisted adult-education project covering 12 villages; and so on. The vision of Sri Vidya Trust is to inspire people to improve their lot in life, and to empower them to make positive and enduring contributions to society.

As Guruji says, “If God had patented the air, we could not breathe.” He believes that we all benefit by sharing our love and ideas. Only by sharing love does one grow.

Devipuram has become a great resource for quenching the thirst of serious Sri Vidya Upasakas, who marvel at the vision behind it. Spiritual renewal is a subjective development, best experienced by oneself. Devipuram has everything necessary to elevate you mentally, physically and – most important – spiritually. So come, enjoy, empower and realize yourself.