Andhra Pradesh - Pilgrimages and Temples

Religious Traditions of Andhra Pradesh:

- Swayam Vyakta Kshetra → Venkatachala
- Divya Desam → Venkatachala (Thiruvenkatam) - Ahobilam (Thiru Singavelkundram)
- Jyotirlinga → Shrishailam (Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga)
- Pancha Bhoota Sthalam → Srikalahasti (Vayu Lingam)
- Paadal Petra Sthalam → Shrishailam - Srikalahasti
- Shakti Peetha → Shrishailam (Shrishaila Shakti Peetha) - Godavari Tir (Godavari Tir Shakti Peetha)

---

1.

Vishnu (Venkateshwara) Tradition of Andhra Pradesh:
(Skanda Purana - Venkatachala Mahatmya)
(Varaha Purana)

• Venkatachala → Lord Vishnu abides in Venkatachala as Srinivasa (Venkateshwara) where he married Devi Padmavathy.

---

2.

Varaha Tradition of Andhra Pradesh:
(Skanda Purana - Venkatachala Mahatmya)

• Venkatachala → Lord Varaha abides in Venkatachala as Adi Varaha. Lord Varaha appeared in Venkatachala before Lord Srinivasa.

---

3.

Narasimha Tradition of Andhra Pradesh:
(Ahobila Mahatmya)

• Ahobilam → Lord Narasimha abides in Ahobilam in nine forms (Nava Narasimha).

They are:
(1) Bhargava Narasimha
(2) Yogananda Narasimha
(3) Chatravata Narasimha
(4) Ahobila or Ugra Narasimha
(5) Krodha or Varaha Narasimha
(6) Jwala Narasimha
(7) Malola Narasimha
(8) Karanja Narasimha
(9) Pavana Narasimha

• Simhachalam → Lord Narasimha abides in Simhachalam as Varaha Narasimha.
• Mangalagiri → Lord Narasimha abides in Mangalagiri as Panakala Narasimha.

---

4.

Shiva Tradition of Andhra Pradesh:
(Shiva Purana)

• Shrishailam → Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati came to meet their son Kumara at Shrishailam and abided there as Jyoti (Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga).
• Srikalahasti → Lord Shiva was worshipped by spider Sri, serpent Kala and elephant Hasti who finally attained salvation by worshipping that Linga.

---

5.

Devi Tradition of Andhra Pradesh:
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)

• Shrishailam → Devi abides in Shrishailam as Shrishaila Shakti Peetha.
• Godavari Tir → Devi abides in Godavari Tir as Godavari Tir Shakti Peetha.

---

6.

Hanuman Tradition of Andhra Pradesh:
(Skanda Purana - Venkatachala Mahatmya)

• Venkatachala → Bhakta Hanuman is said to have taken birth in Anjanadri of Tirumala after the penance of mother Anjana. This is one of the places identified with the birth of Bhakta Hanuman.

---

7.

Sages and Andhra Pradesh:
(Ahobila Mahatmya)

• Kashyapa (Ahobilam) → Sage Kashyapa told his son Garuda to worship Lord Vishnu to get over the bondages of the world. Sage Kashyapa suggested Garuda to perform penance in the Ahobila kshetra which destroys all sins. Due to the penance of Garuda, the place also became famous as Garudachala.

---

8.

Saints and Andhra Pradesh:

• Annamacharya (1408 - 1503 CE) (Venkatachala) → Sri Annamacharya was an ardent devotee of Lord Venkateshwara and composed thousands of devotional Samkirtanas in praise of the Lord.

---

9.

Sacred Geography of Andhra Pradesh:

Mountains:
☗ Seshachalam (front part) (Eastern Ghats) → Venkatachala

The Seven Hills (Sapta Giri) are:
(1) Sheshadri Hill
(2) Neeladri Hill
(3) Garudadri Hill
(4) Anjanadri Hill
(5) Vrishabhadri Hill
(6) Narayandri Hill
(7) Venkatadri Hill

☗ Garudadri Hill → Ahobilam
☗ Shrishaila Hill → Shrishailam

Rivers:
▬ Bhavanashini flows → Ahobilam
▬ Krishna flows → Shrishailam
▬ Swarnamukhi flows → Srikalahasti
▬ Godavari flows → Godavari Tir (Koti Teertha)

Lakes:
◼ Swami Pushkarini → Venkatachala

Forests:
☸ Nallamala Forest → Ahobilam

1. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Vishnu: (Andhra Pradesh)

-- Venkatachala (Tirumala) - Venkateshwara (SVK-3) - Swayam Vyakta Kshetra; Lord Venkateshwara married Devi Padmavathy


2. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Varaha: (Andhra Pradesh)

-- Venkatachala (Tirumala) - Varaha (SVK-3) - Swayam Vyakta Kshetra; Lord Varaha appeared in Venkatachala before Lord Venkateshwara

-- Ahobilam - Varaha Narasimha - Krodha or Varaha Narasimha

-- Simhachalam - Varaha Narasimha - A famous pilgrimage


3. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Narasimha: (Andhra Pradesh)

-- Ahobilam - Nava Narasimha - Lord Narasimha killed demon Hiranyakashipu

-- Simhachalam - Varaha Narasimha - A famous pilgrimage

-- Mangalagiri - Panakala Narasimha - A famous pilgrimage


4. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Shiva: (Andhra Pradesh)

-- Shrishailam - Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga (JL-2) (PP-10.1) - Shiva and Parvati came to see their son Kumara and abided as Jyoti

-- Srikalahasti - Srikalahasteeshwarar (Vayu) (PBS-4) - Pancha Bhoota Sthalam; Vayu deva, Spider Sri, Serpent Kala and Elephant Hasti worshipped Lord Shiva


5. Pilgrimages and Temples of Devi: (Andhra Pradesh)

-- Shrishailam - Shrishaila Shakti Peetha [Devi Bhramaramba] (SP-27) - The Griva (Neck) of Devi had fallen

-- Godavari Koti Teertha - Godavari Tir Shakti Peetha [Devi Vishweshi] (SP-41) - The Ganda (Cheek) of Devi had fallen

-- Vijayawada - Devi Kanaka Durga - A famous pilgrimage