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)

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1.

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

• Venkatachala → Lord Vishnu abides in Tirumala or Venkatachala (which is a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra) as Srinivasa or Venkateshwara. Lord Srinivasa married Devi Padmavathy in Venkatachala.

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2.

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

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

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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

- Lord Narasimha slayed demon Hiranyakshipu by manifesting from a pillar (place identified with the Jwala Narasimha temple of Ahobilam).

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

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

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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 at Srikalahasti. They finally attained salvation by worshipping that Linga. Lord Shiva abides here as Srikalahasteeshwara.

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5.

Devi Tradition of Andhra Pradesh:
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)

• Shrishailam → Devi abides in Shrishailam as Shrishaila Shakti Peetha (identified with Devi Bhramaramba).

• Godavari Tir → Devi abides in Godavari Tir as Godavari Tir Shakti Peetha (identified with Koti Teertha near Rajamundry).

• Vijayawada → Devi abides in Vijayawada as Devi Kanaka Durga.

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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. This is as per Skanda Purana - Venkatachala Mahatmya.

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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.

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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.

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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