The town of Tirupati, for ages has been the most sacred landscape dotted with temples dedicated to the Gods of Vedic pantheon. There are temples, small and big, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Shiva, Goddess Lakshmi & Goddess Parvathi. There are also temples that serve as celestial dwellings for many local gods and goddesses. All these temples proudly display the plularalism and peaceful coexistence of different paths leading towards the common goal – Self Realisation and Moksha. Among all the temples of Tirupati, Kapileswara temple stands out for its unique geographical disposition and the Puranic legends associated with it. The abode of God Shiva in the form of Kapileswara temple surrounded by beautiful waterfalls, perennial small streams, sub-shrines, forest and of course the towering mountain peaks of Seshachalam range.
Puranic sources inform us that the Linga of Kapileswara has been installed by Sage Kapila during Treta Yuga. Sage Kapila has been hailed as one of the many prominent incarnations of Mahavishnu. Many references of this great sage can be found in Bhagavata, Brahmanda, Narada, Skanda Puranas. Sage Kapila said to be living in Patala (one of the netherworlds) by building a hermitage for himself. During Treta Yuga, the 60,000 sons of King Sagara went to this hermitage in search of their holy cow and found it being tied near Sage’s hut. Accusing him as a thief they tried to hit Kapila who got angry at this misdeed and burnt them down into ashes. Later Kapila came on to earth and did penance at the foot of Tirumala hills and had the darshan of Lord Shiva who manifested in the form of a Linga. This same Linga is now being worshipped as “Kapileswara”. Other legends say that Siva is the Kshetra Palaka of Tirumala hills. As if to attest this legend, Sri Kapileswara Linga is seen facing the Tirumala hills. Though this Linga is said to be here for millions of years, the historical antiquity of this temple dates back to 11 th century. The first epigraphic reference to this temple belongs to Chola king Rajendra – I (1012 AD – 1044 AD) reign. One of his royal officers named Brahmarayan Munaiyadarayan has built the shrine. The last epigraphic record found in this temple belongs to the reign of Vijayanagara emperor Sadashivaraya. This temple reflects Chola and Vijayanagara architecture and contains a pillared verandah, Mukhamandapa, Antarala and Garbhagruha. In the southern side of the inner shrine, there is a shrine dedicated to Kamakshi Devi, the consort of Kapileswara.
Sub-shrines or Upa Alayas of Kapileswara Temple
The typical layout of any temple in Bharata is generally a complex of many shrines located at specific places and cardinal points stipulated in Vastu shastra. Almost all the major temples in India particularly South India have small shrines called Upa Alayas dedicated to several gods and goddess. Kapileswara Swami temple of Tirupati too is not an exception to this general feature of temple architecture and the complex houses many subshrines around the central shrine of Sri Kapileswara. These sub-shrines include the shrines of Ganapati, Kumaraswami, Venugopala Swami, Lakshmi Narayana Swami and Lakshmi Narasimha Swami. Apart from these shrines, there are few smaller shrines having different Siva Lingas such as Vishwanatha etc. Apart from the shrines there are many stone images lined up all along the Pradakshina path around the central shrines. These images include Dakshina Murthi, Kala Bhairava, Siva-Nataraja etc. There is a fascinating phenomenon that in Shaivite temple one can see temples dedicated to Vishnu and a temple for Shiva in Vaishnavite kshetrams. Owing to this tradition, there are three subshrines featuring three forms of Vishnu i.e. Venugopala (Srikrishna), Lakshmi Narayana and Lakshmi Narasimha Swami. All these sub-shrines feature a blend of Chola and Vijayanagara architecture. The murtis of Venugopala (Srikrishna) and Lakshmi Narayana are so captivating that one doesn’t wish to bat their eyelid even for a second. Similarly, the magnificent image of Kumaraswami, riding peacock vehicle and flanked by His two consorts, mesmerizes the devotees.
Other structures of the temple
‘Sandhyavandana Mandapas’, a row of pillared corridors, built around the Kapila Teertham tank are the unique feature of this temple. These row of Mandapas that surround the temple from three sides have been built during Vijayanagara emperor, Achyutadevaraya’s period. An inscription from c.1531 gives details of this construction Interestingly, there is a shrine dedicated to the Srivaishnava saint, Nammalwar, is located within the precincts of Kapileswara Swami temple. An inscription from c.1544 mentions that a devotee named Tallapakam Periya Tirumalaiyyangar made a donation to this shrine for conducting Sattumora service. Legends and Srivaishnava hagiographies say that the Alwars of Srivaishnava pantheon have taken their sacred dip in Kapila Teertham and hence it is also called as 'Alwar Teertham'.
Sacredness of Kapila Teertham
Sthala Purana says that during Kartika Masa, all the sacred Teerthams of three worlds dwell in Kapila Teertham. Bhavishyottara Purana describes Kapila Teertham as the most sacred place to offer Pinda and Tarpana for departed elders. The story of Madhava, a Brahman born in Kalahasti town, narrated in Bhavishyottara Purana shows the piety of Kapila Teertham.
Shivaratri Celebrations at Kapileswara Swami Temple
Shivaratri is the most auspicious occasion for every Hindu devotee. On this sacred day, devotees and seekers of divine grace can attain awakening of the Shiva Tattvam. This is marked by the Jagarana (keeping awake whole night) throughout the cold night. As Parama Shiva manifested in the form of sacred Linga and appeared before Sage Kapila who is an incarnation of Maha Vishnu, the sacredness of Shivaratri at Kapila Teertham yields double the benefit of Punya (virtue). One who visits Kapileswara Swami during this highly auspicious day, that devotee will be blessed by both Lord Shiva & Lord Vishnu. While Lord Shiva destroys the ignorance, Lord Vishnu sustains it by bestowing Jnana. On this holy occasion of the Brahmotsavams let us visualize the form of Sri Kapileswara in our minds and meditate up on Him as the destroyer of evil and giver of good health and righteous living. 'Om Namah Shivaya'
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