Deities of Sri Kapileswara Swamy Temple
The holy Kapila Tirtham is known to have had its first appearance in this region of Seven Hills in an unknown past in the chain of many Mahayugas before the present Kali Yuga. It is because of the fortune and pride of the inhabitants of Tirupati.
The Kapila Tirtham is situated at the foot region of Tirumala Hills in the North East Direction of Tirupati City.
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This is an abode of Natural Beauty and Divinity filled with the endless grace of all the gods. Interestingly here one can see the divine presence of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara in this holy place.
Holy Place of the Trio of Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara
The sage Kapila, the son of Kardama Prajapati and Devahuti, is one of the 24 great incarnations of Sri Maha Vishnu according to Bhagavata and other puranas. So the grandness and grace of Vishnu always guard this region.
Here the main deity being worshipped is ‘Siva’ whose LINGA IDOL was worshipped by Kapila.
In the remote past of earlier yugas, this LINGA was in the Kapila Ashram, a place in the Nether Worlds (Patalaloka) on the banks of the Patala Ganga called ‘Bhogavati‘.
Kapila Dhenu
Suddenly it started growing at one time. Having started with such unlimited might the Siva Linga reached the surface of the Hill foot of Seshachala Mountain. Vishnu and Brahma wanted to stop its further growth. Hence Vishnu assumed the form of a cowherd and Brahma assumed the form of a Kapila Dhenu (A cow tawny in colour) and started offering Abhisheka with endless streams of milk.
When Siva was pleased with the way Vishnu and Brahma worshipped Him both of them requested him to stop growing further. Siva obliged their request and settled in this region as a self emergent God (Svayambhu).
At the same time having merged with the Abhisheka milk offered by Vishnu and Brahma, the River ‘Bhogavati’ of Patala region flowers over the brim and reaches this place near the cave where Siva settled. Soon all the Gods came there and worshipped Siva in the Abhisheka Process with the holy waters of the river Bhogavati.
Kapila Teertham
Ever since the God has been known by the name ‘Kapileswara’ for two reasons, as he was previously worshipped by the sage Kapila and as he received the Kshira Abhisheka (Abhisheka of Milk) with the Milk of the Kapila Dhenu (Brahma in the form of Kapila Cow). His divine spouse, the mother Goddess Parvati is popularly known as ‘Kamakshi’ in this place.
The River Bhogavati got the name ‘Kapila Teertham’.
Divine Tirthas / Theerthams
This holy place is situated near the confluence of seventeen other divine Tirthas (Holy streams) –
- Chakra Tirtha,
- Vishvaksena Tirtha,
- Panchayudha Tirtha (Five in Number of Sankha, Chakra, Gada, Khadga and Sarnga bow),
- Vahni Tirtha (The Tirtha of Fire God),
- Brahma Tirtha,
- Saptarshi Tirthas – (the seven Tirthas of Seven Sages) and
- the Trimurthi Tirthas (Vishnu Kunda, Brahma Kunda and Maheswara Kunda).
According to Vamana purana Sudarshana Chakra, the lord of all the weapons of Sri Maha Vishnu, was ordered by Vishnu to dwell in this place. Ever since this place has been called Chakra Tirtha or Chakrattalwar Tirtha or Alwar Tirtha by the devotees.
As this is the abode of Vishnu, Brahma and Maheswara, the rest of the Gods of the divine world also came here and settled. Here is a brief account of the other Gods whose presence enriched the sacredness of this region.
While the Pair of Sri Kamakshi and Kapileswara are the main deities of this kshetra or region there are other gods like the
- Door Attendants Dindi and Mundi,
- Sri Siddhivinayaka Swami, Nandiswara,
- Sri Chandiswara,
- Sri Dakshina Murti,
- Kalabhairava,
- Mahaganapati,
- Mahasasta,
- Kashi Vishveswara,
- Umamaheswara,
- Ramalingeswara,
- Pramatha Ganapati,
- Sri Siva Surya Swamy,
- The elevated dais of the Nine Grahas,
- Lord Kumara swami with his two spouses Srivalli and
- Devasena in the inner complex of Kapileswara.
In the outer premises of the temple, there is a huge collection of Snake idols, Siva Lingas and Subrahmanyeswara idols in an open place under the shades of bilva and other holy trees. By the side of these idols, there are the temples of Sri Koti Lingeswara Swami and Agastyeswara Swami.
Besides all these temples of Siva’s Family there are the temples of Venugopala, Sri Lakshminarayana, Nammalwar and Anjaneya in the outside of the Kapileswara Temple complex starting from the banks of Kapila Tirtha gradually towards the roadway into the temple.
Sri Siddhivinayaka Swami
This temple of Sri Siddhivinayaka is just by the side of the Dhwajasthambha and Balipitha of Sri Kapileswara Swami and welcomes all the devotees to have a wonderful Darshan of Kapileswara and Kamakshi.
God Vinayaka’s Darshan at this little shrine assures the fulfilment of all the desires and success in all attempts of the devotees.
The Door Attendants Dindi and Mundi
Just after crossing the Dhwajasthambha and Bali Pitham on either sides of the Main threshold there the two-door attendants of Sri Kapileswara whose names are Dindi and Mundi. The sculptural beauty of the two idols has nice patterns of artistic excellence.
The two idols look with life-wielding Damaru, Trisula and Mace.
Nandiswara
When the devotees cross the main threshold can see the gentle idol of Nandishwara in the wide Mukha Mandapa. It is a two feet high and two and half feet long idol of Nandi, the Bull vehicle of Sri Kapleswara Swami knelt down on his four feet in front of Kapileswara.
Sri Chandiswara
He is one of the most prominent ones among the attendants of Shiva. His idol can be seen in the Clockwise direction path near the Somasutra in a meditating posture. While the First Puja is offered to Siva Surya Swami at dawn the last puja during the night time is offered to Sri Chandiswara.
Sri Dakshina Murti
This is in the hall of the family Gods of Kapileswara and Kamakshi. This hall is on the Southern side of the Mukha Mandapa of Sri Kapileswara and Kamakshi. Dakshina Murti is a Siva’s idol. Unlike the normal Siva lingas, this is in human form with four hands and five heads. In all four hands, he bears Snake Snares, a Trident, a chain of beads and a Jnanamudra.
He sits facing the South Direction hence called Dakshina Murthi. He is the bestower of Knowledge and Moksha.
Sri Kalabhairava
He is Kapala Bhairava according to his appearance. He appears with four hands wielding a Trident, Damaru, sharp sword and a skull. On his side a Dog’s idol also can be seen. This idol is by the side of Sri Dakshina Murthi.
Sri Mahaganapati
This idol of Sri Mahaganapati can be seen on the left side of Sri Kalabhairava. He appears mounting his Mouse vehicle and holding snares and goad in the upper hands and a piece of his own tusk and a Modakam (The dearest food item for him) in his two downward hands. He bestows fulfilment of all the desires of devotees.
Sri Mahasasta
He is on the left side of Mahaganapati in the same row beginning with Sri Dakshina Murthi. He is the son of Hari (Mohini incarnation) and of Hara.
Sri Kashi Vishveswara
Swami is located in the same Parivara Devata Mandapa in the Linga form. The height of the Lord is two and a half feet.
Sri Umamaheswara
This is a west-facing idol of Siva in human form holding a Deer in one lifted left hand, a trident in the lifted right hand and with the right downward hand blessing the devotees assuring fearlessness and with the downward left holding tight Goddess Umadevi who is seated on His left thigh on his lap. This is a single-stone idol.
Sri Ramalingeswara
On the left side of Sri Uma Maheswara, the devotees can have the Darshan of Sri Ramalingeswara. On having the darshan of this Sri Ramalingeswara after seeing Sri Kashi Vishveswara in this Mandapa a devotee can get the fruit of visiting both Kashi and Rameswaram.
Sri Pramatha Ganapati
This is on the southern side of Sri Ramalingeswara. His appearance is also similar to that of Sri Mahaganapati but a little bit dwarf in form. He is the leader of the entire army of Pramathas and he is the remover of the obstacles of his devotees.
Sri Siva Surya Swamy
This is the special place of the Sun god in the Kapileswara Temple, hence called Siva Surya Swamy, and worshipping this God will assure good health and even ailment from all kinds of chronic illness.
The elevated dais of the Nine Grahas
This is in the same Parivara Devata Mandapa. Here one can have the darshan of the Sun, Moon, Kuja, Budha, Bruhaspati, Sukra, Sani, Rahu and Ketu by having which one can be freed from any and every kind of adverse effect of any of the Nine Grahas.
Sri Kumara swami with his two spouses Srivalli and Devasena
This is very beautiful place of the Six faced Subrahmanya Swami with Srivalli and Devasena on either sides. These idols are east-facing ones. The Darshan of Sri Kumara Swami in this posture removes all the disturbances in life and assures children to childless.
Once the Darshan of all the Gods in the Parivara Mandapa is over, the devotees can come to the large area in the Southern side of it. In this outer premises of the temple, there is a huge collection of Snake idols, Siva Lingas and Subrahmanyeswara idols in an open place under the shades of bilva and other holy trees.
By the side of these idols there are the temples of Sri Koti Lingeswara Swami and Agastyeswara Swami. The Darshan of all these idols and gods will make once life blessed and blissful.
Besides all these temples of Siva’s Family, there are the temples of
- Venugopala,
- Sri Lakshminarayana,
- Nammalwar and
- Anjaneya
in the outside of the Kapileswara Temple complex starting from the banks of Kapila Tirtha and gradually towards the roadway into the temple. Thus the temple of Sri Kapileswara in the Kapilatirtham is a very sightworthy place for those who want to lead an obstacle-free, happy and comfortable life by the grace of Sri Kapileswara and his Parivara Gods.
Brahmotsavams
The brahmotsavams of Sri Kapileswara Swami are celebrated every year in the month of Magha according to the Lunar calendar having been planned to end by the Amavasya of Magha Masa. As in any other temples here also Vahana Sevas also occupies a major role in the festival.
The Festival begins on Magha Bahula Panchami (the 5th Tithi of the Black Fortnight of Magha Masa) with the Mushika Vahana Seva of Ganesha in the evening of the day with the Ankuraropana ritual.
The next day morning onwards the Vahana Sevas commence with Pallaki Seva and Dhvajarohana. Then Hamsa Vahana, Suryaprabha Vahana, Chandraprabhavahana and other Vahana Sevas are shared to all the nine days on the basis of Two Vahana Sevas for each day.
On the Mahasivaratri night, the Nandivahana Seva is of high importance. On the Tenth day i.e. Magha Amavasya, Avabrutha snana, Trisula snana and Dhvajavarohana will be celebrated as the end rituals of Sri Kapileswara Swami Brahmotsavams.
