Sri Agastheeswaraswami Temple, Thondavada

Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quiestest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey. – Pat Conroy

Thondavada is a historical village in Chandragiri mandal of Chittoor district, Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, at the headwaters of the Swarnamuki River. It is 10 km from the town of Tirupati and is home to a major temple for Lord Siva called Agastheeswar. Previously this place was the ashrama of Agastya Muni.

The temple of Agastheeswara Swami is a sacred shrine that lies at the confluence of three rivers Swarnamukhi, Bhima and Kalyani in Chandragiri mandal.

The Siva lingam in this temple was installed by sage Agasthya and so it is called Agastheeswara lingam.

At the time of installation it is said that all three crore (Mukkoti) gods appeared in this ashrama. So this place is also named “Mukkti”. Rudra here is known as Sri Agasteswara Swami along with his consort Anandavalli. Within the Swarnamuki River that flows around the temple is a mandapa (temple hall) wherein the image of HariHara is carved out of a single piece of stone seven feet tall.

This temple faces east and has almost all parivaradevathas installed in well-built places like Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramaniyam. The temple has three entrances and a grand compound wall. The Dwarapalakas at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum are beautifully sculptured. They stand tall to add grandeur to the hall. Inside the second prakara, there is a separate shrine for Mother Parvati called here by the name of Vallimata. There is a tank outside the compound for the convenience of visiting pilgrims.

Just opposite the temple and in the middle of the river there is a mandapam built. In this, you can see the beautiful statues of Balaji, Ayyappa, Ganapati, etc., installed. There is also a small shrine of Lord Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya that is built in recent times near the tank. All these places are worth visiting.

The near by village was named Tondavada by the kings of Chandragiri, as it was the place used as a rest house for visitors and keeping elephants also.

HOW TO REACH?

• There are buses from Tirupati which is near to Chandragiri.
• Driving in your own car or hiring a taxi is the best option.

• However, TTD has introduced the Alayadarsanam facility to enable pilgrims to visit the sacred shrines in and around Tirupati. These buses operate on a daily basis and start at 06:00 hrs, 10:00 hrs and 14:00 hrs, from the choultry behind the Tirupati railway station. You will be cover to these temples:
• Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple, Tiruchanoor
• Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami temple, Srinivasa Mangapuram
• Sri Agastheeswaraswami Temple, Thondavada
• Sri Hare Krishna Temple(ISKCON), Tirupati
• Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple, Tirupati
• Sri Kodanda Ramaswami Temple, Tirupati
• Sri Govindarajaswami Temple, Tirupati
• For more details http://www.tirumala.org/ptv_packagetours.htm