Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
The Sri Bala Tripura Sundari Devi Temple at Tripurantakam, in Markapuram district (earlier part of Prakasam district) of Andhra Pradesh, is a rare shrine of the Goddess as Bala – the divine child form of Tripura Sundari. Her temple stands at the foot of a hill, in the middle of a sacred tank, while her consort Sri Tripurantakeswara Swamy (Lord Shiva) presides over the hilltop about 2 km away. By temple tradition, Tripurantakam is the eastern gateway of Srisailam, and devotees on the way to Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy often stop here first.
Legend
According to the Skanda Purana tradition, the demons Tripura (the rulers of the three flying cities) and Andhakasura troubled all the three worlds. Lord Shiva destroyed them here and made this place his abode – so he is called Tripurantakeswara, "the Lord who ended the Tripuras", and the place Tripurantakam. The temple's sthala purana adds that when Shiva set out to destroy the Tripurasuras, the Goddess entered his bow in the form of Bala Tripura Sundari to empower the divine weapon. She has stayed here ever since as his consort.
The Temple
- Shrine in the water: the temple stands inside a tank; during the monsoon it is surrounded by water, which devotees believe cools the intense power of the Goddess.
- Sanctum below ground: the sanctum is slightly below ground level, and the Goddess is said to reside in an ancient well.
- Sri Chakra: a Sri Chakra is installed before the Goddess; by tradition it was consecrated by Adi Shankaracharya.
- Yogini sculptures: sculptures of Goddess Chinnamasta and other yoginis, found during excavation, can be seen in the passage of the temple.
Sri Tripurantakeswara Swamy Temple
The Shiva temple on the hilltop is reached by climbing steps. Its sanctum has sculptures of the guardians Bhadra and Anubhadra, and an opening on its northern side is believed to be a tunnel leading to Srisailam. The temple is also counted among the Vaippu Sthalams – shrines mentioned in the hymns of the Tamil Shaiva saint Appar. Inscriptions at the site show that the temples were developed under the Chalukya kings around the 11th century.
Festivals
- Dasara / Devi Navaratri – special worship of Sri Bala Tripura Sundari during the nine nights (usually September–October).
- Maha Shivaratri – the great festival of Sri Tripurantakeswara Swamy on the hill (usually February–March).
- Karthika Masam – lamps and special pujas for the Lord (usually October–November).
Visitor Information
- Timings: official timings are not published; the temples are usually open in the morning and evening. Please check locally before visiting.
- Two temples: the Goddess's temple is below the hill and the Shiva temple is on the hilltop, about 2 km apart; there is no road to the top, so plan for the climb up the steps.
- Etiquette: traditional dress is recommended; remove footwear before entering.
How to Reach
- By Road: Tripurantakam is on the Guntur–Srisailam highway – about 93 km from Srisailam, about 124 km from Guntur and about 160 km from Vijayawada; Markapur and Vinukonda are the nearest towns. APSRTC buses to Srisailam pass through Tripurantakam.
- By Train: the nearest railway stations are Vinukonda (about 37 km) and Markapur Road (about 43 km).
- By Air: the nearest airport is Vijayawada International Airport, Gannavaram (VGA), about 178 km away by road.
Related Temples
Continue your pilgrimage to Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy, Srisailam (about 93 km), the Jyotirlinga for which Tripurantakam is the eastern gateway. The hill shrine of Sri Trikoteswara Swamy, Kotappakonda is about 75 km away.