Surutapalli Pallikondeswara Swamy Temple Timings, Legends

Surutapalli Pallikondeswara Swamy Temple or Sri Pallikondeswara Swamy Temple is a famous temple located in a small village called Suratapalli, Tirupati District, Andhra Pradesh. The main deity is Sri Pallikondeswara Swamy(Lord Siva) in the ancient temple. This is the only temple where God Shiva graces in a reclining form and Sri Dakshinamurthy graces with His consort Mother Dhara. The temple was constructed by King Harihara Bukka Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire during the years 1344-47. Recently the temple was renovated beautifully. The paintings, flooring, Rajagopuram, Vimanams, and front Nandhi – all are looking very nice but even the walls of the inner praharam have undergone modernization with tiles which has completely wiped out the history and heritage. Still, some works like compound walling are going on. A beautifully painted Nandhi at an elevated height in the huge open space in the front welcomes all. Car parking is not a problem due to the huge open space.

The name Suratapalli comes from the fact that God Shiva is resting at the lap of Goddess Parvathi feeling a little dizzy after consuming poison during the churning of the milky ocean – Palli means resting, Surutta means a little dizzy.

As you enter through the small Rajagopuram, the shrine of Valmikeeswarar and Goddess Marahathambihai is on the left side and the shrine of Pallikondeswarar is on the right side. You have to first enter the shrine of Valmikeeswarar and Goddess Marahathambihai on the left

Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar, Valmiki, Varasidhi Vinayahar, Kasi Viswanathar with Vislakshi, Sri Venugopalan, Adhihara Nandhi are all present in the inner praharam. Unusually there is no separate shrine for Ganesha. Subramanyar with his consorts Valli and Theivanai is present facing south, which is the direction of Yama, the king of death. So it is believed that worshipping him will remove one’s death fears. Next to him is the Rajamathangi shrine and it seems there is an underground passage going to Kalahasthi but is covered completely now without any symptoms.

The specialty of this temple is that all its deities are present with their consorts. They are: Pallikondeswarar – Sarva Mangalaambikai; Valmeegishwarar – Maragathambikai; Vinaayakar – Siddhi, Buddhi; Saasthaa – Pooranai, Pushakalai; Kuberan – Sanganidhi and Padumanidhi; Dakshinamoorthy – Taara; Kasi Viswanathar – Vislakshi

There are shrines for Sri Vinayaka, Sri Muruga, Sri Brahma, Sri Vishnu, Sages Brugu, Markandeya, Naradha, Saptha Rishis planets Moon and Sun, Kubera and Indira. The temple conducts six daily rituals at different times ranging from 6:30 AM to 9:00 PM. Additionally, there are five annual festivals celebrated at Surutapalli Pallikondeswara Swamy Temple.

Speciality of The Temple:

Surutapalli Pallikondeswara Swamy Temple is the birthplace of Pradosha puja, a special worship ritual. If devotees offer their prayers to Pallikonda Easwara on a Pradosha day that falls on a Saturday, they may regain their losses. Those who have experienced setbacks might find themselves reinstated and even promoted. Challenges in marriage proposals can be overcome, and separated couples might find themselves reuniting.

Sri Pallikondeswara Temple Surutapalli Timings:

Morning: 6.00 AM to 1.00 PM
Evening: 3:30 PM – 8.30 PM
Pradhosham Days 6.00 AM to 8.30 PM

Goddess Marahathambihai Shrine:

First, you have to worship Goddess Marahathambihai and then Valmikeeswarar. Instead of Dwarabalahars, you will see Guberar with his consort Sanganidhi on the left side and with his consort Paduma Nidhi on the right. Guberar is the god of wealth and so first get the blessings of them before you enter. On either side of the Goddess Marahathambihai, Kamadhenu got out of churning the milky ocean and Karpaha Viruksham is present. In the front Salakrama Ganapathy is present.

Sri Pallikondeeswara Swamy Temple Distance:

60 km from Chennai and 72 km from Tirupati.

Valmikeeswarar Shrine

While completing the inner prahara round, next to the Goddess shrine are the shrines of Ramalingeswarar and Valmikeeswarar facing each other. The outside Nandhi for which pradhosha Abhisheham is being done is facing Valmikeeswarar through the grills in the walls of the Ramalingeswarar shrine. The main deity is Valmikeeswarar in an unusual triangular-shaped Swayambu lingam.

It appeared when Sage Valmiki was in penance before he started writing his Ramayana and so is the name Valmikeeswarar. In front of the Valmikeeswarar shrine, to the left, is a stone with many footprints of kids. When Kanchi Mahaperiyavar camped here for 40 days in 1976, he showed a particular place and asked people to dig it. When they did, they found this stone and Mahaperiyavar disclosed that the footprints were those of Rama’s twins – Lava and Kucha.

Thambadya Dakshinamoorthy

Normally Lord Dakshinamoorthy is seen only alone in most of the temples but here he is present with his consort Taara in the outer wall of the Valmikeeswarar shrine. He is sitting in a very stylish pose with his left leg raised and bent with his consort peeping through from behind.

This special Roopam of ‘Thambadya Dakshinamoorthy’ is very beautiful, powerful and a must-see. By worshipping him on a Thursday, one will be bestowed with all his desires especially marriage wishes, reunion of couples and a happy and peaceful married life. scan1.jpg Apart from here he is seen with his consort ‘Sakthi Dakshinamoorthy’ in Thirukallil.

Surutapalli Pallikondeswara Swamy Temple:

After completing the shrine on the left side, we come to the shrine on the right side where Lord Shiva as Pallikondeswarar is present in the reclining pose at the lap of Goddess Parvathi as Sarva Mangalaambihai. Usually, Lord Shiva is seen only in the form of a lingam in the sanctum sanctorum and only the urchava moorthy will be in human form. But here He is seen in human form and that too in the reclining pose. The granite sculpture of the reclining Lord is huge about 16 feet, as also the image of the seated Parvathi.

Sun God and Moon God are present on either side of Goddess Parvathi; Lord Maha Vishnu, Brahma, Lakshmi, Sage Margandeyar, Sage Agasthiar, Sage Valmiki, Indran, Sage Naradhar, Sanagathi Munis, Nandikeshwarar, Lord Subrahmanya with His Consorts, Lord Ganapathy and many Devars and rishis are present in the sanctum sanctorum as sculptures. The whole Kailasam has assembled there, a scene which can not be seen in any other temple. Here Viboothi (holy ash) is not given as prasadam like the other Shiva temples, instead holy water is given as prasadam and blessing is done with Chadari like a Vaishnavite temple.

When we stand in front of Pallikondeswarar, there is a feeling of gratitude that here is the divine resting who has consumed poison for the sake of every living creature, Devars and Demons. He saved all the worlds (not only our earth) from destruction and gave nectar in turn; such is the beauty of His Sacrifice.

There is a confidence that when he can even consume poison for the sake of us, will he not take care of us? As Sri Sri Ravishankar of Art of Living used to say frequently “You are not alone”, The feeling that the divine is always with us, within us is filling us. For the sacrifice He has made, what else could be befitting than to worship Him during Pradosham?

In the outer praharam, Sabhdha kannihas are present, and in the southwest corner is present the beautiful and magnificent Sthala vriksha tree. The place next to it is filled with the symbolic homes that people built with the stones nearby to get the boon of a new home. This popular belief is being followed very specially at Siruvarpuri Murugan temple but is generally followed in most of the temples in this region till Thirupathi. I have seen it already in Devadanam Perumal temple and Thirupathi apart from Siruvapuri and here.

Pradhosha Abhisheham
After completing all the rounds we sat for the Pradhosha abhisheham. Since this is the place where Pradhosham was started we expected a good crowd and so were a little anxious about whether it is possible to get a good darshan.

Fortunately, the Pradhosha Nandhi here is present in a big open mandapam that can withstand a big crowd in a way that everyone can have a clear darshan. Additionally, if you buy a 50 Rs ticket, one person is allowed in the inner reserved area and for a 250 Rs ticket, 4 persons are allowed and are given the Pradhosha prasadam.

Sri Pallikondeswara Swamy Temple Legends:

1) Pradhosham: Once Devars and Demons churned the milky ocean with snake Vasuki as the rope to get nectar to increase their longevity. Notwithstanding the pressure, the snake spilled the poison. In order to save everyone, at the behest of Lord Shiva, Nandhi and Sundarar brought the poison and Shiva shaped it like a round naval fruit and just swallowed it. If he swallows, the whole life on all the worlds (not only our earth) will be gone, if he doesn’t, the Devars and Demons will be gone. So Goddess Parvathi just held his throat gently and the poison stayed there. Because of this, He felt a little dizzy and rested on his lap of Parvathi. On waking up, He found that everyone was happy and feeling relieved since a big disaster was averted. So, happily, He then began His cosmic dance accompanied by Devendran reciting the flute, Mahalakshmi singing dance, Brahma playing the jalra, Mahavishnu playing the mridangam in the presence of all the Devars and Rishis This is what is being celebrated as ‘Pradosham’ every fortnight. Since everyone is assembled here during the pradhosha time, it seems screens will be put in the Perumal temples during that time.

2) Unknowingly twins Lava Kucha fought with his father Rama over the Aswametha yaha horse. To get salvation from this they visited many Shiva temples along with Sage Valmiki. There are many more temples in this region that have a legendary connection with Lava-Kucha and some of them I know are Kutraleeswarar temple at Koyampedu, Siruvarpuri and Thirukkallil.

Pradhosha Worship Procedure

1) Pradhosha time is between 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM
2) All the Gods and Goddesses have assembled during Pradhosham. So Pradhosha worship gives the blessings of all these Gods and Goddesses.
3) We should not go in between Shiva lingam and Nandhi in any temple in normal times and especially during the Pradhosha time, we strictly should not (Unfortunately, I have not seen this being followed in any temple including this).
4) We should first worship Nandhi, then Shiva through the gap between the two corns of the Nandhi.
5) Since Nandhi is the one who takes one’s prayers to Shiva, we can tell our wishes and prayers to the ears of Nandhi.
6) Very sacred to chant Rudram during Pradhosham.
7) Aruhampul garland and Kapparisi Nivedyam to Nandhi are very sacred.

Surutapalli Pallikondeswara Swamy Temple Gallery

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Pradhosha Types:

1) It is believed that each day of the week has different benefits during Pradhosham:
a) Sunday: Subha mangalam
b) Monday: Good thinking
c) Tuesday: Removal of poverty
d) Wednesday: Blessing of child, Knowledge and education
e) Thursday: Divine blessings through the Pithrus, all dangers will be eliminated
f) Friday: Nullifying Opposition
g) Saturday: Promotion, get back the lost wealth

2) Pradhosham comes on the Thrayodhasi day every fifteen days

3) Maha Pradhosham comes yearly during the month of Masi before Maha Sivarathri

4) The Pradhosham coming on Somavaram (Monday) is called Soma Pradhosham. Monday is a special day for Shiva.

5) Saturday is the day when Shiva swallowed poison and this is called Sani Pradhosham. It is categorized into three depending upon the month of the Pradhosham:
a) Uthama Sani Pradhosham (Maximum power) – The Sani Pradhosham that comes during the Tamil month of Chithirai, Vaihasi, Ayppasi and Karthihai during the Growing Lunar Cycle (Valar pirai), i.e., New moon to Full moon period.
b) Mathima Sani Pradhosham (Normal power) – The Sani Pradhosham that comes during the Tamil month of Chithirai, Vaihasi, Ayppasi and Karthihai during Diminishing Lunar Cycle (Thei pirai), i.e., Full moon to New moon period.
c) Athama Sani Pradhosham (Minimum power) – All the other Sani Pradhoshams

6) If the Maha Pradhosham comes on Saturday, it is called Sani Maha Pradhosham

7) According to the duration of Thrayodhasa star Pradhosham is categorized into three:
a) Uthama Pradhosham (Maximum power) – If the Thrayodhasi period is present from dawn to the next day dawn.
b) Mathima Pradhosham (Normal power) – If the Thrayodhasi period is present from dusk to the next day dusk
c) Athama Pradhosham (Minimum power) – If the Thrayodhasi period comes after sunset and goes before 4:30 PM the next day.

8) A Pradhosha worship gives the benefit of worshipping a Shiva temple daily throughout the year

9) A Sani Pradhosha worship gives the benefit of worshipping a Shiva temple daily throughout the year for five years

10) Continuous 120 Pradhosha worships give limitless benefits and salvation

11) It is believed that seeing a Pradhosham at Kutraleeswarar temple of Koyampedu will fetch the benefit of seeing 1000 Pradhoshams.

Surutapalli Pallikondeswara Swamy Temple Address :

Sri Pallikondeeswara Swamy Temple,
Surutapalli,
Sathavedu (VIA),
Chittoor – 517588
Phone: 07382005038, 08576-278599