Thondavada Agastheeshwara Swamy Temple or Sri Maragadhavalli Sameetha Shri Agastheeswara Swamy Temple or Mukkoti Temple is a sacred Siva temple that lies at the confluence of three rivers Swarnamukhi, Bhima and Kalyani in Chandragiri Mandal near the temple town Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. The distance from Thondavada Siva temple is 11.2 km from Tirupati, RTC Bus stand and 11.3 km from Tirupati Railway station. The Siva lingam in this temple was installed by Agasthya Mahamuni and so it is called Agastheeswara lingam. This temple faces east and has almost all Parivara Devatas installed in well-built places like Sri Ganesha, Sri 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. The nearby 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.
Just opposite the Aalaya (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.
Sri Agastheswara Swamy Temple This temple has an inscription engraved on its wall. It is dated in the 31st year of Kulothunga Chola, but this is not a foundation inscription. This inscription may be helpful at best in setting the latter limit i.e. 1100-01 AD for its foundation. This temple square on the plan has an ekatala and a square sikhara among the five types described above.
This temple may be classified under the type I represented by the Irugisvara temple at Yatavakili. The points of similarities are the square plan and the square sikhara, the absence of niches on the walls, and niches with griva with Nandis at the corners.
The most important difference, however, is the protruding niche on the griva where the sthambha and the kirthimukha are more prominent and the placement of sculpture in the niches is subdued, while in the temple at Yatavakili, the figure is more prominent, the sthambha is almost absent and the kirthimukha is less pronounced.
The niche appears to be an integral part of the griva in the Irugisvara temple at Yatavakili unlike in the Agasthyeswara temple. This is later in date than the Chandramalliswara temple at Yatavakili which, though renovated in the time of Rajaraja III. It appears to have retained the features of its original construction during the time of Rajendra I.
In the River next to the temple, there is a footprint of Sri Venkateswara (Swami Vaari Padhaalu).
Tondavada Temple Uniqueness:
Unlike other temples, here Goddess Maragadhavalli appears on the left-hand side of Lord Agastheeshwara Swamy temple resembling the sitting posture of a Bride and a Bridegroom in marriage as per the Hindu religious practice. This could be visualized in most ancient temples only.
Instead of Navagrahas, the Sapthamathrukas were installed here. They are Kowmari, Vaishnavi, Vaarahi, Bramhi, Mahedri, Maheshwari and Chamundi. The same blessings are available to those who worship the Sapthamathrukas instead of Navagrahas. If one visits this temple could realize the sanctity of the ancient temple.
Agastheeshwara Thondavada (Mukkoti) Timings:
Morning: 6:00 AM to 1:30 PM
Evening: 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Thondavada Agastheeshwara Swamy Temple Seva Timings:
Abhishekam to Parivar Gods – 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM
Abhishekam to Swamy Varu and Amma Varu – 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM
Naivedyam – 11:30 AM
Deeparadhana, Naivedyam – 4:30 PM
Naivedyam, Ekantha Seva – 7:30 PM
Thondavada Agastheeshwara Temple History:
According to legends, after Sri Srinivasa and Goddess Padmavati Amma’s marriage, sage Agasthya told them to stay in his ashram.
He performed Nityapoojas to Lord Shiva in this place, which is nothing more than the present “Mukkoti Agasthyeswara Swamy temple”.
The sage Agasthya did penance here for Lord Shiva and caused the source of the river “Suwarnamukhi” from there.
How to reach Agastheswara Swamy Temple by Bus:
- A.P.S.R.T.C local buses to Chandragiri are available from Tirupati Bus Station and Tirupati Railway Station.
- AP Gov buses to Chittoor, Pakala, Kanipakam goes via Mukkoti.
- T.T.D runs buses that are also available for a nominal fee.
- Buses that go to Talakona, Ramgampeta, Piler, and Bakarapeta go via Kaloor Crossroad and from Kaloor Cross Mukkoti Temple is just 1.2 km, so you can reach the temple by Share Auto or Auto.
Thondavada Agastheswara Swamy Temple Address:
Sri Agastheshwara Swamy Temple,
Mukkoti (Near Tondavada Village),
Tirupati (Rural),
Chittoor District,
Andhra Pradesh – 517505.