Balatripura Sundari Devi
SRI BALA TRIPURA SUNDARI AMMAVARI SAMEDHA SRI BALA SIVAN TEMPLE is located in Tripurantakam village in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. Tripurantakam is located about 100 kilometres far away from the sacred shrine of Srisailam Temple. Sri Bala Tripura sundari Ammavari Sametha Sri Bala Sivan Temple contains the sanctity similar to the Holy Srisailam Sri Bramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy temple.
As per legend, Ancient kings used to grandly perform Thirukalyanam to Bala Tripura Sundari and Bala Sivan at this temple, and during that time, large number of people from nearby areas also would visit this temple, in order to get the glimpse of the holy couple. But after the passage of time, this practice was stopped in this temple. But still it is believed that those who perform Thirukalyanam to Ma Bala Tripura Sundari Devi and Bala Sivan at this temple, at least in their imagination, would be blessed with good married life, would be granted with good children, and they would shine brightly in their lives with the blessings of Ma Bala Tripura Sundari and Sri Bala Sivan.
Sri Tripura Sundari Devi temple is situated near hills, and the surroundings look very attractive and admiring, and it gives pleasantness to our mind and body, and Ma Tripura Sundari gives excellent Darshan to the devotees from her shrine. Here the child goddess is decorated with plenty of rich ornaments and pure garments are worn by her in her body, which adds more beauty to the holy worshipful goddess, Ma BalaTripura Sundari Devi.
The Advaita Saint Sri Jagadguru Adishankara had installed Srichakra in front of the shrine of Sri BalaTripurasundari Ammavari, and from then onwards, Kumkumarchana have been done to this Srichakra on a daily basis. As per ancient legend, Lord BalaSivan had once killed a demon called Tripurasura with the help of his consort Ma Shakti Devi at this place in the Kritayuga, and hence this temple is also called as Tripurantaka Devi Temple.
In ancient times many Kings, Sages and saints like Prahalada, Agastiya, Adishankara have performed penance at this place, and since their holy foot was pressed at the present place of the temple, this temple has attained more sanctity and purity.Devotees must have to climb some steps to reach the temple shrine.
The temple is also very good in art and architecture. Sri Tripurantakeswara swamy also known as Bala Sivan is situated in the main shrine in the form of Shiva Lingam, and regular Archanai and Abhishekham takes place to Sri Bala Sivan. The main avatar of Lord Shiva, Sri Veerabhadraswamy’s shrine is also located next to the shrine of BalaSivan.
There is an ancient cave present in this temple,and those who enter into the cave, could reach the Srisailam temple after travelling for a few hours by walk, by coming out from the other end of the cave. Performing meditation in this holy cave is considered as most auspicious, since ancient sages like Bhrigu and Atri were performed deep meditation inside this cave. In this temple, we can witness a beautiful deity, Sri Chamarakarna Ganapathi who gives a sweet darshan to the devotees.