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This
sacred shrine lies at the confluence of three rivers Swarnamukhi,
Bhima and Kalyani. As the Sivalinga was installed by Agasthya
Mahamuni, it is called Agastheeswara linga. This temple faces east
and has almost all parivaradevathas installed in well-built niches
like Ganesh, Subrahmanya etc. The Dwarapalakas at the entrance are
beautifully sculptured and are heightening the grandeur of the hall.
It has three entrances and a grand compound wall. 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 and in the middle of the river there is built a
mantap in which installed the beautiful statues of Balaji, Ayyappa,
Ganapati, etc. They are visit-worthy. And there is a small shrine
too for Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Anjaneya near the tank and it
is built in recent times.
It
lies at about 12 km to Tirupati, the world renowned Vaishnava
kshetra in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.
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