Kapila Theertham

Getting there

• By air

  Tirupati Airport is 15 km from the city centre.

• By train

  Tirupati has six railway stations, and Tirupati Main is the A1 station.

• By road

  National Highways 71 and 140 pass through Tirupati. APSRTC state buses run from the Tirupati bus station complex.

Why devotees come here

Kapila Theertham is a small Shaivite temple and sacred tank at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. Shiva is worshipped here as Kapileswara, and the temple stands at the entrance to a mountain cave at the foot of the Tirumala hills. Waters from a mountain stream fall directly into its tank.

Kapila Theertham is a small Shaivite temple and theertham, a sacred tank, at the foot of the Tirumala hills. Legend says Sage Kapila did penance to Shiva at this place, and Shiva and Parvathi appeared to him. The idol is believed to have been installed by the sage, so Shiva here is called Kapileswara. The lingam is believed to be self-manifested.

The shrine is built at the mouth of a cave in one of the steep, vertical faces at the foot of the hills. Waters of a mountain stream fall directly into the temple tank. A stone statue of Nandi, Shiva's bull mount, stands at the entrance. The temple also has shrines to Kamakshi, Vinayaka, Subhramanya, Agasthesswara, and Sri Krishna with Rukmini and Satyabhama.

The rulers of Vijayanagara gave the temple very good patronage in the 13th to 16th centuries, especially Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya. Today it is administered by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). The Tirupati district government lists it among the famous Saivite temples and theerthams of the town.

Festivals

• FebruaryKapileswara Swamy Brahmotsavams

  The biggest event of the temple, celebrated by TTD.

• Kartika month, Purnima (full moon) dayKartika full moon

  Legend says the waters of all holy tirths merge into the tank at noon.

Tips for your visit

• Look for the stone statue of Nandi, Shiva's bull mount, at the temple entrance.
• Visit in February if you want to see the Kapileswara Swamy Brahmotsavams, the temple's biggest event.

Questions people ask