4 Hindu Puranams · 4.1 Hindu Puranams
4.1.3 Sacred places: Jyotirlingas, Shakti Peethas and AP kshetras
The Puranas, above all the Skanda Purana, praise the tirthas of India: the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva, the Shakti Peethas where Sati's body fell, the seven moksha cities, and in Andhra the Pancharamas, Tirumala, Srisailam, Simhachalam and Ahobilam; EO Paper II asks which place, which deity, which Purana and which festival.
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Core facts
- Tirtha = a crossing place (a ford) to liberation. The Puranas name three kinds: sthavara (fixed holy places), jangama (moving: holy persons) and manasa (of the mind: truth, patience, self-control).
- Naimisharanya (Naimisharanyam, on the Gomati, Uttar Pradesh): where Suta (Sutha Mahamuni, Ugrashravas) told the Puranas to Shaunaka and the sages during their long Satra-yaga. It is in Sitapur district.
- Prabhasa Tirtha (near Somnath, Saurashtra, Gujarat): where the Yadavas killed one another with clubs of eraka grass (the Mausala episode) and Krishna left his body (struck by the hunter Jara). The Skanda Purana has a whole Prabhasa Khanda.
- Skanda Purana: the longest Purana, about 81,000 shlokas. Its Vaishnava Khanda holds the Venkatachala Mahatmyam, the sthala purana of Tirumala.
- Prayaga (Prayagraj): Tirtharaja, the king of tirthas, praised in the Matsya and Kurma Puranas; the Triveni Sangamam of Ganga, Yamuna and the hidden Saraswati.
- Sapta Mokshapuris (seven cities that give moksha; listed in the Narada Purana): Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya (Haridwar), Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika (Ujjain), Dvaraka.
- Kashi (Varanasi): Vishwanatha (Vishveshvara) and the Manikarnika ghat; the Linga Purana calls it Avimukta kshetra; the Skanda Purana's Kashi Khanda ties Kashi, Vishveshvara, the Ganga and moksha ("death in Kashi frees").
- Gaya (Bihar): named after the asura Gayasura; the Vishnupada temple; the first place for pinda-dana to ancestors (Vayu, Narada, Matsya, Agni, Garuda Puranas).
- Char Dham (four abodes, linked with Adi Sankara): Badrinath (north), Puri (east), Dwaraka (west), Rameswaram (south).
- Kumbha Mela places (four): Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik.
- Twelve Jyotirlingas (listed in the Shiva Purana, Koti Rudra Samhita; they are that Purana's main place theme):
| Jyotirlinga | Place | State |
|---|---|---|
| Somanatha | Prabhasa / Somnath | Gujarat |
| Mallikarjuna | Srisailam | Andhra Pradesh |
| Mahakaleshwara | Ujjain (on the Kshipra) | Madhya Pradesh |
| Omkareshwara | Mandhata island in the Narmada | Madhya Pradesh |
| Kedarnath | Himalaya (Mandakini) | Uttarakhand |
| Bhimashankara | Sahyadri, source of the Bhima | Maharashtra |
| Kashi Vishwanatha | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh |
| Tryambakeshwara | Near Nashik, source of the Godavari | Maharashtra |
| Vaidyanatha | Deoghar (some lists: Parli) | Jharkhand |
| Nageshwara | Near Dwaraka (some lists: Aundha) | Gujarat |
| Rameshwara | Rameswaram | Tamil Nadu |
| Grishneshwara (Ghushmeshwara) | Near Ellora | Maharashtra |
- Shakti Peethas: Sati, Daksha's daughter, gave up her body at Daksha's yajna; Shiva carried it in grief; Vishnu's Sudarshana chakra cut it, and each place where a part fell became a Peetha. The usual count is 51 (other texts give 52, 64 or 108). The Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha stotra, attributed to Adi Sankara, lists 18.
- Kamarupa (Kamakhya, Guwahati, Assam): the best-known Peetha of the Shakta tradition.
- AP's three of the eighteen Peethas: Bhramaramba (Srisailam), Puruhutika (Pithapuram), Manikyamba (Draksharama). Jogulamba (Alampur) is in Telangana.
- Pancharamas (five Shiva shrines, all in AP): Amararama (Amaravati), Draksharama, Kumararama (Samarlakota), Ksheerarama (Palakollu), Somarama (Bhimavaram).
- Trilingas (the Trilinga desha): Srisailam, Kaleswaram, Draksharama.
- Tirumala: Sri Venkateswara (Srinivasa) on Venkatadri, one of the seven hills (Seshachalam); worship follows the Vaikhanasa Agama; Swami Pushkarini is the temple tank in Tirumala; TTD was set up in 1932.
- Srisailam (Nallamala hills, on the Krishna): Mallikarjuna Swamy (Jyotirlinga) with Bhramaramba (Shakti Peetha) in one temple complex.
- Simhachalam (Visakhapatnam): Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha; the deity stays under sandal paste; the true form is seen only at Chandanotsavam on Akshaya Tritiya (Vaisakha Shukla Tritiya).
- Ahobilam (Nallamala, Nandyal district): Nava Narasimha (nine Narasimha shrines), where Narasimha came out of the pillar and killed Hiranyakashipu.
Explained
Tirthas in the Puranas
- The Skanda Purana is a book of tirthas; its seven Khandas are Maheshwara, Vaishnava, Brahma, Kashi, Avantya, Nagara, Prabhasa. The Padma and Matsya Puranas and the Mahabharata's Vana Parva (Tirtha Yatra) also carry tirtha-mahatmyas.
- Kurukshetra is the dharmakshetra; Pushkara (Rajasthan) is the tirtha of Brahma; Gaya is the place for shraddha (offerings to ancestors, praised in the Garuda Purana and Vayu Purana).
- Pushkaralu: each of twelve rivers gets its Pushkaram when Brihaspati (Jupiter) enters a given rashi; Godavari when Jupiter is in Simha, Krishna when in Kanya.
Which Purana praises which place
| Purana | Places it praises |
|---|---|
| Brahma | Purushottama kshetra (Puri Jagannatha), the Konark Sun shrine, Gautami (the Godavari) |
| Shiva | the twelve Jyotirlingas |
| Linga | Kashi as Avimukta |
| Skanda | Kashi Khanda (Kashi); Avanti Khanda (Ujjayini, Mahakala); Reva Khanda (the Narmada); Vaishnava Khanda (Venkatachala, Puri, Badari, Ayodhya); Brahma Khanda (Setu, Rameswaram) |
| Varaha | four tirthas: Chakra (wealth), Rupa (good of the ancestors), Yoga (end of attachment and hatred), Soma (learning and fame); Mathura, Gokarna |
| Vamana | Kurukshetra and its many tirthas |
| Kurma, Matsya | Kashi, Prayaga, the Narmada; Matsya also Gaya |
Mountains, kingdoms and places in the Puranas
| Name | Today | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| Meru | mythic | golden mountain at the centre of Jambudvipa |
| Bharatavarsha | India | one varsha of Jambudvipa, praised as karmabhumi (land of action) |
| Mandara | Mandar Hill, Bihar (tradition) | churning rod; Vasuki the rope; Kurma bore it |
| Vindhya | central India | Agastya told it to stay bent until he came back from the south (he never did) |
| Gandhamadana | Himalaya | Hanuman's herb mountain; Vedavati's penance |
| Rishyamuka | Hampi | Sugriva's refuge; Vali kept out by Matanga's curse |
| Mahendragiri | Eastern Ghats (Odisha–AP) | Parashurama's mountain |
| Malaya | southern Western Ghats | famous for sandalwood |
| Sahya | Western Ghats | a kula-parvata; source of the Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri |
| Pratishthanapura | near Prayagraj | early capital of Pururavas (Aila, Lunar line) |
| Hastinapura | near Meerut | capital of the Kurus |
| Indraprastha | Delhi | Pandava capital built on Khandavaprastha; the Maya Sabha |
| Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | capital of the Shurasena kingdom; Krishna's birthplace |
| Mahishmati | on the Narmada | Haihaya capital of Kartaviryarjuna |
| Vidarbha | eastern Maharashtra | Rukmini's home |
| Alakapuri | near Kailasa | Kubera's capital; Yakshas and Guhyakas |
| Kanchipuram | Tamil Nadu | Ekambareshvara, Kamakshi and Varadaraja Swamy |
| Gokarna | Karnataka coast | Ravana's Atmalinga, worshipped as Mahabaleshvara |
| Pushkara | Rajasthan | the kshetra of Brahma |
| Badarikashrama | Badrinath | penance of Nara and Narayana |
Jyotirlingas: the stories asked
- Somanatha: Chandra (Soma), cursed by Daksha to waste away, was freed by worshipping Shiva at Prabhasa; so the moon waxes and wanes.
- Mallikarjuna: when Ganesha won the race around the world by going round his parents, Kartikeya left for the Krauncha mountain in anger; Shiva and Parvati came to live near him as Mallikarjuna and Bhramaramba.
- Rameshwara: the linga worshipped by Rama before (or after) the war with Ravana.
- Grishneshwara: the last of the twelve, named for the devotee Ghushma.
- Maharashtra has the most Jyotirlingas in the common list (Bhimashankara, Tryambakeshwara, Grishneshwara); Vaidyanatha at Deoghar is in Jharkhand.
- Not Jyotirlingas (often given as options): Ekambareshvara (Kanchi), Arunachaleshwara, Srikalahasti; these are Pancha Bhuta sthalas.
Shakti Peethas: the eighteen in Sankara's list
| Goddess | Place | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Shankari | Trincomalee | Sri Lanka |
| Kamakshi | Kanchipuram | Tamil Nadu |
| Shrinkhala | Pradyumna | West Bengal |
| Chamundeshwari | Mysuru | Karnataka |
| Jogulamba | Alampur | Telangana |
| Bhramaramba | Srisailam | Andhra Pradesh |
| Mahalakshmi | Kolhapur | Maharashtra |
| Ekaveera | Mahur | Maharashtra |
| Mahakali | Ujjain | Madhya Pradesh |
| Puruhutika | Pithapuram | Andhra Pradesh |
| Girija (Biraja) | Jajpur | Odisha |
| Manikyamba | Draksharama | Andhra Pradesh |
| Kamarupa (Kamakhya) | Guwahati | Assam |
| Madhaveshwari | Prayaga | Uttar Pradesh |
| Vaishnavi | Jwalamukhi | Himachal Pradesh |
| Mangala Gauri | Gaya | Bihar |
| Vishalakshi | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh |
| Saraswati | Kashmir | Jammu and Kashmir |
Pancharamas. Tradition: the asura Tarakasura wore a Shiva linga (the Amritalinga) at his throat and could not be killed; Kumaraswamy (Subrahmanya) broke it, and its five pieces fell at five places, each an arama.
| Arama | Place | Shiva |
|---|---|---|
| Amararama | Amaravati (Palnadu) | Amareswara |
| Draksharama | Draksharama (Konaseema) | Bhimeswara |
| Kumararama | Samarlakota (Kakinada) | Kumara Bhimeswara |
| Ksheerarama | Palakollu (West Godavari) | Ksheera Ramalingeswara |
| Somarama | Bhimavaram (West Godavari) | Someswara |
- Draksharama is also called Dakshina Kashi; tradition places Daksha's yajna here, and the goddess is Manikyamba (a Shakti Peetha).
- Who installed each piece (legend): Amararama, Indra (the amaras, gods); Kumararama, Kumaraswamy; Somarama, Chandra (Soma), hence Someswara; Ksheerarama, Rama (a local story says Vishnu).
- Somarama: the linga is said to change colour with the moon's phases.
- Tripurantakam (Markapuram district, earlier Prakasam; Tripurantakeswara with Bala Tripurasundari) is the eastern gate of Srisailam, not a Pancharama.
- Chalukya Bhima I (Eastern Chalukya, 9th–10th century) built the Bhimeswara temples at Draksharama and Samarlakota (Kumararama Bhimeswara).
Tirumala (Tirupati)
- Seven hills: Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrishabhadri, Narayanadri, Venkatadri. The Lord is on Venkatadri (Venkatachalam), south of Swami Pushkarini.
- Seshachalam: Adisesha and Vayu tested their strength; Adisesha coiled round Ananda Parvatam, Vayu blew; part of the hill came down near the Swarnamukhi, and Adisesha became the Seshachala range.
- Sthala purana: the Venkatachala Mahatmyam (Skanda Purana; also in the Varaha and Bhavishyottara Puranas). The legend in order:
- Sages at a sacrifice sent Bhrigu to find the worthiest of the Trimurtis; at Vaikuntha he kicked Vishnu's chest, and Vishnu only asked if his foot was hurt.
- Lakshmi, whose seat is Vishnu's chest, left in anger for Karaveerapuram (Kolhapur); Vishnu came to Venkatadri looking for her.
- As Srinivasa he lived in an anthill under a tamarind tree; Brahma and Shiva became a cow and calf to feed him with milk; an angry cowherd's axe struck Srinivasa.
- Vakula Devi looked after him: she was Yashoda reborn, granted the wish to see Krishna's wedding.
- King Akasa Raja found Padmavati in a lotus while ploughing; Srinivasa met her while hunting; for the wedding he borrowed from Kubera (a belief, not the legal basis of the hundi).
- When Lakshmi and Padmavati met, Srinivasa stood still in stone as Venkateswara.
- Adi Varaha Kshetra: the Varaha Swamy temple stands on the bank of Swami Pushkarini; by custom pilgrims see Varaha first.
- Ananda Nilayam: the gold-covered vimana over the sanctum.
- Five idols (Panchabera) at Tirumala:
- Dhruva bera: Mula Virat, the main fixed idol
- Kautuka bera: Bhoga Srinivasa
- Snapana bera: Ugra Srinivasa (Snapana Murti)
- Utsava bera: Malayappa Swamy with Sridevi and Bhudevi
- Bali bera: Koluvu Srinivasa
- Festivals: the annual Brahmotsavam (nine days, begun by Brahma in the legend; Dhvajarohanam on day one, Garuda Seva on day five, Chakrasnanam in Swami Pushkarini on the last day); Vaikuntha Ekadasi (Vaikuntha Dwara darshan); Ratha Saptami.
- Nearby: Padmavati temple at Tiruchanur (Alamelu Mangapuram, about 5 km away; Panchami Theertham in the Karthika Brahmotsavam); Govindaraja Swamy temple in Tirupati (installed by Ramanuja in 1130 CE, by TTD history).
- Devotees: Annamacharya of Tallapaka (sankirtanas on Venkateswara), Tarigonda Vengamamba, Hathiramji (Bavaji).
- TTD: set up under the TTD Act of 1932 (Madras Act XIX of 1933); the Hathiramji Mutt mahants had managed the temple from 1843, when the East India Company withdrew, until 1933. Today TTD is run under a separate chapter of the A.P. Endowments Act, 1987; its Executive Officer represents it in suits, and the Government sanctions its budget.
Srisailam
- Old name Sriparvatam; also called Dakshina Kailasam. In the Nallamala forest, Nandyal district, above Patalaganga (the Krishna).
- Bhramaramba: the goddess took the form of a bee (bhramara) to kill Arunasura.
- Sakshi Ganapati records the visit of each pilgrim; seeing Shikhareswaram (the peak) is said to free one from rebirth.
- Festivals: Maha Shivaratri Brahmotsavam, Ugadi (large Kannada and Maharashtrian crowds), Kumbhotsavam for Bhramaramba.
- The Chenchu forest people of the Nallamala treat Mallikarjuna as their son-in-law (Chenchu Mallanna). Shivaji built the northern gopuram (1677).
Simhachalam
- Hill shrine near Visakhapatnam of Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha (Varaha and Narasimha in one form).
- Legend: Prahlada built the first shrine after Narasimha saved him; King Pururavas found the buried idol and covered it with sandal paste.
- Chandanotsavam (Chandana Yatra): on Akshaya Tritiya the paste is removed for nija rupa darshanam, then new paste is laid on.
- The stone temple is in the Kalinga style, mainly of the Eastern Ganga period (13th century); Krishnadevaraya left an inscription after his eastern campaign (1516).
Ahobilam
- Name from the gods' cry "Aho balam" (what strength!) on seeing Narasimha. Garuda did penance here, so the hill is Garudachalam (Garudadri).
- Nava Narasimha: Jwala, Ahobila (Ugra), Malola, Kroda (Varaha), Karanja, Bhargava, Yogananda, Chatravata, Pavana.
- Upper Ahobilam has the Nava Narasimha shrines; Lower Ahobilam has the Prahladavarada temple. Ugra Stambham is shown as the pillar from which Narasimha came out. The Ahobila Mutt (Srivaishnava) was founded in the 14th century by Adi Van Satakopa Jeeyar.
Other AP kshetras asked with these
| Kshetra (district) | Deity | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| Srikurmam (Srikakulam) | Kurmanatha | the main temple of the Kurma avatar; Kalinga style |
| Arasavalli (Srikakulam) | Suryanarayana | old Sun temple; Rathasaptami (Magha Shuddha Saptami) |
| Srimukhalingam (Srikakulam) | Mukhalingeswara | on the Vamsadhara; Eastern Ganga Shaiva centre; a face on the linga |
| Vizianagaram | Paidithalli Ammavaru | town's village goddess; legend of the Battle of Bobbili (1757); Sirimanu festival |
| Visakhapatnam (Burujupeta) | Kanaka Mahalakshmi | worship on the Thursdays of Margasira |
| Annavaram (Kakinada) | Veera Venkata Satyanarayana | Ratnagiri hill above the Pampa river; the Satyanarayana Vratam (Reva Khanda) |
| Pithapuram (Kakinada) | Kukkuteswara (kukkuta = rooster), Puruhutika | Shakti Peetha; Padagaya (Gayasura's feet); Sripada Srivallabha born here |
| Antarvedi (Konaseema) | Lakshmi Narasimha | where the Vasishta Godavari meets the sea; the idol faces west |
| Dwaraka Tirumala (Eluru) | Venkateswara | Chinna Tirupati; named after sage Dwaraka |
| Vijayawada, Indrakeeladri (NTR) | Kanaka Durga | Arjuna's penance for the Pashupatastra; Dasara |
| Mangalagiri (Guntur) | Panakala Narasimha | jaggery panakam poured into the Lord's mouth |
| Kotappakonda (Palnadu) | Trikoteswara | three peaks; huge decorated prabhalu at Maha Shivaratri |
| Nellore | Talpagiri Ranganatha | on the Penna; Adisesha as the Lord's couch (talpa) |
| Penchalakona (Nellore) | Penusila Lakshmi Narasimha | Lakshmi as Chenchu Lakshmi calmed the fierce Narasimha |
| Srikalahasti (Tirupati) | Kalahastiswara, Jnanaprasunambika | on the Swarnamukhi; Vayu linga; spider, snake, elephant; Kannappa |
| Kanipakam (Chittoor) | Varasiddhi Vinayaka | self-born idol found by mute, deaf and blind brothers digging a well |
| Gudimallam (Tirupati) | Parasurameswara | very old linga with a standing Shiva carved on it (3rd–2nd century BCE) |
| Ontimitta (YSR Kadapa) | Kodandarama | Rama, Sita and Lakshmana on one stone |
| Pushpagiri (YSR Kadapa) | Chennakesava and Shiva shrines | on the Penna; Madhya Ahobilam to Vaishnavas, Madhya Kailasam to Shaivas |
| Lepakshi (Sri Sathya Sai) | Veerabhadra | built by Virupanna and Veeranna (Vijayanagara); hanging pillar; Jatayu legend |
| Mahanandi (Nandyal) | Mahanandeeswara | chief of the Navanandulu; clear spring-fed tank |
| Yaganti (Nandyal) | Umamaheswara | Agastya's shrine; a Nandi believed to be growing |
| Mantralayam (Kurnool) | Raghavendra Swamy | Madhva saint's brindavanam on the Tungabhadra |
- Pancha Bhuta sthalas: earth Kanchipuram, water Jambukeswaram (Tiruvanaikaval), fire Tiruvannamalai, air Srikalahasti, space Chidambaram.
AP angle
- AP has one Jyotirlinga (Srisailam), three of Sankara's 18 Shakti Peethas (Srisailam, Pithapuram, Draksharama), all five Pancharamas and two of the three Trilingas (Srisailam, Draksharama; Kaleswaram is in Telangana).
- Narasimha kshetras run along the state: Ahobilam (Nava Narasimha), Simhachalam, Mangalagiri, Antarvedi, Vedadri, Dharmapuri (Telangana) and Yadagirigutta (Telangana).
- Brahmotsavams in the big devasthanams are planned by their EOs: Tirumala under TTD (its own chapter of the Act), and Srisailam, Kanaka Durga, Simhachalam, Annavaram under the Endowments department.
Common traps
- ✗ "Krishna left his body at Dwaraka (or Kurukshetra)." ✓ At Prabhasa Tirtha.
- ✗ "Suta told the Puranas at Kurukshetra." ✓ At Naimisharanya.
- ✗ "The Padma Purana is the longest." ✓ The Skanda Purana (about 81,000 shlokas).
- ✗ "Swami Pushkarini is at Srirangam." ✓ At Tirumala.
- ✗ "Ahobilam is a Pancharama." ✓ Ahobilam is the Nava Narasimha kshetra; the Pancharamas are Shiva shrines.
- ✗ "Kumararama is at Kakinada town." ✓ At Samarlakota; Somarama is at Bhimavaram, Ksheerarama at Palakollu.
- ✗ "Tripurantakam is a Pancharama." ✓ It is the eastern gate of Srisailam; the five aramas are Amaravati, Draksharama, Samarlakota, Palakollu, Bhimavaram.
- ✗ "Antarvedi is Dakshina Kashi." ✓ Draksharama is the usual answer (some local accounts also use the name for Antarvedi).
- ✗ "Alampur Jogulamba is in AP." ✓ It is in Telangana; AP's Peethas are Srisailam, Pithapuram, Draksharama.
- ✗ "Simhachalam's deity is seen every day." ✓ The nija rupa is seen only at Chandanotsavam (Akshaya Tritiya).
- ✗ "Tirumala follows the Pancharatra Agama." ✓ Vaikhanasa (Ramanuja popularised Pancharatra elsewhere).
- ✗ "TTD was set up in 1947 or 1956." ✓ 1932.
Quick revision
- Naimisharanya: Suta to Shaunaka; Prabhasa: Krishna's departure (Skanda Purana, Prabhasa Khanda).
- Skanda Purana: longest, ~81,000 shlokas; Venkatachala Mahatmyam in its Vaishnava Khanda.
- Moksha cities: Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika, Dvaraka.
- 12 Jyotirlingas (Shiva Purana); AP's one: Mallikarjuna, Srisailam.
- Shakti Peethas: Daksha yajna, Sudarshana; usually 51; Sankara's list 18.
- AP Peethas: Bhramaramba, Puruhutika (Pithapuram), Manikyamba (Draksharama).
- Pancharamas: Amaravati, Draksharama, Samarlakota, Palakollu, Bhimavaram.
- Tirumala: seven hills, Vaikhanasa, Swami Pushkarini, Varaha first, TTD 1932.
- Simhachalam: Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha, Chandanotsavam on Akshaya Tritiya.
- Ahobilam: Nava Narasimha, Ugra Stambham, Garudadri.
Go deeper: Deeper, Mains writing (beyond what APPSC Paper I usually asks)
Deeper Advanced
- Why the Peetha counts differ. The Puranas and Tantras list different numbers (Devi Bhagavata, Kalika Purana, Tantra Chudamani). APPSC keyed 51 in 2023; when 18 is asked, it means Sankara's Ashtadasha list. Answer by the list the question names.
- Two Jyotirlingas are disputed. Vaidyanatha (Deoghar or Parli) and Nageshwara (Dwaraka or Aundha). The state of the other ten is safe to ask; for these two, read the options.
- Srisailam's double status. One of the twelve Jyotirlingas and one of the eighteen Shakti Peethas, in the same complex; it is also one of the Trilingas. Tradition says Adi Sankara composed the Sivananda Lahari here.
- Mahatmyas as history. Sthala puranas (Venkatachala, Srisaila, Simhachala Mahatmyams) are devotional texts; temple dates come from inscriptions, not from them.
Mains writing Mains writing
- Frame: the Puranas turned local shrines into an all-India pilgrimage map by giving each a story (a fallen part of Sati, a linga of light, an avatar's act).
- Points: the sacred geography joins regions (Char Dham, Jyotirlingas, Peethas); sthala puranas tie Andhra shrines to the epics and Puranas; pilgrimage drives the temple economy that the Endowments Act regulates.
- Example: Tirumala's Venkatachala Mahatmyam, Varaha first darshan and the Panchabera.
Practise this topic. Questions on Sacred places and kshetras, with answers explained.
All Hindu Puranams notes · APPSC Paper I syllabus · APPSC Paper I Mock 1 with answers · Start free
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