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Kapila Theertham
Kapila Theertham
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Tirupati
Deity	Shiva as Kapileswara
Festivals	Maha Shivaratri, Karthika Masam, Kapileswara Swamy Brahmotsavams
Governing body	Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
Location
Location	Tirupati
State	Andhra Pradesh
Country	India
	Location in Andhra Pradesh
Geographic coordinates	13°39′23″N 79°25′15″E / 13.65639°N 79.42083°E
Architecture
Type	Dravidian architecture
Temple(s)	9
Inscriptions	Telugu and Dravidian languages
Website
	tirupati.org

Kapila Theertham is a small Shaivite temple and theertham, located at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, India. The idol of Shiva is believed to have been installed by Kapila, so Shiva here is referred to as Kapileswara.

The temple stands at the entrance to a mountain cave in one of the steep and vertical faces at the foot of the Tirumala hills, which are part of Seshachalam Hills, where the waters of the mountain stream fall directly into a temple tank.

At the temple entrance is a stone statue of Nandi (bull), Shiva's bull mount.

Etymology

The temple and Theertham had derived its name from Kapila Muni.^[1]

Legend

According to temple legend, Kapila Muni had performed penance to Siva at this place and blissed with the Muni's devotion, Siva and Parvathi presented themselves.^[1] The Lingam is believed to be self-manifested.^[1] Kapila muni is believed to emerged from the Bilam(Cavity) in the Pushkarini(Theertham) on to the earth.^[1]

History

The temple received very good patronage from the Kings of Vijayanagara in the 13th thru 16th centuries, especially Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya, and the well known Sri Krishna Deva Raya, and some of the later rulers like Venkatapathi Raya, and Aliya Ramaraya, Sri Krishna Deva Raya's Son-in-law.^{[citation needed]}

Administration

The present day temple is under the administration of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams(TTD).^[2] Under TTD this temple receives continued protection and sustainance, annual festivals that are celebrated great splendour.^[2]

Religious importance

During 'Kartika' month on the occasion of its "mukkoti" on the 'Purnima' (full moon) day, all the teerthas situated in the three world's merge into this Kapila Teertham at noon for ten 'Ghatikas' (one ghatika is equivalent to 24 minutes).^[1] It is believed that persons bathing in it at that auspicious time will attain salvation from the cycle of birth and death ('Brahmaloka').^{[citation needed]} Moreover, those who have never offered Pindam (thidhi or thadhhina) to their departed ancestor souls can do it here and wash off your sins for non performance of it in past.^{[citation needed]}

Festivals

The temple celebrates all important festivals of Shaivism which includes Maha Shivaratri, Karthika Deepam, Vinayaka Chavithi, Adikirtika etc. Kapileswara Swamy Brahmotsavams is the biggest event of the temple celebrated by TTD during the month of February.^[3] It is a nine-day event where the processional deity of Lord Shiva and Parvathi will taken procession on different vahanams starting with Hamsa vahanam and ending with Trishula snanam (celestial bath to Siva Trident).^[3]^[4]

Sub-Shrines

There are many sub-shrines with-in the main temple premises. Temples for Kamakshi-concert of Shiva, Vinayaka, Subhramanya, Agasthesswara, Rukmini Satyabhama Sametha Sri Krishna are few among them.