About Sri Balaji Devasthanam
It is situated on the banks of river Vynateya has attained reparation as Bala Tirupathi and is surrounded by River Godavari on three sides and the Bay of Bengal on the fourth side.
According to Sthala Purana, King Kasyapa Prajapathi had two wives, The first one was Kadruva. all her progeny were serpents. The second wife was Vinata. Vinata had a son “Vynateya”. Because of mysterious reasons Vynateya had eaten up all the serpents one day.
When a king named Jeemutha Vahana tried to rescue a serpent named Shankachududu. he lost his life at this place. Jeemutha Vahana sacrifices his life for a holy cause. Hence in commemoration of his sacrifice, this place started being called Arphanaphali(Arphana means sacrifice, phali means result. Over time, Arphanaphali changed to Appanapalli.
Kasyapa Prajapathi at the request of Jeemuthavahana was convinced to direct Vynateya to divert one channel holy river Godavari flow through Appanapalli. This was to sanctify the dead serpents and to liberate their souls to reach heavenly abode. Meanwhile Vakulamatha the mother of Lord Venkateswara had a longing to see her son as a child. Garuthmantha had also requested the lord to make the river Vynatheya pious.
One Sri Molleti Rama Swamy who was born to Sri Molleti Munieyya and Mangamma couple was an ordinary coconut merchant and a very good devotee of Lord Venkateswara. Every year he used to visit Tirupathi and he would offer some part of his earnings to Lord Venkateswara Swamy. On one occasion when Sri Molleti Rama Swamy requested the priests in the temple to place the money at the lord’s feet, but the priests rejected the request of Rama Swamy. He was very much disappointed.
On the very night of that day, lord Venkateswara appeared in a dream of Sri Ramaswamy and consoled him and said I will come to Appanapalli as Bala Balaji.
Lord Venkateswara Swamy to fulfill the above three obligations, incarnated himself as Sri Bala Balaji Swamy. Sri Ramaswamy at once installed the photos of Sri Venkateswara Swamy and his consort Padmavati Ammavaru in his coconut shop in 1966.
The Vigraha Prathishta of Sri Bala Balaji Swamy in the newly constructed temple was performed by the holy hands of Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana china Jeeyar Swamiji installed the idols of lord and his consorts on 4-7-1991.
Timings to visit Sri Balaji Devasthanam
Sunday to Friday – 06:30 AM – 12:00 PM | 02:00 PM – 07:15 PM
On Saturday’s – 05:00 AM – 01:00 PM | 02:00 PM – 07:15 PM
Festivals
Brahmosthavams is being celebrated from Gesta Suddha Dasami – Gesta Suddha Chathurdhasi every year.
How to reach Sri Balaji Devasthanam
By Air: Rajahmundry Airport – 84 km
By Train: Palakollu Railway Station – 35 km
By Road: Rajahmundry – 87 km, Palakollu – 32 km
Address
Sri Bala Balaji Swamy Vari Devasthanam, Appanapalli, Mamidikuduru Mandal, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, 533247, India.
East Godavari Official Website Of Sri Balaji Devasthanam
Also Read Place To Visit In And Around East Godavari District
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