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The Mahathyam of the seventeen teerthas at Tirupati

 

First: Kapila-Thirtha

At the foot of the hill is enshrined Kapila Lingam which was formerly worshipped by the sage Kapila in the Patalaloka. For some cause, it split the earth and slipped to its surface and all the devas prayed that it might rest there. Making an opening in the earth in front if it, appeared a kapila-pasu (tawny cow) and this hole is the Kapila tirtha which possesses powers of destroying all sins. 

Second: Sakra-tirtha

Above the Kapila-tirtha lies the very holy Sakra-tirtha, by a bath in which Lord Indra was freed of his curse by Gautama Maharishi for his illicit connection with ahalya.

Third: Vishvaksena-Saras

Above this is the Vishvaksenasaras where Vishvaksena, the son of Varuna, rendered penance & obtained an identical form of that of Vishnu together with the commandership of Vishnu's forces.

Fourth to Eighth: Panchayudha-Tirthas

The 5 thirthas named after the 5 weapons of Vishnu, viz, Sankha (Conch), Chakra (Disc), Gada (Club), Sainga (bow) and Nandaka (sword), which are all very holy pools and are situated above the Vishraksena saras.

Ninth: Agnikunda-tirtha

This lies above the Panchayudha-tirthas & is inaccessible.

Tenth: Brahma-Tirtha

Above the last one is situated the Brahma-tirtha which confers great merit.

Eleventh to Seventeenth: Saptarishi-Tirthas

Near the Brahma-tirtha are the Saptarshi-tirthas, which contain holy waters. Of these seven tirthas the first one possesses ten times greater merit as that of all the previously mentioned tirthas taken together, and each successive one among the seven similar possesses merit ten times greater than that of each prior one.

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