Sri Venkateswara Temple, Thirumala Giri, Jaggayyapet.

Venkateswara Swamy Temple, Thirumala Giri, Jaggayyapet, Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh, is a hilltop temple and renowned for the main deity, Swayambu
Valmikodbhavudu. The extraordinary feature about the main deity is that it is in the form of an anthill. Venkateswara Swamy Temple is about 5 km from
Jaggayyapet and 7 km from Chillakallu and is situated on National Highway 9 which goes from Vijayawada to Hyderabad.

The Sthala Purana or history of Venkateswara Swamy Temple indicates that Bharadwaja Maharishi performed penance here in Tretha Yuga. Lord Sri Maha
Vishnu was pleased with his devotion and appeared before him. The overwhelmed sage requested Maha Vishnu to set up a permanent abode on the hill. Lord
Maha Vishnu stayed back as Sri Venkateswara where the hilltop temple came up. Here, both the hill and the village are known as Thirumala Giri.
Attractions
Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple
The main tower or Raja Gopuram of Venkateswara Swamy Temple is a five-tiered tower. The temple closes at 6 pm everyday due to the belief that serpents
come and worship Lord Venkateswara Swamy in the evenings. The priest keeps milk at the temple premises after completing the last pooja for the day and the
doors of the temple are closed. The next morning when the doors of the temple are open, the containers are empty. People believe that even today serpents
come here and worship the Lord during the night and partake of the milk kept in containers for them.
Steps from this temple lead to another prominent temple which is the Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple. There is a Dwajasthambam, or the pillar in front of the
sanctum, and the Nandi, or sacred bull, in the front of the main shrine. Inside the sanctum in this temple is the Sthala Vruksham Sivalingam. There is a stone
idol of Lord Shiva with his consort, Goddess Bramaramba here.

Main entrance to the temple.

Sthala purana says Baradwaja Maharishi penanced here in Tretha Yuga. Sri Maha Vishnu was pleased with his penance, and appeared before him to fulfill
his desire. Bardwaja Mahrishi earnestly prayed Lordto dwell on the hill forever. His wish was fulfilled by Lord, who stayed back as Sri Venkateswara on the
hill top.

Both Hill and the Village, is named as Thirumala giri

The temple is open from 6AM to 6PM only. Poojari says it is a fact that, Serpants worship Lord Venkateswara, hence the temple is closed after 6PM. He says
milk is kept during the last pooja before shutting the door. Next morning when the door is opened the vessel is empty. We believe serpants still worship in the
night.

Sri Venkateswara Temple view from Lord Siva Temple.

From the temple we find few steps which lead us to Mallikarjuna Swamy temple.

There is a Dwajasthambam in front of the sanctum and Nandi is seen in front.

Sthala Vruksham