The Pallikondeswara Swamy Temple in Surutapalli is a unique and significant Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, on the border with Tamil Nadu.
The temple is famous for a rare and beautiful posture of Lord Shiva. Unlike most Shiva temples where the deity is in the form of a Lingam, here Lord Shiva is in a reclining posture (Pallikondeshwarar), similar to Lord Vishnu's Ananthasayanam posture. He is seen resting on the lap of his consort, Goddess Parvati (Sarva Mangalambikai).
This unique form is linked to a legend from the Samudra Manthana (the churning of the milk ocean). When the devas and asuras were churning the ocean, a deadly poison called Halahalam emerged. To save the universe, Lord Shiva drank the poison, but Goddess Parvati prevented it from going down his throat, which turned his neck blue (hence, the name Neelakantha). Feeling dizzy, he came to this spot and rested his head on Parvati's lap. This is where the name "Surutapalli" comes from, with "surutu" meaning "dizzy" and "palli" meaning "resting." The temple is also believed to be the place where the concept of Pradosha puja originated. It is considered highly auspicious to visit the temple on a Pradosha day, as it is believed to bring immense blessings and relieve one of all problems.
The temple's architecture is in the Dravidian style, with a three-tiered Rajagopuram. There are also sub-shrines for other deities, including Lord Vinayaka, Lord Muruga, and a unique idol of Lord Dakshinamurthy with his consort.
Temple Timings
The temple is generally open for darshan throughout the day, with a brief break in the afternoon. The timings are approximately:
Morning: 6:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Evening: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Note: The timings may vary on special occasions and during festivals.
Getting There
The temple is located in Surutapalli, a village that is easily accessible from both Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
→ From Tirupati: The temple is approximately 70-75 km from Tirupati. You can hire a taxi or take a bus from Tirupati that goes towards Uthukottai or Chennai, as it passes through Surutapalli.
→ From Chennai: The temple is about 65 km from Chennai. Buses and taxis are readily available.
→ Nearest Railway Station: The nearest railway stations are Uthukottai (about 2 km away) and Tiruvallur (about 29 km away).
→ Nearest Airport: Tirupati International Airport (TIR) and Chennai International Airport (MAA) are the closest airports.
The temple attracts a large number of devotees, particularly on Thursdays and Pradosha days.
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