Sri Lalitha Peetham
About Sri Lalitha Ammavaru
Lalitha Tripura Sundari is the beautiful lady of the three cities or the three worlds. She is an aspect of Adi Parashakti and a manifestation of Goddess Parvati, like Durga and Kali. She is the primeval creator, along with her consort, Lord Shiva. Tripura Sundari is the highest aspect of Adi Parashakti, says the Srikula tradition. She represents 16 different desires or urges. As per the Shodashi Tantra, she is the light in Shiva’s eyes. She is said to be the penultimate version of enlightened consciousness. She is also known as Kameshwari and Rajarajeshwari.Goddess Tripura Sundari has 3 forms: Tripura Bala, Tripura Sundari, and Tripura Bhairavi. The first is a young virgin goddess, the second represents the marvelous and eternal beauty of the three worlds. Tripura Bhairavi represents her terrible form. Goddess Tripura Sundari, along with Shiva, creates, protects, and destroys the universe. She is the same as Sati, Durga, and Kali.
About Sri lalitha Peetham
Sri Lalitha Peetham was established in 1931 at Lalitha Nagar, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh by a great sadhaka called Sri Jayanthi Mangayya Panthulu. Sri Sri Dakshina Murthy Maharaj, the first Peethadhipathi (who was Jayanthi Mangayya Panthulu in the poorvasramam) performed the prathisthapana of Sri Lalitha Devi Idol on 02 November, 1949. Because of the peetham the area is called as “Lalitha Nagar”. Jagadguru Sri Aadi Sankaracharya system of panchayathana pooja is established at Sri Lalitha Peetham. Recently, in January 2010, HH Sri Siddheswarananda Mahaswami presented Sri Dakshinamurthy Award to the noted poet Kondepudi Subbarao.
After Sri Dakshina Murthy Maharaj’s Siddhi on 28 June, 1956, his sishya Sri Avyakthananda Maharaj became the second Peethadhipathi. A big hall was built known as “Avyakthananda Darbar Hall” in the name of Sri Avyakthananda Maharaj, which is currently used for various functions during the festive seasons.
Recently, in January 2010, Sri Siddheswarananda Mahaswami presented Sri Avyakthananda Maharaj Award to the noted vocalist Bhagavati Prameela.
As no suitable successor was found, the Peetham was handed over to Sri Sivachidananda Bharathi Swami of Sri Siddheswari Peetham, Courtallam on 28 June, 1998.
During his tenure, the peetham was developed with more deities of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba, Sri Sitharama, Sri Subrahmaya, Sri Gahesha Siva, Sri Nagendra, Sri Mouna Swami, Sri Krishna. Sri Sivachidananda Bharati Swami attained siddhi on 17 December, 2002.
His Successor HH Sri Siddheswarananda Mahaswami has established the great Manidweep in the campus of Sri Lalitha Peetham. Apart from Sri Lalitha Devi’s idol, which is in the center of Manidweep, there are other deities of Gayathri, Durga, Annapurneswari, Saraswathi, Kameswara, Ganapathi, Kali, Kalabhairava, Prathyangira, Mahishasura
Mardhani, Rajasyamala, Varahi, Mahalakshmi, Madura Meenakshi, Bala. Also, Samadhi mandhirs for first and second gurus have been established in the campus.