In jambu dweepa(India), there are innumerable holy shrines and places. Appanapalli is one among them. It has an ancient mythological origin. Appanapalli is situated in East Godavari District, Andhra pradesh. Appanapalli a remote village in Mamidikudhuru Mandal, East Godavari District, situated on the holy banks of river vynateya has attained reparation as Bala Tirupathi of costal districts being the abode of lord bala balaji, surrounded by River Godavary on three sides and the bay of bengal on fourth side flanked by wide spread paddy fields, coconut gardens, palatinate, mango and jack trees. konaseema appears as part of heaven came down to earth.
An interesting story clings to this place (sthalapurana) kasyapaprajapathi had two wives. The first one was kadruva. all her progeny were serpents. Second wife was Vinata. vinata had a son "Vynateya". Because of mysterious reasons Vynateya had eaten up all the serpents one in a day. When a king named jeemutha vahana tried to rescue a serpant named sankachududu. he lost his life at this place. jeemuthavahana sacrifice his life for a holy cause. Hence in commemoration of his sacrifice, this place started being called as Arphanaphali(Arphana means sacrifice, phali means result). During course of time arphanaphali changed as Appanapalli. Kasyapa prajapathi on 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. Mean while Vakulamatha the mother of Lord Venkateswara had a longing to see her son as child. Garuthmantha had also requested the lord to make river Vynatheya pious.
One Sri Molleti Rama Swamy who was born to sri Molleti Munieyya Nd 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 ocassion when Sri Molleti Rama swamy requested the priests in the temple to place the money at lords feet, but the priests rejected the request of Rama Swamy. He was cery much dissapointed.
In the very night of that day lord venkateswara appeared in dream of Sri Ramaswamy and consoled him and said "I will come to Appanapalli as Bala Balaji(child god)" 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 cinsort padmavathi Ammavaru in his coconut shop in 1966. In course of time piligrms in thousands started pouring in, and appanapalli occupied a place of devotional importance in the piligrim map of our state. It is indeed a point of great surprise and beyond anybodies comprehension to explain how the devotee Rama Swamy could serve the free meal to one and all including milk to infants besides medical aid. "It is all his will. who am I to ordain the credit?". Sri Rama Swamy used to say the Querries of the devotees.
The vigrahaprathishta of Sri Bala Balaji Swamy in the newly constructed temple was performed by the Holy hands of Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana china jeeyer Swamiji installed the idols of lord and his consorts on 4-7-1991. Brahmosthavams are being celebrated from jesta suddha Dasami to jesta suddha Chathurdhasi every year. |