Srinivasa Mangapuram | Tirupati

Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami is the presiding deity at Srinivasa Mangapuram which is situated 12 kms. from Tirupati. Here the God Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami is the very form of Sri Tirumala Venkateswara Swami. Those who cannot visit Sri Tirumala Venkateswara Swami for any reasons can have the darshan of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami. It is necessary to know about the pauranic accounts of Sri Tirumala Venkateswara Swami to know about the historicity of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami at Srinivasa Mangapuram.

Lord Venkateswara Swami of Tirumala has many manifestations in the temples in and around the Tirumala Tirupati. Every manifestation has its own significance in the history of Tirumala temple from time immemorial. Almost eleven Puranas praise the Divine splendour of Lord Srinivasa and give abundant information about the God of the Gods giving further all details about various places where Srinivasa has wandered before he settled on the Tirumala Hills. Even the present notion that the Tirumala Hills are not confined to this little compass of Tirumala-Tirupati region as they look now. Their extent was much wider spread to an extent of 30 Yojanas length (240 kilometres in length) and three yojanas width (24 kilometres width) as mentioned in the Sri Venkatachala Mahatmya part of the Brahma Puranam. This region of such great length has been sanctified by the divine grace of Sri Venkateswara Swami through his stay and visits to various of places of this holy land. To proceed further it is essential to draw a sequence of events that took place ever since Goddess Lakshmi left Vaikuntha. 

Lord Vishnu, after the departure of Bhrugu, reached the Earth mounting on the back of Garuda in search of Goddess Lakshmi. He reached Kolhapur and stayed there for some time. The Goddess without any form (Asharira vani) suggested him to reach the region of Tirumala Hills to get reunion with Goddess Lakshmi. Accordingly Lord Vishnu reached the Venkatadri Hills on the banks of the river Suvarna Mukhi and settled in an anthill to do penance. While He was there Brahma assumed the form of a Cow. Rudra became his calf. Mahalakshmi became the cowherd woman. That cow was everyday coming to the anthill in which Lord Srinivasa is dwelling and were feeding him. After a few incidents Srinivasa met Varahaswami and requested him to provide Him some place on the Venkatadri for His settlement as that region is under the rule of Varahaswami. Lord Srinivasa was permitted to dwell there and Vakulamba who was Yasoda in rebirth was appointed as the caretaker of Lord Srinivasa.

Srinivasamangapuram, situated 10 Kms. to the West of Tirupathi adjacent to Madanapally highway, was at the height of its fame once. It was called ‘Siddakuti’ or Alimelumangapuram. It belonged to a Manjara called Kottalasthalam. The place ‘Nagapatla’, adjacent to the ‘Syamala’ forests was its central location according to the donative inscription of Tarigondavengamamba of 19th Century who belonged to Vaikuntavalanadu (Chandragiri) Taluq and Tiruvelakuttam (Tirumala Tirupathi) District. The village prospered on the banks of the river Kalyani (Vikalya), a tributary of the Swarnamukhi river.

In the mean while Akasha Raja the ruler of the nearby region got a female child from the ground while ploughing the earth. He gave her to his wife Dharani and named her Padmavathi having accepted Her as their divine daughter. After getting her they got a son named Vasudasa. In course of time by the Divine wish the princess Padmavathi became the spouse of Lord Srinivasa on an auspicious day. After their grand marriage ceremony Lord Srinivasa was asked not to mount the hills for six months. During that time sage Agastya was staying in his Ashram near the Agastyeswara temple. The sage requested Lord Srinivasa to stay in his Ashram surroundings for six months. Accordingly Lord Srinivasa stayed there. During the time of His stay at this place His father in law Akasha Raja was on the death bed. Lord Srinivasa and Goddess Padmavathi went to Narayanavanam where Akasha Raja was in his last days. The king while passing away handed over the responsibility of taking care of his younger brother Tondaman and his son Vasudasa. After the death of Akasharaja, Vasudasa and Tondaman had a serious fight for the kingdom. As per the word given to His father in law Lord Srinivasa joined in the fight standing on the side of Vasudasa and gave His Sankha and Chakra for protecting Tondaman. Thus He helped both of them. After a great fight for a good length of time, by the advice of Agastya the kingdom was equally shared between the two by Lord Srinivasa. Vasudasa became the ruler of Narayanapuram and Tondaman became the ruler of Tundiramandalam. Both of them were very much pleased and gifted 32 villages to Lord Srinivasa.

After his returning to the Ashram of Agastya the king Tondaman came there and by the direction of sage Agastya he constructed a beautiful mansion for Lord Srinivasa on the Hill top of Venkatadri. After Six months time was over, Lord Srinivasa went back to Tirumala hills where Tondaman constructed a beautiful building for him. Thus the same Venkateswara Swami is dwelling in both the temples. Visiting both the Deities fetches equally good consequences. While coming back to Venkatadri he blessed the place where he stayed to have the powers to fulfil the desires of all the devotees who ever visit Lord Sri Venkateswara in that place. The place where Lord Srinivasa dwelt is now popularly known as Srinivasa Mangapur am. As it was during His newly married days He stayed there the deity is known as Kalyana Venkateswara Swami. People who visit this place will have good health, riches, children and well being of all. People will get all kinds of comforts and contentment. Let us all visit this sacred place Srinivasamangapuram and be blessed by Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami to this Brahmotsavams.

Sthala Purana: Sage Agasthya built a beautiful ashram on the banks of the river ‘Swarnamukhi’, close by Srinivasamangapuram. At that time, on their way to Varahakshetra, the newly wedded couple Padmavathi devi and Lord Srinivasa visited the ashram in their ceremonial attire. Sage Agasthya blessed the newly wedded couple and said that it was forbidden for them to climb the hill and cordially entreated them to stay at his ashram for six months. Lord Srinivasa conceded to his request.

Srinivasamangapuram is known for its pleasant climate. It is the shortest way to Tirumala via Srivarimettu. The Lord, having enjoyed the natural beauty of the Seshachala forests for six months, took leave of Sage Agasthya and reached Tirumala via Srivarimettu together with his consort. Thus, the path is holy as it received the holy impressions of the toe rings of Goddess Padmavati. Later, many kings who ruled Chandragiri had the holy darshan of the deity at Tirumala following the same short route from the fort of Chandragiri to the temple of the Presiding Deity. 

The stairway beginning from the Mettu, situated 6 Kms away to the North of the temple of Srinivasamangapuram to Tirumala is called ‘Srivarimettu’ or ‘Sripathimettu’. It is considered the first step towards spiritual advancement. As the stair way is in the direction of Chandragiri, it is also called the ‘Chandagiri Sopanamargam’ (stairway of Chandragiri) This holy path from Srivarimettu is the actual path that was sanctified by the footprints of Lord Srinivasa and his consort Padmavathi devi while they walked. They entered the towered palace of Anandbhavanam built by the emperor Thondaman and flourished as ever newly married couple. The path of Srivarimettu walked by Lord Srinivasa and His consort Padmavathi devi in the later years became the main road for several kings and pilgrims to reach Venkatachala. Several other kings of Vijayanagara Empire such as Narayanavanam King, Akasaraju and Tondaman and others have chosen Srivarimettu as their passage to Tirumala. During their stay at the fort of Chandragiri, the Kings of Vijayanagara used to commence their meal only after hearing the ringing of the holy bell arranged at different stages indicating the Naivedya (offering) to the Presiding Deity. According to the inscriptions dated 22nd November 1433, the temple flourished at the height of its fame. 

This village, which was called Siddakutti, Siddakutam, Srinivasapuram and Srinivasamangapuram gradually, disappeared from the sight. Again, after the gradual development over a century, the Emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire Sri Achyutadevaraya, donated Srinivasapuram as a ‘Sarvasamanya Agraharam” to the poets of Tallapaka. During this time, Chinatiruvengalanadhu, the grandson of Tallapaka Annamacharya, got the temple of Srinivasamangapuram renovated with all its luster and fanfare. He got the dilapidated idols replaced by new ones and arranged for the systematic conduct of temple worship and festivals. His disciples Padmasalebhakthas have paid 16,000 gold coins as ‘Guru Dakshina.’ (Fee offered to Guru) His younger brother ‘Chinnanna’ continued the renovation of the temple of Srinivasamangapuram adding another 10,000 gold coins to the amount already donated by his brother. The stone mine “Allagattu” was purchased for this purpose. With all rights, the temple of Lord Venkateswara under the control of the family of Tallapaka was restored its ancient glory. Again with all its grandeur and festivity, equal to that at the temple at Tirumala, the temple of Kalyana Venkateswara of Srinivasamangapuram gleamed in the spiritual skies. The temple of Kalyana Srinivasa was damaged in the wild floods of the river Kalyani. Some idols were disfigured or damaged during the Muslim invasions. The 10-foot tall idol of the Presiding Deity of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara over a hundred years remained with all its inner effulgence under the trees and molehills, like a live piece of coal covered by a thin film of ash. In this way, in 1906 the splendor of the Lord received a momentum. Let us learn about it. All of a sudden one day, a mad woman appeared in Srinivasamangapuram. No one knew her whereabouts. She did not speak much to anyone. She used to be in a state of madness like a Yogin or Avadhuta. (a person who has reached a stage in spiritual development in which he/she grows beyond worldly concerns) She was named “Tayaru’. 

She lived at the temple of Lord Srinivasa, which was hidden under the trees and molehills. She went door to door and collected some oil, rice and dhal. Then, she returned to the temple, arranged a three stone stove and boiled them all in an earthen pot. Later, she poured oil in an earthen calyx, placed a wick and lit a lamp in the temple. In the pitch darkness, she used to go into the temple in the light of the flame of the burnt coconut fronds. On the way, she was surrounded by snakes but she had no fear for them. Further, she called them by names such as “oh, Naga, Seshu” etc. Thus, she went into the temple, offered flowers at the feet of the Deity, lit a lamp in the earthen calyx and made rice offering. She used to bring out a portion of it, distributed the same to all, and ate some of it for herself. She offered milk to the snakes. This became her routine. One day, she announced that she would not come from the next day and a saint would come. A Swami came as she said. SundaraajaSwami from Kanchipura came. The Deity used to appear in his dreams and prompted him to come. Further, He told the Swami that he was in darkness under the trees and molehills and ordered him to worship Him. When the Swami replied that he did not know where the Deity was, he was instructed to undertake a pilgrimage to Venkatachala to find the way to Him. He was further ordered to worship the deity on the forthcoming Ashada Suddha Saptami - the seventh day of the Indian lunar month of Ashada. SundararajaSwami started in search of the Deity. He reached Srinivasamangapuram in 15 days. On enquiring the people there, he learned about Tayaramma and her procedure of worship. He told everyone about his dream. All of them cleaned the Ashram. It was the year of Vikramanama. 11.07.1940 fell on the auspicious occasion of the seventh day of Indian lunar month of Ashada (Ashada Suddha Saptami) associated with the star of Uttara Phalguni. Following the reinstallation of the Deity by Sundararajaswami, the first worship was performed after a hundred years. Since 11.07.1940, a three-day temple festival in the name of “Sakshatkara Vaibhavam” (those who cannot climb the Tirumala for Lord’s ‘darshan’ could have it here) is celebrated to Kalyana Venkateswara of Srinivasamangapuram every year. Later, under the priesthood of Sundararajaswami, the temple prospered day by day into a great fame. Subsequently, in the year 1967, the temple was taken over by the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams. 

Architectural Style of the Temple: The five-storied main towered entrance of the temple at a height of 10 feet was built by many architects and sculptors in 1980 with innumerable sculptures. In the spacious open place crossing the main entrance, one can see the ‘Balipetam’ (Sacrificial Pedestal) and ‘Dwajasthambam’ (Flag Staff) right opposite. The temple of Kalyana Venkateswara was built upon a stone pedestal of 10 foot height in the open space amidst the square shaped tall compound walls. This temple was built of 5 different ‘Mandapas’ (pillared halls or pavilions) namely Mukhamandapa or Ghanta Mandapa, (pavilion or porch constructed in front of the doorway of the temple/the four pillared porch having a big bell) Ardhamandapam, ( intermediary space between the temple exterior and the sanctum sanctorum) Sayanamandapam, (the room for the Lord’s idol to relax) Antaralam and Garbhalayam. (Small antechamber or foyer between the Garbhagriha (shrine) and the Mandapa) The Kalyana Mandapa (a mandapa dedicated to divine marriage) of the Lord is situated in the south west of the temple area. The Garudalwar temple (the vehicle of the Lord) is situated in the Ghantamandapa directly opposite the Presiding Deity towards the West. Two huge bells are hung in the North-west of the Mukhamandapa. The statues of Jaya and Vijaya can also be seen there. The Ardhamandapa is situated inside after the statues of Jaya and Vijaya. It is also called the Swapnamandapam where the jewelry and ornaments of the Lord are preserved. Beyond this lies the Sayanamandapam. The Antarala is situated further inside the Sayanamandapam. On the Southern wall of the Antarala is the stone image of Lakshminarayana in the sitting posture faced towards the North. Goddess Lakshmi is seated on the left thigh of the Lord. The Stone image of Sri Ranganathamurthy lying on the five-headed Adisesha (King of all Nagas) with His head towards the West is seen on the Northern wall. The Brahmothsava of this Lord was celebrated in February 1980 and the first Kalyanothsavam (Celebration of divine wedding) was performed on a grand scale on 19th of February 1981. The sanctum sanctorum was situated inside beyond the Antarala (small antechamber or foyer) after crossing the threshold of Kulasekhara. The main or Presiding Deity is installed east faced. On the top of the sanctum sanctorum, the Eka Kalasavimanam (a single round pinnacled tower/a tower having metal pot with a large base and small mouth on its top) was built in the form of Trikalagopuram. The Presiding Deity is four armed having the Sankha and Chakra in the two upper arms. One of the two hands below is in the posture of dispensing boons while the other is at the knee showing His lotus feet. Sri SundararajaSwami conducted the worship of the Lord as per Tantrasaragama in the Madhwa cult. After him, the worship of the Lord is being conducted as per Vaikhanasagama Sastra. 

Festivals and Services to the Lord: Suprabhataseva, (early morning service) Tomalaseva, (adorning the deity with garlands of flowers and Tulsi leaves) Sahasranamarchana, (recitation of 1008 glorious names of Lord) Nityakalyanothsavam, (celestial wedding ritual performed daily) and paid Brahmothsavam (mini Brahmothsavam) are among the daily rituals performed to the Lord. Only the Aswavahanam, (horse vehicle) Hanumanthavahanam, (vehicle of Hanuma) and Garudaseva (the vehicle of the celestial eagle) are performed during these Brahmothsavas. Ekanthaseva (the last service performed to the Lord before the temple closes for the day during which the garlands adorning the Presiding Deity are removed) is also performed. Among the weekly rituals, Swarnapushparchana, (worshipping the Deity with small golden flowers) Satakalasabhishekam, (Pouring water from thousand small pots on the Deity while chanting Mantras) Tiruppavadaseva, (Offering of tamarind rice as Naivedyam to the Lord) Netradarsanam, (seeing the lord all with ornaments removed except a small Namam) Poolangiseva, (complete decoration of the deity from crown to feet with garlands) Abhishekam, (the sprinkling of holy water on the Deity) Vasthralankaraseva, (decorating the Deity with flowers, red and yellow cloths) and Gramothsavam (procession in village) are conducted. During the monthly rituals, the Unjalaseva (the placing of the idols of the Lord and his consorts in the swing) is celebrated on the Sravana star. 

As part of the annual festivals, Ugadiasthanam, Sriramanavami, ‘Dhanurmasapuja’ and ‘Brahmothsavas’ for 9 days in the month of Magha ending on the star of Sravana during the month of Kumbha as per the solar almanac are celebrated. Every year, in the month of Phalguna, the Pushpayaga (Worshipping the deity with varieties of aromatic flowers and sacred leaves) is celebrated on the star of Sravana. In the month of Vaisakha, the 3-day annual Vasanthothsavas (celebrating the arrival of spring season) are celebrated to end with the Star of Sravana. Every year, Sakshatkara vaibhavothsavas (the cleansing ceremony followed by Garuda Seva and Hanumadseva) are celebrated for three days including the previous and following days of Ashada Sudha Sapthami (the seventh lunar day of the month of Ashada). The Anivarasthanam (submitting the annual accounts of the Lord’s income and expenditure, assets etc.) is conducted. The 3-day ‘Pavithrothsavas’ (penitential as well as propitiatory festivals) are conducted annually in such a way as to end on Aswayuja Bahula Dwadasi (on the 12th day of the dark or bright fortnight.) Therefore, let us have the darshan of such a famous and prominent Lord Sri Kalyana Venkateswara and get sanctified.