Chikka Tirupati

Chikka Tirupati
Image of the gateway tower of the temple
Chikka Tirupati Location in Karnataka
Name
Other names	Venkateshwara Swamy Temple
Geography
Coordinates	12°53′44″N 77°51′55″E / 12.89556°N 77.86528°ECoordinates: 12°53′44″N 77°51′55″E / 12.89556°N 77.86528°E
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District	Kolar
Location	15 KM from Malur or 12 KM from Sarjapura, Bangalore
Culture
Primary deity	Venkateshwara Swamy (Vishnu)
Consort	Alamelumanga (Lakshmi)
Direction and posture	East Facing
Temple tank	Right side of the god
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture

Chikka Tirupati or Venkateshwaraswamy temple is dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu located in Chikka Tirupathi, Malur Taluk, in the outskirts of Bengaluru in the South Indian state of Karnataka. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is considered similar to the Tirupathi Venkateswara temple. Vishnu is worshipped as Venkateshwara and his consort Lakshmi as Alamelumangai.

The temple is open from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m and has four daily rituals at various times of the day. The Brahmotsavam, the major festival, is celebrated annually during Shravana Shaniwara during which the festival images of the presiding deities are taken in a parade around the streets of the temple in a chariot.

interesting part of this lord Venkateshwara idol is, its a abhayahastha ( hand showing upperwards as blessing). where as in Thirupathi at Andhra Pradesh, Lord's hand is showing downwards. Hence this is considered to be special.

The Temple

Image of the flagstaff and the second hall leading to the sanctum

Venkateswara temple is built in Dravidian architecture and the exact history of the temple is not known. The inscriptions in Mysore records indicate that the temple is a few centuries old. The temple has a 5-tiered gopuram. The temple tank is located north of the temple. The central shrine houses the image of Venkateshwara in standing posture. There are two precincts around the temple. From the entrance tower, the central shrine is located in the axis through the Dwajasthamba (flagstaff), pillar of offering and Garuda Mandapa. The image of Garuda, the eagle mount of Venkateshwara, is housed in the Garuda Mandapa, facing the image of the presiding deity. The temple in modern times is administered by the Department of Religious Endowment, Government of Karnataka.^[1]

Worship practices and festivals

Image of the shrine around the sanctum

The temple is open from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Ushathkalam at 8 a.m., Kalasanthi at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 7:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Venkateshwara and his consort Alamelumanga. During the worship, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.

The temple is considered holy as the Tirupathi Venkateswara temple and devotees from other states like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu visit the temple.^[2] As of November 2012, the temple had an annual revenue of ₹1 crore. The Brahmotsavam, the major festival, is celebrated annually during Shravana Shaniwara during which the festival images of the presiding deities are taken in a parade around the streets of the temple in a chariot.^[1]

References

1. "Development work gives Chikka Tirupati a new look". Deccan Herald (Malur). 10 November 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
2. "The other Tirupati". The Hindu. 25 June 2005. Retrieved 22 October 2015.

External links