Chilkur Balaji Temple

Chilkoor Balaji Temple
Name
Proper name Chilkur Balaji Temple
Geography
Coordinates 17°21′30″N 78°17′55″E / 17.35833°N 78.29861°E / 17.35833; 78.29861Coordinates: 17°21′30″N 78°17′55″E / 17.35833°N 78.29861°E / 17.35833; 78.29861
Country India
State Telangana
Location Chilkur Village, Gandipet, Hyderabad
Culture
Primary deity Lord Venkateswara
History and governance
Date built 14th century
Website chilkurbalaji.com
Gopuram at Chilkur Temple

Chilkur Balaji Temple, popularly known as "Visa Balaji Temple'', is an ancient Hindu temple of Lord Balaji on the banks of Osman Sagar in Hyderabad. It is one of the oldest temples in Hyderabad built during the time of Madanna and Akkanna, the uncles of Bhakta Ramadas.[1]

This temple has no hundi and neither accepts any money from devotees.[2] VAK Books also known as the Voice of Temples with religious news is available here. This is one of the special Temples in India with no green channel or privileges for VIP's.[3] The only other such temple is the Jalaram temple in Virpur (Rajkot), Gujarat. This temple fought and won the right to stay out of government control. The only another such temple is "Ramanuj Kot", a temple in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.[1]

History and legend

From the style, structure and appearance, it can be inferred that the temple was built half a millennium ago. Set in sylvan surroundings, Chilkur Balaji Temple attracts millions of pilgrims every year and is an ideal place for sequestered retreat and meditation. It enjoyed in the past, great days of pomp and glory.

The temple is one of the oldest in Hyderabad, having been built during the time of Akkanna and Madanna, the uncles of Bhakta Ramdas. According to tradition, a devotee who used to visit Tirupati every year could not do so on one occasion owing to serious ill health. Lord Venkateshwara appeared in his dream and said, "I am right here in the nearby forest. You don't have to worry." The devotee at once moved to the place indicated by the Lord in the dream and saw a molehill there, which he dug up. Accidentally, the axe struck Lord Balaji's idol (covered by the molehill) below the chin and on the chest. Surprisingly blood started flowing profusely from the "wounds", flooding the ground and turning it scarlet. The devotee could not believe his eyes. He could not believe his ears when he heard a voice from the air saying, "Flood the molehill with cow's milk." When the devotee did so, a Swayambhu idol of Lord Balaji accompanied by Sridevi and Bhoodevi (a rare combination) was found, and this idol was installed with the due rites and a temple built for it.

Sri Balaji Venkateshwara, the Pratyaksha Daiva in Kaliyuga, is thus available at Chilkur to shower blessings on His devotees who for any reason are unable to go to Tirupati. Many devout worshippers flock to the temple to receive the blessings of the Lord and his consorts throughout the year particularly during Poolangi, Annakota and Brahmothsavams.

With the earnest desire to revive the former glory and importance of the temple, the idol of Ammavaru was installed in 1963, the year after the Sino-Indian War. After the unilateral withdrawal of Chinese troops, Ammavaru was given the name of Rajya Lakshmi, signifying this welcome event. The unique feature of this idol is that lotus flowers are held in three hands and the fourth hand is in a position towards the lotus feet which signifies the doctrine of Saranagathi.

The temple has been visited by great Acharyas from time to time. A visit to the temple is a must for the Jeer of Sri Ahobila Mutt every time he visits the twin cities, and in the temple is installed the idol of the first Jeer. The Tilakayaths of Sri Vallabhacharya Sampradaya have been regularly visiting the shrine. Jagadguru Sri Sankaracharya of Sringeri Mutt and his disciple graced the efforts of the trustees in improving the temple.[4]

Circumambulations

During a visit the devotee goes through the usual rituals of prayer, including 11 circumambulations of the inner shrine, and makes a vow. Once the wish is fulfilled devotees then walk 108 times around the sanctum sanctorum. The majority of wishes by devotees are visa related, thus Chilkur Balaji is also referred to as 'Visa' Balaji.[5] The 11 circumambulations represent the secret of creation — 11 means "1 soul and 1 body" — uniting both with devotion and full determination to fulfill wish, dedicate on the lord; there is no second, everything is god. In the 108 circumambulations, 1 represents the Existence, Almighty, God (Paramathma, Balaji in the minds of the devotee), 0 represents Creation (Illusionary World, Jagath) and 8 represents the time Human Body takes to come to this universe-8 months (Jivatma).

Book

Chilukuru Kshetra Charitra is a historical and research book on this most powerful Chilkur Balaji Temple written by noted journalist and Nandi Award winner Bulemoni Venkateshwarlu in 2005. The Nextstep Publications & Entertainments released this book. It is the most popular book on Chilkur Temple's history.

The author Bulemoni Venkateshwarlu published original stone inscriptions details and its Telugu translations in this book. The book has several historical evidences.

References

  1. 1 2 TNN 17 Mar 2008, 01.10am IST (2008-03-17). "Chilkur temple weaves dress code". The Times of India. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  2. ↑ "Telangana / Hyderabad News : Autonomy granted to Chilkur Balaji temple". The Hindu. 2008-03-04. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  3. ↑ "Chilkur Balaji temple of Hyderabad gets fame as ‘visa god’ temple". news.biharprabha.com. ANI. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  4. ↑ History of Temple
  5. ↑ Visa Temple, The Times of India, by Vamsee Juluri, 30 March 2006

External links

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