Kalyana Venkateswara Temple, Srinivasamangapuram

Introduction to the Kalyana Venkateswara Temple

Narayanavanam Temple, or Kalyana Venkateswara Temple, is in Narayanavanam, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams maintains and administers it. According to Vaikanasa Agama, the temple conducts daily rituals and Poojas. Locals call it Nannaram.

Legend of the Kalyana Venkateswara Temple

Venkateswara is believed to have married Sri Padmavathi here and then moved to Tirumala. Akasa Raja was the ruler of this Narayanavanam town, and his brother Thondaman Chakravarthy coveted it. Akasa Raja was born in Narayanavanam and was childless. He tilled his land to perform a Yagna for progeny blessing. While tilling, Akasa Raja found baby Padmavathi in a thousand-petal lotus. So, he left the idea of performing Yagna and took the baby home. The baby grew up as Padmavathi and was brought up in Narayanavanam.

Once, Srinivasa, the son of Vakula Mata, met Padmavathi in Narayanavanam and fell in love with her. Their love finally ended in a grand wedding attended by many deities. Thus, Narayanavanam became a holy site for devotees.

The Architecture of the Kalyana Venkateswara Temple

Narasimhadeva Yadavaraya built the Kalyana Venkateswara Temple in 1245 AD. Penugonda Veerappa-I rebuilt it in 1541 -42 AD. In 1943, Surajmal Karva further renovated the temple. During the Narayana Raju period, a mud fort was built. The Kalyana Venkateswara Temple came under the supervision of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams on April 29, 1967.

Cholas, Pallavas, Yadavas, Saluva Reddys, and Kings of Karveti Nagaram rebuilt the Kalyana Venkateswara Temple many times and installed several idols.

The Kalyana Venkateswara Temple features a blend of the Dravidian and Vijayanagara styles of architecture. Its seven-tier Rajagopuram stands at 150 feet, and was built by King Krishna Deva Raya. Veera Narasimha Deva Yadavaraya built the second Gopuram with three tiers and kalasas at the top.

Beautiful carvings and sculptures adorn the walls and pillars.

A huge brass-covered Dhwaja Sthambam is before the temple, and the main entrance is gold-plated. There is a Garuda Mandapam, and Garudalwar faces the sanctum from here. Swarnamukhi Pushkarani is the temple tank where the Theppotsavam takes place yearly.

The temple's main deity is Kalyana Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. He faces east in the sanctum, and a dasavatara band adorns his waist. A garland made of Shaligram beautifies his shoulders. He holds a conch and a discus. Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy holds a hunting sword, which is unique in the Kalyana Venkateswara Temple.

The Kalyana Venkateswara Temple enshrines Sri Padmavathi, Sri Andal, Sri Sita Rama Lakshmana, Sri Ranganayakula, Sri Parasareswara Swami with his consort Champakavalli, Sri Sakthi Vinayaka Swami, Sri Agastheeswara Swami with his consort Marakathavalli, Sri Avanakshamma, and Sri Veerabadhra Swami.

Festivals in the Kalyana Venkateswara Temple

Giri Pradakshina, an important festival held at the end of Sankranti with the idols of Sri Parasareswara Swami, Sri Champakavalli Ammavaru, Sri Agastheeswara Swami and Sri Marakathavalli Ammavaru are taken in procession. Vaikuntha Ekadashi (December-January), Ratha Saptami (February-March), Sri Vari Annual Brahmotsavam (April-May), and Navratri (October-November) are also celebrated grandly in the Kalyana Venkateswara Temple.