Vykuntapuram Temple

Introduction to the Vykuntapuram Temple

The Vykuntapuram Temple, or Sri Lakshmi Padmavathi Sametha Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, Vykuntapuram, is famous in Tenali, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. It also houses the Sri Nagendra Swamy shrine. The Vykuntapuram Temple is a Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Sri Venkateswara Swamy. The Endowments Department took over the Vykuntapuram Temple in 1973.

History of the Vykuntapuram Temple

A serpent god came in the dream of a devotee named Sri Tulluru Bala Narasimha Rao Gowda and advised him to build a temple for Sri Venkateswara Swamy. It also showed him the direction of the site where the temple should be built.

The place was next to the Nizampatnam Canal and South of the Repalle – Guntur railway line. Rao decided to build the Vykuntapuram Temple of Sri Venkateswara Swamy there. He started collecting donations from the public and collected a sufficient amount in a short period. Rao also contributed a considerable amount to the construction of the temple. He installed the idols of Lakshmi Devi and Padmavathi Amma with Sri Venkateswara Swamy in the Vykuntapuram Temple.

Though the temple was developed in 1961, the actual installation of the idols took place only in June 1972, following Vykhanasa Agama. Sriman Rompicharla Srinivasa Charyulu Varu, Sriman Vedantham Srinivasa, and their disciples participated in the function. The above two Vykhanasa Agama Acharyas were the scholars who conducted the installation Ceremony with Sri Vykhanasa Agama Kalpa Sutra.

The Architecture of the Vykuntapuram Temple

Sri Tulluru Bala Narasimha Rao Gowda built the Vykuntapuram Temple in 1961. It features a typical South Indian architectural style with a Gopuram. At the temple entrance, there is a small counter where the tickets for Poojas and rituals are distributed. The inner and outer walls of the Vykuntapuram Temple and the idols are beautifully painted.

Visitors can see huge idols of Hanuman, Ganesha, Vishnu, Narayana, Sun, and other Hindu deities around the temple premises. Dhwajasthambam (flagstaff) is in front of the sanctum. The idols of the presiding deity Sri Venkateswara Swamy, Padmavati Amma, and Lakshmi Devi are inside the sanctum. On the walls, images of the deities are painted in different colors. There is a small fountain. Small shrines for other deities are also seen here.

There is a vast space in the Vykuntapuram Temple for performing marriages. During Masi and Vaikasi months, nearly three hundred marriages are held. The practices observed are Kesha Kandana (first tonsuring for babies) and Pongali Nivedana to Snake God Nagaraja on Saturdays.

During Karthikai month, devotees visit the Vykuntapuram Temple and perform Naga Pooja on Naga Chaturdasi day.

Festivals in the Vykuntapuram Temple

The Vykuntapuram Temple celebrates Sri Rama Navami, Brahmotsavams, Hanuman Jayanthi, Varalakshmi Vratham, Krishna Jayanti, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Dasara, Diwali, Vaikunta Ekadasi, and Theppotsavam annually with great pomp.

Benefits of Worshipping at the Vykuntapuram Temple

Devotees visit the Vykuntapuram Temple to gain various benefits. Barren couples perform Poojas here for progeny blessings. It is said that people with speech impairments will be blessed with speech, and even a blind devotee supposedly regained their sight at the Vykuntapuram Temple after performing 40 days of Pooja to Nagendra Swamy Putta (anthill).