The
visit to this Sri Sridevi Bhudevi Sametha Prasanna Venkateswara Swamy Temple
at Thondamanpuram, near Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh, was a part of
Shiva & Maha Vishnu Temples and Hero Stones Visit”, near Srikalahasti, on
07th July 2024. This place Thondamanpuram, is named after King Thondaman,
who ruled this region.
Moolavar : Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Swamy
Thayars : Sri Sridevi and Bhudevi
Some of the
salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Garudan, and Dwajasthambam
are after the Rajagopuram. Dwarapalakas Jayan and Vijayan are on both sides of the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Swami is
about 7 feet tall, sitting with Sridevi and Bhudevi. Sri Prasanna
Venkatesa Perumal is holding Sankha and Chakra in the upper hands and lower
right hand is in abhaya hastam and the left hand is in chin mudra ( seems to be
ahvana hastam ). There are no images in the koshtams.
In Praharam,
Stucco images of Garudan and Thulasi madam.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple
consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala and mukha mandapam. The sanctum
sanctorum is on an upanam and a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta
kumudam, and pattikai. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters. The
prastaram consists of only kapotam with nasi kudus. A 2 tala brick Vimanam is
on the prastaram. The sigaram is of vesara style. Stucco images of maha Vishnu’s
various forms are on the Tala and greeva koshtams.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
The present Temple
may belong to the 10th to 11th Century Chozha period. 11th
to 12th-century inscriptions in the Tamil Language are found on the
adhistanam. The total temple was reconstructed in 20th Century and
the rajagopuram was constructed during 21st century.
As per the
inscription, this place was called as – Jayangonda Chozha Mandalathu
Thiruvenkata kottathu ARRur Nattu ThondamanaRRur - ஜெயங்கொண்ட சோழமண்டலத்து திருவேங்கடக் கோட்டத்து ஆற்றூர் நாட்டு
தொண்டமானாற்றூர்”. The Perumal of this temple was
called as VeeRRiruntha Perumal.
The Chozha king
Rajaraja Chozha-I’s 5th reign year inscription ( No 531, AR 232 of
1903 ), in Grantham and Tamil records the gift of Gidrangonda Chozhapuram to
this temple.
Saka 1115, 1193
CE, inscription ( No 530, AR 231 of 1903 ) records the endowment of burning a
lamp by Seruvanur……. ….tiar’s son Periya
Kanthadai. For the same one Madai ( money / Gold ) gifted to the temple and the
same was handed over the in-charge of the temple. The names are found damaged.
Ref:
South Indian Inscriptions Volume 8.
This Sri
Prasanna Venkateswara Swamy temple is under the administrative control of
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam and maintained by the Archaeological Department.
LEGENDS
Sri Thondaman, who
was the brother of Sri Akasaraju, ruled the Thondamanpuram duly meeting the
expectations of the people, and also constructed several temples in his region.
Every day he used to go to Tirumala to participate in the service activities of
the Sri Venkateswara. During his old age, Sri Thondaman experienced difficulty
in going to Tirumala and expressed his inability to Tirupati Srivaru alias
Balaji.
Considering his prayers, Sri Venkateswara Swami
promised him that he would come to his house to accept the pooja karikaryams. Accordingly, Sri Venkateswara Swami along
with Sridevi and Bhudevi used to come to the house of Thondaman for accepting
the sevas. Because of his appearance in the house, the Sri Venkateswara Swami
was called “Veetil Irundurai Perumal Swami". Also Darshan to
Thondaman’s request, Moolavar is called Sri Prasanna Venkateswara Swamy. Since
Thondaman constructed ananda nilayam at Tirumala, here in Thondamanpuram also
he constructed Sri Venkateswara Swami temple in Gopuram, similar to Tirupati.
Here at Thondamanpuram the Sri Venkateswara
Swami is giving darshan in a unique sitting posture bearing abhaya and Yoga
mudra ( seems to be ahvana hastam ) along with Sridevi and Bhudevi which can be
seen nowhere else.
Sri Thondaman constructed a big pond near to the
temple where the water gets accumulated from the source of akasaganga located
in Tirumala. Further, arrangements were made to perform the abhisheka karikaryams
to the Sri Venkateswara Swami with this water only.
The devotees believe that having darshan of Sri
Venkateswara Swami along with Sridevi and Bhudevi in abhaya and Yoga mudra will
not only fulfill desires but also be blessed with peace of mind.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular
poojas special poojas and celebrations are conducted, similar to Tirupati
Balaji Temple.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will
be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
This Sri
Prasanna Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Thondamapuram, is about 4 KM from
Srikalahasti – Tirupati Road, 9.5 KM from Srikalahasti Shiva Temple, and 38 KM
from Tirupati.
Nearest Railway
Station is Srikalahasti.
Share autos and
Autos are available from Srikalahasti.
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA
NAMA ---
No comments:
Post a Comment