Monday, 12 August 2024

Sri Sridevi Bhudevi Sametha Prasanna Venkateswara Swamy Temple, శ్రీదేవి భూదేవి సమేత ప్రసన్న వెంకటేశ్వర స్వామి గుడి, Thondamanadu / Thondapanpuram, Srikalahasti, Andhra Pradesh.

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.

PC - Website
PC - Website

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 ---

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