Architecture of Tirumala Venkateswara Temple

Venkateswara Temple is a Vaishnavite temple situated in the town of Tirumala in Tirupati of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Temple is dedicated to Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared here to save mankind from the trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. The temple is situated at a height of 853 m (2,799 ft) on Tirumala Hills which are part of the Seshachalam Hills and is constructed in Dravidian architectural style.

Gopurams refer to the tower-like structures sitting on top of temple entrances. They are a recognisable characteristic of Dravidian temple architecture. The Venkateshwara Temple has 3 entrances that have gopurams.

The Maha Dwaram is the main entrance to the temple and is also known as 'Padikavali', 'Simhadvaram,'^[1] or 'Outer Gopuram'.^[2] It provides access from outside the temple to the Sampangi Pradakshinam, and is separated from it by an outer compound wall (Maha Prakaram). The tower stands at the height of 50 ft (15 m).^[1] On either side of the entrance stand two panchaloha (metal) statues of Sankanidhi and Padmanidhi, who are traditionally regarded as the guardians of the Navanidhi, the nine treasures of Venkateswara.^[1]

Venḍi Vākili, which means "silver entrance" in Telugu, is the second entrance of the temple. It leads to the Vimana Pradakshinam and is also known as 'Nadimipadikavali'.^[3] The name of this entrance comes from the silver plating on the doors. An inner compound wall separates the Sampangi Pradakshinam and Vimana Pradakshinam. A three storied gopuram was built over this entrance with seven kalisams during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

From the Tirumamani Mandapam in front, one can enter the Baṁgāru Vākili (translates to Golden Entrance) to reach the inner sanctum sanctorum. There are two tall copper images of the dwarapalakas Jaya and Vijaya on either side of the door. The thick wooden door is covered with gilt plates depicting the dasavataram of Sri Maha Vishnu. The doorway is directly in line with the Padi Kavali and the Vendi Vakili (Meaning Silver Corridor in Telugu). It admits pilgrims to the Snapana Mandapam. Suprabhatam is sung in front of this door.^[4]

The temple is surrounded by 3 concentric compound walls (or prakaram). Pradakshinas refer to the spaces enclosed between them. They are the circumambulation walkways that lay in between them. Circumambulations are a holy ritual act in Hinduism. Multiple mandapas are also standing in these spaces.

The Sampangi Pradakshina is the primary circumambulation walkway within the temple complex. It is named after Magnolia champaca flowers, called Sampangi in Telugu, which were grown in the area.^[1][5] The mandapas situated in the Pradakshina are:

• Pratima Mandapam: An 11m² mandapa with two wings directly attached to either side of the entrance and a pathway in the middle. Named so because the bronze pratimas (statues) of Vijayanagar Emperor Krishnadevaraya, his consorts Tirumaladevi and Chinnadevi, and others.^[5][6]
• Ranga Mandapam: Situated in the south-east corner to the right of the entrance. It is also called the Ranganayakula mandapa, as it is where the utsava-murti of Lord Ranganathaswamy of Srirangam was kept when Srirangam was occupied by Malik Kafur. Architecturally and sculpturally, it seems to belong to the later mature Vijayanagar period.^[6]
• Tirumalaraya Mandapam: Also known as the Anna Unjal mandapa. Constructed in two phases — the inner higher platform is traditionally attributed to Vijayanagar Emperor Saluva Narsimha Deva Raya in 1473 A.D., whereas the front was added on by later Vijayanagar kings in the last quarter of the 16th century. Narsimha Deva is said to have installed it for celebrating the Anna Unjal Tirunal festival he instituted.^[6]
• Saluva Narasimha Mandapams: Four small mandapams at four corners of the pradakshina, also erected by Narsimha Deva.
• Aina Mahal: Translated as the 'Palace of Mirrors', on the north side of Tirumalaraya Mandapam. It consists of an open mandapa in the front and a shrine behind it consisting of an antarala and garbhagriha, which has large mirrors that reflect images in an infinite series. It is here that Malayappa Swami (the processional idol of the deity) holds his annual audience upon the commencement of the Brahmotsavam.^[6]
• Dhvajasthamba Mandapam: Built around the temple's dhvajasthamba (flagstaff) and balipitta (altars for placing offerings). Situated right in front of the Venḍi Vākili.

Additionally, various ugrams (storerooms) are located across the corridor.^[5]

The Venḍi Vākili leads to the Vimana Pradakshina.^[1] It is the pathway that circumambulates the Sanctum Sanctorum. The Angapradakshina Seva is performed in this area; hence, this path is also referred to as the Angapradakshina Margam.

Just after entering the Vimana Pradakshinam, opposite Vendivakili and behind the Garuda Mandapam, there are small idols of Sri Varadaraja Swamy, Sri Ranganatha Swamy (in a sleeping posture over Adisesha), and Sri Venkateswara Swamy, plated in gold.

The Vimana Pradakshinam also includes small shrines: the Varadaraja Swamy Temple, located to the right of Vendivakili and facing west, and the Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple, located to the left of Vendivakili, also facing west.

Other rooms along the path include:

• Potu: The main temple kitchen. There is a small shrine inside enclosed to the doorway dedicated to Vakuladevi^[6], who is called 'Pottu Amma' or 'Madapulli Nachiar'.^[5]
• Bangaru Bavi: Translated as 'golden well'. Facing the potu and adjoining the corridor, from which all the water required for the temple and the kitchen is drawn through stone pipes.^[6]
• Kalyana Mandapam: On the south-west corner of the pradakshina. At its western end is situated a small black granite shrine, behind which is a raised portion which is the temple's yagashala.^[6]
• Ankurarpana Mandapam
• Rooms for Nanalu (coins) and Notlu (paper notes) for Parkamani
• Chandanapu Ara: The almirah of sandal paste
• The Cell of Records
• Shrine for Sri Ramanuja
• Sangita Samgraham: Also called the Talapakamara, it is a small room which houses copper plates upon which are engraved the devotional songs of Talapakka Annamacharaya, his son Pedda Tirumalacharaya and grandson Chinna Tirumalacharaya.^[5]
• Storage rooms for the Lord's procession vehicles.
• The Lord's Hundi

Devotees also have darshan of Vimana Venkateswara Swamy, who resides on Ananda Nilayam, from the Sampangi Pradakshinam.

All the small temples along this pathway are collectively known as ‘Chuttu Gullu’—the sub-shrines that encircle the main shrine.

This is the pathway that encircles, and is a part of, the main shrine. This pradakshina is open only one day a year on Vaikunta Ekadashi. The pradakshina is open only at the north, south and western portions. This is a pillared verandah in three sections — a six-pillared southern section, a four-pillared western section and a fourteen-pillared northern section. All the pillars are round and have Chola capitols with the broad faces fluted and with a circle in the centre.

There is a shrine of Vishvaksena (Senai Mudaliyar) on the northern side. The walls on the northern side have some sculptures and ornamental niches.

The first mandapam of the main shrine. It is an open 16-pillared hall whose left and right walls are in three sections, the central section being wider than the other two. At the south-west corner are located two huge bells of the temple which are inscribed, and which give the name Tirumamani to the mandapa. It is here that Koluvu Srinivasa holds daily audience after Tomala Seva (offering of garlands and tulsi leaves to the deity), and Malayappa Swami is seated here on the afternoon of the Brahmotsavam's commencement. It was built by Mallanna alias Madhavadasa, a chief of Chandragiri near Tirupati, in 1417 A.D.^[6][5][7]

At the back of the mandapa, right of the entrance is a shrine for Garuda, directly facing the Bamgaru Vakili. Supposedly built at around 1417 after the construction of tirumamani mandapam, it houses a 150m tall standing statue of Garuda.^[5]

Also called tiruvilankovil, it is the mandapa encountered right after passing the Bangaru Vakili. It has four central pillars with bas reliefs carved in the Vijayanagar style. The front part of the mandapa was converted into two rooms, one on either side.^[6]

It seems to have originally been a part of the mukkoti pradakshina before the passage was closed at about 1262-1265 A.D. and the Ramar Medai was converted into a closed room. Here, two small platform are situated, upon which bronze statues of Hanuman, Angada, Sugriva and others, dated at around the early Chola period, are placed.

Also called the antarala mandapam or the ardha mandapam. It is the last mandapa, after which the next room is the garbhagriha. During the Ekantaseva at night, the Lord's Bhoga Srinivasa idol is put to sleep in this mandapa on an installed swing with a bed.

The Garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum, which used to be called the 'Koyil Alwar' in old times, is where the Mula Beram (Main Idol) of Lord Venkateswara is placed. This 8-ft idol is believed to be self-manifested. Tradition holds that no known sculptors were capable of producing such an idol, and no person was known to have installed the idol in the temple.^[8]

The stone step between the sayana mandapa and the garbhagriha is called the kulasekharapadi in honor of Kulasekhara Alvar, who is said to have wished to be reborn as the threshold of the Lord's shrine. Devotees are not allowed to step on this or enter the Garbhagriha of the Lord beyond it.

The garbhagriha is almost a square shaped structure 12 ft² in area. Its walls as well as the Sayana mandapa's walls are double walls built one behind another. The walls of the garbhagriha as they exist at present are made of cut stones and may belong to the 8th or 9th century A.D. The temple type consisting of a garbhagriha with a mukha mandapa and pradakshina got established in South India by about 8th century A.D.^[6] The outer face of the outer wall has some inscriptions dating from 966–1013 A.D.

The Ananda Nilayam is a gold-plated three-storey vimanam (a structure constructed over the garbhagriha), under which the deity stands directly beneath. According to the temple's inscriptions, the gold plating was installed during renovations of the temple in c.13th century C.E., and a gold-plated kalasha was installed on the vimana by Pandya king Jatavarman Sundara I in c. 1262.^[6] It was later renovated in the 1950s and 60s.

Swami Pushkarni is the temple pond located on the northern side of the main temple. The pond is spread over 1.5 acres, and is considered sacred as it is believed to have been brought by Garuda from Vaikuntham to Tirumala Hills. The tank had a mandapam at its centre, which was constructed by Saluva King Narasimha Raya in 1468. A harathi is given to the Pushkarni daily in the evening by temple priests. Every year the Sri Venkateswara Annual Theppotsavam (Float festival) is conducted in this pond, where the processional deities of the temple are taken to float over the water. Chakrasnanam, a celestial bath to Chakrathalwar, Malayappa and his concerts, is conducted at this pond during the last day of Srivari Brahmotsavams.^[9]

Akhilandam, also known as Akhandam, is the area in front of main temple where huge lamps are installed. Devotees will offer karpuram (camphor) and coconuts to Venkateswara at this place after darshan. From the Akhilandam one can have a complete view of the temple. It has huge lamps, two iron rails to break coconuts and two huge coconut hundis where devotees can offer the coconuts.^[10]

• Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala
• Dravidian architecture