Padmavati Temple

Padmavati Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Padmavati (Alamelu Mangamma or Alarmel Mangai), the consort of Venkanna.^[1] The temple is situated in Tiruchanur (also known as Alamelu Mangapuram or Alarmel Mangaipuram area) of Tirupati city in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India.

The temple is under the administration of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and follows the pancharatra agama and vadakalai traditions.

The temple typically opens at 4:50 am on most days and closes at 9:30 pm. However, on Fridays, it opens at 3:30 am.

The legend of Sri Venkateswara and Alamelumanga is very well detailed in the Venkateswara Mahatyam. The story begins with Sage Bhrigu who tests to see who shall be blessed with the fruits of yagna amongst the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva). The sage who had an extra eye in the sole of his foot visited Brahma and Shiva and went unnoticed in both these locations. He cursed Brahma to be not worshipped and Shiva to be worshipped as a lingam. At last he visited Vishnu and the lord pretends that he had not noticed Bhrigu. Getting angered by this act, sage Bhrigu kicked Vishnu in the chest, to which Vishnu did not react and instead apologised to the Sage by massaging his feet. During this act, he squashed the extra eye that was present in the sole of Bhrigu's foot. However Goddess Lakshmi finds it as an insult since Vishnu's chest was considered as her residence (Vishnu vakshasthala) and Bhrigu's curse. She left Vaikunta adobe and reached the earth at Kolhapur's Sahayadri Forest. Vishnu, followed her path to earth in search of her at Tirumala's Sheshalachalam Forest.^[2]

Lakshmi performed a tapas in forest for Vishnu, whilst vishnu as srinivasa settled under a small anthill. He performed an intense penance for twelve years for Lakshmi. Meanwhile, at the Kingdom of Narayanavanam, King Akasharaja and Queen Dharani Devi who remained childless for many years, performed a yagna. While ploughing the field for the sacred ritual, he discovered a golden lotus blossoming from a pond and from within it emerged a beautiful, mesmerising infant girl. The King named her Padmavati, meaning, the one who emerged from the lotus. Lord Surya was instrumental in the blossoming of the lotus. From childhood, Padmavati displayed extraordinary beauty, grace, and divine qualities, and many believed she was no ordinary princess but the incarnation of Dhanalakshmi herself.

One day, while Padmavati was wandering in the royal gardens with her companions, Srinivasa came there during a hunt. The moment he saw Padmavati, he was captivated by her beauty and immediately recognized her divine nature. Padmavati too felt an instant connection with him. After returning to Tirumala, Srinivasa became lovesick and could think of nothing except Padmavati. Vakula Devi, Srinivasa's foster mother, eventually learned the reason for his sorrow and went as a messenger to Akasha Raja’s court to seek Padmavati’s hand in marriage.

The marriage proposal was gladly accepted after astrologers and sages confirmed Srinivasa’s divine identity. A magnificent celestial wedding was arranged at Narayanavanam. Gods, sages, and heavenly beings attended the ceremony. According to temple legends, Srinivasa borrowed an enormous loan from Kubera to conduct the wedding in grand splendour, and devotees believe offerings made at Tirumala symbolically help repay this divine debt even today. The marriage of Srinivasa and Padmavati is regarded as one of the most sacred divine weddings in Vaishnava's tradition.

It is later understood that according to Hindu tradition, Vedavati is the previous birth of Goddess Padmavati. Vedavati was a deeply spiritual woman who performed intense penance to marry Lord Vishnu, but after she was insulted by Ravana and burned herself, she was promised by Lord Rama that she would become his spouse in her next birth as Padmavati, leading to his marriage as Srinivasa. About six months after the celestial wedding, Brahma and Shiva explained to Lakshmi her consort Vishnu's desire to be on the seven hills for the emancipation of mankind from the perpetual troubles of Kali Yuga. Lakshmi as well as her form as Padmavathi also turn into stone idols as an expression of their wish to always be with their deity. Lakshmi stays with him on his right chest as Vyuhalakshmi and padmavati on his left chest as Alamelu manga. Goddess Padmavati took up residence at Alamelumangapuram or Tiruchanur, located down the Tirumala Hill. She did so to fulfill her individual duty as a compassionate mother to her devotees and fulfill their wishes by conveying them to Lord Venkateswara.^[3]

The Padma Purana gives a vivid description of the advent of the goddess and subsequent wedding with Venkateswara.^[4]

Padmavathi (Alamelumangamma or Alarmelmangai) is the main deity of the temple. Padmavathi is the incarnation of goddess Lakshmi and is consort of Venkateswara. The deity faces east within the temple. As the earthly manifestation of Goddess Lakshmi, she is worshipped for prosperity and is considered essential to visit before seeking blessings at the main Tirumala temple. The Goddess is seated in a Padmasana posture (seated on a lotus). She is depicted holding lotuses in both her upper hands while the lower hands are in the Abhayamudra and Varadamudra positions.

The temple is mainly inspired by Vijayanagara and Dravidian (Pallava and Chola) styles of architecture and has several features similar to that of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. Much of the structures are made from solid stone or marble.

The Rajagopuram of the Tiruchanur Temple is painted in white with intricate carvings of gods and goddesses. It consists of a total of five tiers and seven golden kalashas on its' top. It provides access to the temple courtyard. It is approximately 40 feet tall. The gates of the Rajagopuram are gilded. Outside the Rajagopuram, it leads to a straight line filled with shops selling pooja articles, flowers (especially Lotus) and food stuffs.

The massive courtyard of the temple is nestled between sub temple of Sri Krishna Swamy opposite to the majestic Rajagopuram and sub temple of Sri Sundararajaswami temple on South and Sri Padmavati temple, to the North.

There are many mandapams located in the Tiruchanur Temple utilised for different purposes:

• Dhwajasthamba Mandapam: It is the most popular mandapam with a total of 36 pillars arranged in six rows with the Bangaru Balipeetham. After the naivedhyam is offered to the deity, it is placed here. The Gaja Vahanam is embossed on the bottom and Shanku chakras facing South and Goddess Padmavati facing North on Dwajastambha. The celestial Gaja flag on the temple mast flies on this pillar during the annual Brahmotsavams and is lowered after the event.
• Kalyanotsava Mandapam: Located to the south of the Dhwajasthamba Mandapam and in front of the Sundararaja Swamy temple, here the daily union of Padmavati and Malayappa Utsava murtis is conducted. It is also known as Krishnaswamy Mandapam.
• Ashirwada Mandapam: It is a 4-feet elevated platform dotted with 16 pillars. During abhishekam and other festivities this place is used for the bhajantrimela (musicians). For VIP Darshans, prasadams and other blessings are offered here.
• Archana Mandapam: It is located to south of sanctum to whose North face lies the Panchaloha idols of Sudarshana and Viswaksena. The granite idols of Garuda and Viswaksena are installed. There is also a granite and Panchaloha idol of Sri Ramanujacharya.
• Ghanta Mandapam: In here, all the main pujas from Suprabhatam to Weekly sevas such as Tiruppavada are conducted. The bells rung in this mandapam represent the offering of Naivedhyam to the Goddess. The door is protected by ornamental grills which distinguishes it from the Mukha Mandapam.
• Antaralam Mandapam: Similar to Jaya- Vijaya in the Tirumala temple, this Mandapam is dotted with the dvarapalakas of the Goddess- Vanamalini and Balakini. The Sanctum is followed by this Mandapam. ^[5]

Similar to the richly gilded Ananda Nilayam of Tirumala, Tiruchanur has the Shanti Nilayam which is located above the sanctum. Like Vimana Venkateswara, the Vimana Lakshmi idol is located in here. It faces the Tirumala Hills and Venkateswara temple.

The Padmasarovaram or the Lotus Tank (Pushkarni) is considered the birthplace of Goddess Padmavati. A dip in this tank is followed by the darshan. The Chakra Snanam ritual is conducted here. ^[6]

Worship in the Tiruchanur Padmavati Devi Temple (near Tirupati) is conducted according to the strict Pancharatra Agama traditions, focusing on deep devotion and reverence for Goddess Padmavati, the consort of Lord Venkateswara. The temple is managed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and is considered an essential visit to complete a pilgrimage to Tirupati. The day begins at 4.30 AM with the Suprabhata Seva where the Goddess is woken up. Usually it is done at 3.30 AM on Fridays. It is followed by a series of Kumkumarchanas where the Lakshmi Ashtottaram and Sahasranamam are read out. Similar to Tirumala, the Kalyanotsavam takes place which represents the divine union of Padmavati Devi and Lord Venkateswara. This is followed by a peaceful Unjala Seva (Dolotsavam) in the evening and finally at 9.30 PM, the Goddess is put to sleep by the Ekanta Seva. Special weekly sevas dot the temple schedule including:

• Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana: It takes place every Monday, where one archaka will recite the Padmavati Ashtottaram and another will offer one golden lotus flower of eight petals each at the feet of the Goddess, one for each Namavali. A total of 108 such flowers are offered.
• Thiruppavada Seva: Every Thursday, a huge mound of Pulihora is placed before the Goddess as Naivedhyam to absorb the Goddess' eminent energy. An archaka will recite the Padmavati Gadhyam and at the end, the Harathi is offered. Devotees receive various prasadams for this seva.
• Abhishekam: As Friday is considered an auspicious day for Lakshmi Devi, the Abhishekam is performed followed by the Vastralankaram, where the Goddess is dressed in rich silk and ornaments.
• Sahasra Deepalankarana: At Friday evening, the Utsava murthi of Lakshmi is swung in an open Mandapam surrounded by a thousand well-lit oil lamps. Vedic hymns are followed by Annamacharya's compositions.
• Pushpanjali Seva: As the Samavedha is recited, the archakas will offer lotus flowers to the deity. This is done every Saturday.

Every first Wednesday of the month, the Ashtottara Sata Kalasabhishekam is conducted where Abhishekam is conducted to the Utsava murti with vessels of holy water. ^[7]

Naivedya offered to Goddess Padmavathi Devi at Tiruchanur is a daily ritual offered three times, featuring traditional dishes like Sira, Pongal, Pulihora (Tamarind Rice), Daddojanam (Curd Rice), Laddu, and Vada. The most famous offering is the Ammavari Amrita Kalasam (temple laddu), with special items like Akkaravadisal and various snacks including Kadambam, Jalebi and Dosa offered during specific daily and weekly sevas.

Annually, the temple hosts some of the most magnificent festivities. The Annual Karthika Bramhotsavams starts with the Dhwajarohanam or Flag Hoisting followed by Vahana Sevas and ending with Pushpayagam. Vasanthotsavam (Spring Festival), Teppotsavam (Float Festival), Varalakshmi Vratam and Navaratri are some of the other prominent festivals of the temple. In Padmasarovaram, Chakra Snanam will be held on last day of Annual Padmavathi Brahmotsavams (Panchami Teertham) which will witness lakhs of devotees taking a dip in the holy waters. The Snanam marks the culmination of the Annual Brahmotsavams. ^[8]

Krishna Swamy Temple and Sundararaja Swamy Temple are sub-temples within the Padmavathi Temple. Krishna Swamy Temple, dated 1221 CE, is the earliest of the temples inside the temple complex. Sundararaja Swamy Temple was built in the 16th century and is dedicated to Varadaraja Swamy (Vishnu) and his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi. There is also a temple dedicated to Suryanarayana opposite to the temple tank. The icon of Suryanarayana is believed to installed by Venkateswara.^[9]

At dawn, the Goddess is woken up with the Suprabhatam at dawn, followed by the Stotram, Prapatti and Mangalasnanam. Then, the Lakshmi Sahasranama is chanted and then Padmavati Ashtottara Shatanamavali is chanted during Kumkumarchana and all the weekly sevas.

During the Unjal Seva, Sahasra Deepalankarana Seva and Ekanta Seva, hymns composed by saint Tallapaka Annamacharya are sung. He has written a total of 32,000 hymns in praise of Lord Venkateswara and Goddess Padmavati. His most famous compositions dedicated to the Goddess include Ksheerabdi Kanyakaku, Garudadri Vedadri, Vachenu Alamelumanga, Emani Pogudutheme and Meruguvantidhi. ^[10]

• Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
• Srikalahasteeswara Temple
• Tirumala Dhruva Bera
• Sri Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple
• List of temples under Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
• Tirupati
• Ammavaru

• GeoHack - Padmavathi Temple
• Official website
• Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple
• Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams
• [5]
• [6]