Prasanna Venkatesaperumal Temple

The Prasanna Venkatesaperumal temple is located in Sowcarpet and is dedicated to God Venkatesaperumal. This temple is also known by the name of "Bairagi Venkatesa Perumal Koil". Since Perumal appeared before a sanyasi ('Bairagi" means "sanyasi" in Sanskrit). The poojas in the temple are followed as per the regulations at the Thirupathi temple. As the God appeared in the sanyasi's mind he is known by the name "Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal". The vimaanam present in this holy place is called the Padmavimaanam. The sanctum sanctorum is graced by five Perumal's known as the "Paanch Perars". God Renganatha appears in the front mandap. The temple front is sculpted to look like a chariot. Legend goes that a sanyasi by the name Laldas lived in this place. He was a staunch Vishnu devotee who began his work every day only after offering prayers and meditating to God Perumal of Tirupati. He had a habit of offering services to people who were visiting Tirupati as his own wish to visit this place remain unfulfilled. This wish he nurtured later turned into a deep desire. The God then decided to grace his devotee and appeared in his dream one day asking him to construct a temple in this place. The sanyasi was overjoyed and began his work. As he had no money he went around asking people but they refused. Laldas finally used his magical powers and turned into gold and built the temple by selling this gold. People then realized his powers and offered him help to build the temple. An idol of God Venkatachalapaty was installed in this temple. After the construction of the temple the God appeared in the dreams of Laldas and told him that he was in the form of an idol in a garden nearby. The sanyasi found the idol and installed it in the temple.