• Vishnu

Shree Lakshmi Venkataramana Swamy Temple

Overview


Sri Lakshmi Venkataramana Swamy Temple is located at Devaragudi palli, in the Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka, India. This temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu and was originally constructed by king Janamejaya. The king had performed the Sarpayaga by sacrificing snakes, in order to avenge the death of his father, the Parikshit Maharaja. In order to redeem the sinful act of killing snakes, he is said to have built this temple.


About the Temple


The story revolves around Kashyapa Maharshi, who was married to the daughters of Lord Brahama, Kadru and Vinuta. Kadru gave birth to 1000 serpent children, while Vinutha birthed Garutmanta and Varun.

Legends says that King Parikshith ruled over the kingdom of Hasthinapura after the Pandavas. Parikshith was the grand son of Arjuna and the son of Abhimanyu. While he was hunting one in the deep fires, King Parikshith finds Sage Shameeka’s Ashrma. The sage was meditating and had taken a vow of silence. The King who was very thirsty, was in dire need of water. The saint was completely immersed in meditation that he did not respond to the king's request for water. The king felt insulted and out of anger , he placed a dead snake around the neck of the meditating sage. Enraged with this ill act, Shameeka Maharshi's son, Shringi cursed that the king would die of a snake bite within a week. The curse worked and subsequently the king died due to the bite of the Sarparaja (Snake king) Takshaka, who was one of the sons of Kadru and Kashyapa Maharshi.

Parikshat's son Janamejaya was his successor and ruled Hasthinapura upon his death. Janamejeya wanted to avenge the death of his father and hence performed the Sarpa Yaga with the help of Ritwiks and sage Utanka. Four prominent priests namely Chandrabhargava, Kautsa, Sharangarava Pingala and Jamini took the responsibilities of Sarpa Yaga as Hotru, Advaryus, Udgatar and Bramha respectively. As they chanted mantras calling the names of Serpants during the course of Yagna, hundreds of snakes started coming up falling in Agni Kunda and got burned into ashes. These snakes had the curse of their own mother Kadru, for failing to win a challenge that she had with her sister Vinuta.

Meanwhile, the Serpent King Vasuki is believed to have approached Sage Astika, who was born to a man and serpent women named Jaratkari. He sought the help of the sage for protecting the serpent clan from this sacrificial Yagna. Sage Astika accepts his request and therefore reaches the Yagashala (place where the yagna is held). He urges Janamejaya maharaja and Ritwiks to immediately stop the Sarpa Yaga, since it amounted deed to committing sin by killing snakes and would therefore not yield any eternal good to anyone.

Realising the seriousness and ill effects of the Sarpayaga, King Janamejaya agrees to stop the Sarpa yagna. In order to compensate for the sins he committed by killing innocent snakes, Janamejaya Maharaja on the advice of Asteeka Maharshi decides to consecrate (pratistapana) vishnava temple at various places.

The vigraha of Sri Venkateswara was one such deity consecrated by King Janamejeya near Chitravati River and Ghatika Parvata. Ghatika parvata is the hill where Ghatothkaja, the son of Demon queen Hidambi and Bheemasena was born.

Many centuries later, this idol which was hidden under a ant hill, was discovered by a Chola King. The king was in the pursuit of seeking the blessings of lone male deities, by installing the vigrahas of their respective consort. The king believed that this would help him in finding suitable life partners for his unmarried daughters. During his search, Lord Venkateswara had appeared in his dream and asks him to re-consecrate his idol along with idols of Bhoodevi and Neeladevi in the temple premises. The dutiful Chola king did as instructed, and arranged for Bramha rathotsava to be performed every year on the arrival of Vishaka Nakshatra during Vaishaka Shukla Hunnime. Since the Lord blessed the Chola king in his dream the temple came to known as “Sri Bhooneeladevi sahita Gadidam Prasanna Venkateswara Temple.”

The famous Vijayanagara ruler, Sri Krishnadevaraya who came to know of this temple’s significance, took the initiative to expand the temple complex with a huge Prakara and Gopura Dwarastamba. He also arranged for carrying out regular religious rituals by offering various grants to these temples. It is believed that this age old Shrine is being visited by Siddapurushas who still lives in the caves of Gadimba hill and perform pooja to the Lord Venkateswara at Bramhi muhurta every day. The temple premises also houses the shrine for Saptamatrukas consecrated by Chola king. The temple is being maintained and administered by Mujarai Department of Karnataka Govenment and daily Pooja and rituals are being carried out. The devotees and locals are also extending their solitude to the Lord with generous Donations.

The eastern gate of the temple entrance is about 31 feet tall and Vimana Gopura is 108 feet high. The Dwajastamba was recently renovated at the cost over Rs.6 lakhs and is about 45 feet tall.

Annasantarpane and Kalyanotsava are performed during Rathotsava. The temple is even considered par with the world renowned Thirupathi Venkateshwara shrine.


Festivals


The auspicious occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi is observed here with Special (Vishesha) Poojas starting as early as 3 am and lasting till about 8 pm. The main door of the temple will be opened symbolising the opening of the heavenly doors of Lord Vishnu’s abode ( Swarga Vaasal) to his devotees. Laddu Prasada is being offered to all devotees visiting this temple.


How To Reach Shree Lakshmi Venkataramana Swamy Temple

Road

The nearest bus stop is Devaragudipalli.


Railways

The nearest railhead is the Chikkaballapur railway station.


Airport

The closest located airport is the Bangalore International airport.


Temple Address


Shree Lakshmi Venkataramana Swamy Temple,
Gadidamm, Devaragudi palli,
Chikkaballapura District,
Karnataka - 561207.

Significance

Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following:-

  • Salvation
  • Wealth
  • Relief from diseases
  • Purchase of vehicles
  • Gain Knowledge
Shlokas

Achutham Keyshavam Rama Narayanam Krishna Damodaram Vasudevam Harim Shridharam Madhavam Gopika Vallabham Janaki Nayakam Ramachandram Bhajey

Meaning -Oh Lord who cannot be perished, who also has names like Keshava, Rama, Damodara, Narayana, Sridhara, Madhava, Krishna, Ramachandra the beloved of Janaki, let me say your name regularly.

Vasudeva Sutham Devam Kamsa Chanoora Mardhanam Devaki Paramanandham Krishnam Vande Jagathgurum

Meaning -I bow to you O Krishna, the ultimate guru, Devaki and Vasudeva's son, and the destroyer of Kamsa and Chanur.

Adharam Madhuram Vadanam Madhuram Nayanam Madhuram Hasitam Madhuram Hridayam Madhuram Gamanam Madhuram Mathuraa Dhipate Rakhilam Madhuram

Meaning -Meaning - Sweet are Your lips, sweet is Your face, sweet are Your eyes, sweet is Your smile, sweet is Your heart, sweet is Your gait, O Lord of Mathura, everything about You is sweet.

Alokya Mathur Mukha Madarena Sthanyam Pibantham Saraseeruhaksham Sachinmayam Devam Anantha Roopam Balam Mukundam Manasa Smarami

Meaning -I think of this Balamukundan as the one who looks lovingly at his mother's face while taking milk from her, who has eyes similar to the red lotus, who is the embodiment of truth and intelligence and other forms.

Timings

The temple is open From 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM. And 5:00 PM to 8.00 PM

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