• Vishnu

Shree Prasanna Venkataramana Swamy Temple

Overview


Chikka Tirupati or Venkateshwara swamy temple is a famous shrine dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu. It is located at Chikka Tirupathi, a town in the Malur Taluk of the Kolar district, Karnataka. The temple is similar to the Thirupathi Venkateswara temple. Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Venkateshwara, who is the presiding deity here. He graces his devotees at this temple along with his consort Goddess Lakshmi, as Alamelumangai.


About The Temple


Chikka Tirupathi is located in the outskirts of Bangalore. This temple is quite ancient and is considered as an alternative to the world famous Tirupathi temple in Andhra Pradesh. The main vigraha (idol) at this temple is believed to have been installed by Lord Agni (the god of fire). Legends associate this idol here to the epic Mahabharata. As per Hindu mythology, at the end of Dwaparayuga, Lord Agni is said to have developed severe stomach problems and indigestion on accepting offerings (mainly ghee) from the various yagnas performed. He met Arjuna and Lord Sri Krishna for finding a solution to this problem.

Arjuna is believed to have suggested Lord Agni to consume the entire medicinal herbs present in the Khandava forest. Lord Agni decided to consume the herbs and the entire forest was burning as a result of Lord Agni’s heat. During the process, Arjuna and Lord Krishna stood guard for the sacred forests so that no one could stop the forest fire. But unfortunately the renowned snake god Takhsaka was trapped in the forest was injured in the fire. The angry Takhsaka is said to have cast a cursed Agni and as a result of it, he lost his tejas (brightness).

Later, Lord Agni approached Lord Shiva seeking his advice to tackle the effects of the curse. Lord Shiva recommended Agni Dev to worship Lord Vishnu. Agni did as instructed and thus Lord Vishnu freed him from the curse. The grateful Agni Dev, then created the vigraha of Lord Vishnu and named the deity Prasanna Venkateswara. The vigraha of the chief deity is made out of Krishna shila (black rock) and is about three-and-a-half feet tall. The vigraha is seen placed on a padma peetha (lotus shaped pedestal).

The right hand of the lord here is held in an upward mudra called "abhay hasta", while in Tirumala it faces downward mudra called "Vaikuntha hasta." The lord at Chikka Thirupathi is seen gracing along with his consort Sridevi and Bhudevi in a standing position. There is no separate shrine for Goddess Padmavati. The deity here is also called Sri Varadaraja.

This temple has many similarities with the Thirumala Balaji temple. Devotees tonsure their heads and offer their hairs to the deity as a thanks giving to the deity. This tonsuring practice is widely followed in the Tirumala Balaji temple too. The Brahmotsava or the annual festival is as big as the one held at Tirupathi. Similarly Rathotsava, Puspapalakki, Ashwavahana and Rathasaptami festivals are also celebrated here.

A seventy-feet tall wooden chariot is made every year, at the time of Ratha utsava. This system exists only in the renowned Jaganath shrine at Puri, Orissa other than Chikka Tirupathi. Navaratri, Vaikuntha Ekadasi and Dhanumasa are the other major festivals celebrated in this temple. There are mentions in inscriptions about a Chola king named Janmajaya, who is believed to have visited this temple around the 11th century.

Chikka Thirupathi is also situated close to the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Devotees throng the temple to get holy darshan and blessings of Lord Venkatramana. The Chola kings have contributed generously towards the development of this temple. The mark of lion, which is the official symbol of the Cholas, is seen in the pillars of the temple.

This temple is around years 4000 old. A lot of renovation works have been undertaken in this temple so far. A huge number of devotees visit this temple every year from different parts of the world, to get the divine darshan of the Lord here.

The main speciality of this temple is that the devotees visiting this temple is believed to get the same virtue as visiting the temple of Lord Venkateshwara at Tirupathi (Andhra Pradesh). Thus those devotees who are not able get the divine darshan of Sri Venkatramana at Tirupathi, can visit this temple at Chikka thirupathi to worship Sri Prasanna Venkatramana.


Festivals


The annual Brahmotsavam of this temple is celebrated every year on Shravana Shaniwara. During this temple festival, the utsava moorthi of the presiding deities are taken in around the temple streets in procession.


How To Reach Shree Prasanna Venkataramana Swamy Temple

Road

The nearest bus stop is Malur.


Railways

The nearest railhead is Malur railway station.


Airport

The closest located airport is the Bangalore International Airport.


Temple Address


Shree Prasanna Venkataramana Swamy Temple,
NH 207, Chikka Tirupathi,
Karnataka - 563160.

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 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m

Weather in Chikka Tirupathi
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