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Entry is through Vaikuntham Queue complex only:
The Mahadvara Gopuram
The Mahadvara gopuram or the outer gopuram of Lord Venkateswara's temple is a lofty five storeyed structure. It was probably built in the 13th century A.D. The gopura, resembles the gopuras at Rameswaram, Madurai and Srirangam. Sculptured scenes from the Ramayana and the Bhagavata are carved on the
gopuram.
Sankhanidhi and Padmanidhi
The gopuram entrance houses two images of Sankhanidhi and Padmanidhi, on either side facing the worshippers entering the temple. Perhaps this is the only temple where images of these two guardian deities are found. The Sankhanidhi is installed on the southern and the Padmanidhi on the northern side of the main gate.
Ranga Mandapam
The Mandapa said to have been built by Sri Ranganatha Yadavaraya, a local ruler, is called Ranganayaka Mandapam houses a Sesha vahana or serpent vehicle where the utsavamurthy of Venkateswara takes his seat on special and festival occasions. The shrine within it is supposed to be the place where the utsavamurthy of Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam was kept during the 14th century when Srirangam was occupied by the Muslim army of Malik
Kafur.
The Tirumala Raya Mandapam
The Tirumala Raya Mandapam is one of the best examples of Vijayanagar architecture. High standing pillars support it. They are decorated with horsemen and yali riders holding swords. Every inch of the pillars is carved with geometric and floral designs. The ceiling is exquisite with specimens of plastic art. The central pavilion is a veritable piece of art. It is surmounted by a vimana of the usual Dravida order.
This lofty and spacious mandapa is ranked with some of the best-preserved pieces of South Indian architecture.
Lala Khemaram. Mata Mohande. Pita-Bibi
On a high pedestal in the vicinity of the lofty dhvajasthamba adjoining the Tirumalaraya mandapa is a row of three statues standing in Anjali posture. Their names are inscribed on them. On extreme left is the figure of Lala Khemaram wearing a rounded beard. He is identified with Baja Todar Mal, the Rajput Revenue Minister of the Moghul Emperor Akbar (1556-1605 A.D.) The middle figure is that of Mata Mohande and the extreme right one is that of a female devotee named Pita
Bibi.
Sampangi Pradakshinam
At each of the four corners of the open space in the Sampangi pradakshinam, there are small mandapams on four pillars constructed by Saluva Narasimha in about 1470 AD.
It was arranged that on almost all festival occasions the processional deity should be seated at each of these mandapas and that food offerings should be made there and distributed to the pilgrims.
Even now they serve the purpose during the four days of vasanthotsavam soon after
Ugadi.
Dhvajasthambham and Balipeetham
The gold-gilded dhvajasthambha or flag staff near nadimipadikavali stands in front of the inner gopura of the shrine. There is the usual gold gilded silver sheet balipeeta facing the dhvajasthambha. On the opening day of the Brahmotsavam of Lord Venkateswara, his flag or Kodi is unfurled on the top of the sthambha. This function is known as
dhvajarohanam.
The inner gopuram
At the entrance of the inner gopuram Vendi Vaakili (silver entrance) near dhvajasthambam, there are two interesting bas reliefs on the walls. One of these show the Lord's devotee Hathiramjee playing dice with Lord Srinivasa seated comfortably on an asanam. Opposite to this is another interesting bas relief depicting Sri Rama holding court.
Bangaaru Vaakili
At the western end of the Tirumamani Mandapam, is the Bangaru Vaakili or the golden entrance.
We find two images of Jaya and Vijaya on either side of this golden entrance. These are dwarapalakas or sentinels of the temple. The images are made of panchaloham. The images have four arms. The upper hands hold the chakra and sankha. One of the lower hands bears the gada or mace. The other hand is in the suchi hasta or tarjani pose. The pose in which the devotees are warned to be clean in body, mind and speech while entering the sanctum sanctorum.
It is also significant that the Suprabhatham or daily morning ritual in which hymns are chanted to wake up the Lord, are sung before Bangaaru Vaakili which has a panel depicting Dasavataras of Lord Vishnu.
Sri Garudalvar
In the interior of Venkateswara's shrine is a small cell for Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu, He stands in Anjali pose facing the sanctum of the Lord with his wings well spread out. This vigraha is popularly called as
Garudalvar.
Snapana Mandapam or Thiruvilan Kovil
Crossing the Bangaaru vaakili, we enter the snapana mandapam or Tiruvilan Kovil. A Pallava queen named Samavai consecrated Bhoga Srinivasa moorthy in this mandapam in the year 966 A.D. We may therefore presume that this mandapam existed in the early years of 10th century A.D. itself. The pillars bear a few good bas-reliefs. A particularly impressive bas-relief is that of Maha Vishnu in the sitting pose.
Ramar Medai
Crossing the Tiruvilan Kovil, we enter the Ramar Medai. The Ramar Medai has two small platforms on which figures of Angada and Hanuman are placed.
It also has a figure of a paricharika holding a light. Opposite of them are equally beautiful panchaloham images of Ananta, Garuda and Vishvaksena which are worth seeing.
Mukkoti Pradakshinam
Around the original central shrine comprising the garbha gruha with its Mukha mandapam is the first circumambulatory path called the Mukkoti Pradakshinam. This pradakshinam is open in the temple only once in a year i.e. the Vaikuntha Ekadasi day.
The Sayana Mandapam in front of Sri Venkateswaraswami
From the Ramar Medai one enters the Sayana mandapam. The Lord of Tirumala is put to sleep in this mandapam during the Ekantha seva at night.
The Sanctum Sanctorum or the Garbha Griham
Behind the Sayana mandapam is the Garbha Griham or the sanctum sanctorum. In olden days Garbha Griham was called Kovil Alwar. The Garbha Griham houses only one mula murthy, i.e., Sri Venkateswara.
Kulasekhara Padi
The stone step between the Garbha Gruham and the Sayana mandapam is called the kulasekhara padi in honour of Kulasekhara Alwar. The food offerings to the Lord are made outside the kulasekharapadi. Only four nalis of rice are said to be offered inside the Garbha Griha to the Lord along with fruits, flowers, milk, butter, etc. Devotees are not allowed to step on this or enter the Garbha Griham of the Lord of Tirumala.
Bangaru Bavi
In front of the 'potu' room adjoining a corridor running east-west there is a well covered with goldgilded plates, called the Bangaru Baavi (golden well). Water required for the temple and the kitchen in particular is drawn from this well. The well is considered to be a holy one having underground spring from the Virajanadi. The site of it is as depicted in the agama. According to legends, Rangadasa who took rebirth as Thondaman Chakravarthi and constructed the temple of Lord Venkateswara constructed this well.
Kalyana Mandapam in Tirumala Temple
The inner pradakshina of Lord Venkateswara's shrine popularly known as the Vimana Pradakshina has on its left an exquisitely carved Kalyana Mandapam. This mandapa, raised on a high pedestal, has rows of pillars in the post Vijayanagara style with riders on yalis. The robust life-like figures of the riders holding swords in their arms represent the resurgence of Hinduism in the midst of Muslim
proselytisation.
The Sub-Mandapam in Kalyana Mandapam
The sub-mandapam has four pillars. Each pillar is in itself a complex pillar with a main pillar, square in shape to which are attached three smaller pillars.
Anandanilaya Vimanam
A gold gilded Vimana having three-tier tower with a pinnacle surmounts the sanctum of Venkateswara's temple. The Vimana has the usual compliment of kutas, salas and panjaras and also Dasavatharam idols surrounded by four lions at the four corners. Scenes from the Ramayana and the Bhagavata appear on the
Vimana.
The famous Vimana Venkateswara gives darshan to His devotees on the northern face of the Vimana. The Lord stands in his usual form holding Sankha and Chakra. Even the vision of the Vimana Venkateswara blesses all his devotees to attain salvation or liberation. The Vimana is familiarly known as Swarna Ananda Nilayam i.e. the House of Divine Bliss.
Sabha Arai (Sabha Room)
Next to Tallapakam Vari Bhandaram, is the Sabha Arai, which is the wardrobe of the used-up clothing of Sri Venkateswara. Devotees are permitted occasionally to touch or to press those sacred clothes to their forehead in veneration. Friday Abhisheka Theertham is given here to the devotees on special occasions.
The Musical Pillars
The temple of Lord Venkateswara has a Mandapa supported by musical stone pillars. It is in the inner pradakshina of the sanctum. The pillars are slender and graceful. As in Hampi (Vijayanagar) these pillars produce musical sounds. Some of them give the udatta, anudatta and, svrita svaras of Vedic music. The pillars used to be played upon with two thin sticks made of cane or bamboo resembling
Jalatarangini.
Parimalam Room
In the Parimalam room, the articles of perfumery required for the daily abhishekam of Bhoga Srinivasa murti and for the Friday abhishekam of Sri Venkateshwara as well as punugu tailam, civet oil, turmeric paste, saffron paste and purified camphor are prepared here. Devotees who pay for the performance of Friday abhishekam are given these articles in separate silver cups to carry around the Vimana Pradakshina and then to deliver them in the Garbhagriham before the abhishekam commences.
Koppera (Hundi)
It is the northern side of the Tirumamani Mandapam (in front of Bangaru Vaakili) that the daily parakamani takes place. In its west quadrangle is placed a long Gangalam (large brass vessel) covered with a long canvas spout and guarded by peons and vigilant guards. All votive offerings from devotees are deposited in this vessel called
Koppera.
They range from hairs removed from the shaven heads of men and women to diamond jewellery, ornamental necklaces, ear rings, gold bangles set with precious stones, bundles of currency notes, gold, silver, jaggery, sugar candy, idols, vessels, wristwatches, promissory notes, lottery tickets and other articles, and coins of all denominations current and old.
It is sometimes a moving sight to see ladies removing all the valuable ornaments they wear so dearly and wrap them in a yellow cloth and drop the same into this koppera, then circumambulate it and go away contentedly. Even those who have not taken a vow, deposit as many coins or currency notes as they can afford to and offer in the Hundi as a token of their devotion to Lord Venkateswara. The contents of the Hundi are emptied twice in a day in the presence of officials and devotees to credit the amount to the Lord's account, through the banks, and send the valuables etc. to the Devasthanam Treasury. The sorting and counting process of the Hundi collection is known as Parakamani. Some of the respectable pilgrim devotees are invited to witness the Parakamani and to attest after the counting and sorting is completed and categorically entered in the prescribed books by the Parakamani Peishkar on duty.
Virajanadi
Virajanadi is a subterranean river in Sri Venkateswara's temple and this is compared to Virajanadi flowing in Sri Vaikuntham.
This river is said to be flowing under the holy feet of Lord Venkateswara. Devotees get the same water through this Virajanadi that is visible, seen like a well in the Sampangi Pradakshinam near Ugranam room and this sacred water is also used to wash off their sins.
Padipotu
In Padipotu (Sweets and Savouries etc.) panyarams are prepared with ghee for being offered to the deity every day. Since these preparations are not to be mixed with Annaprasadams, the Annaprasadam potu is located separately where the deity of Madapulli Nachiar (Sri Vakula Devi), the foster mother of Sri Venkateswara is supposed to supervise all food preparations.
Since unused ghee, sugar etc. have to be separately kept for subsequent use, the padipotu is located outside Nadimi Padikavali i.e., the north of
Dwajasthambham (Flagstaff).
This Padipotu has a trenched type of lengthy ovens, pial type of platforms and also separate stores and grinding equipment to prepare easily thousands of panyarams such as manoharams, vadas, appams, jilebis, sukees, thenatholas etc. both for festival occasions and for sale to the devotees regularly.
Yamunathurai
The Yamunathurai is a room where fresh flowers and thulasi garlands, are daily made to the exact size required for decorating Sri Venkateswara Swami and other deities. It owes its name to Yamunacharya or Sri Alavandar who is said to have given a start to this kind of work in his days of worship and religious service in Tirumala temple.
Aina Mahal (Mirror Hall)
On the northern side opposite to Rangamandapam, there is a Mandapam with an enclosed room. This room is having a small squared mandapam in the centre. It is fitted with reflective mirrors on all sides including the ceiling. So it is called the
Aina Mahal. (Addala Ara in Telugu).
Akhilandam
A huge oil lamp fixed to a brass tortoise below, fronts the Akhilandam at the entrance of Lord Venkateswara's shrine. It is only here the devotees were allowed to break the coconuts and offer deeparathana to the Lord.
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