Temples In India-1.pdf - Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan

VIVEKANANDA KENDRA PATRIKAcentre, Sadhana.Sri Venkateswara temple has beendeveloped into a pilgrim centre, attractingdevotees, visitors and tourists from far andnear. When illuminated at nights, thetemple presents a splendid sight and adazzling view.The main shrine of Sri Venkateswara has aVimana known as the Jagadananda Vimanain the Kalinga style of Konarak, a grandfeature. On one side is the shrine ofPadmavathi and on the other is Sri Andaltemple with Vimanas in the South Indianstyle guarded by traditional lions in marble.Facing the main deity is the temple ofGaruda. The Dhvaja-sthamba in brass risesto a height of 42 feet, behind theGarudalaya where is located the Balipitha.In the sanctum sanctorum (Garba-griha),a 11 ½ feet high idol of Lord Venkateswara,made of black granite weighing 8 tonnes,and majestically, blessing the devotees.Lotus, decoratively carved on the innerceiling of the garba-griha, just over themain idol, forms a natural umbrellatraditionally used n temples.The central Mukha Mandapa has a beautifulcarving, like a circular Yantha engraved asMandala in white marble. In this mandapa,the holy water and satari (blessing of SriVenkateswara) are served to the devotees,who wait in long queues to have thedarshan of the Lord. On the three sides ofthe white marble wall, are the panels ofBrahma, Shiva and Vishnu and on theopposite sides their consorts, Saraswathi,Parvathi and Lakshmi have been exhibitedas if these deities come to pray to LordVenkateswara as “Sa chaturmukhashanmukha panchamukha Pramukhakiladaivata moulimane”. Sri Rama’s portraitTEMPLE INDIAon one side and on the other SriRadhakrishnaa, the incarnations of Vishnu,decorate the Mukha mandapam.The mandapa in the fore is another masterpiece,with a circular carving in the ceiling.On one side, of the wall is the panel ofSeshasayee and on the other side,Samudra Madan decorates the wholemandapa. Here, you will find thedwarapalakas-Jaya and Vijaya, standingvigil. Sri Rama, the Dharmavigrahavan andSri Krishna, the stabiliser of SanathanaDharma emerged in Kaliyuga with SriVenkateswara as Kalou Venkatanayaka. Apure white marble torana hanging at theentrance of the mandapa in front withgandharvas readily welcomes the devoteesto the temple for the darshan of the Lord.An imposing five-storeyed Pallava styledRajagopuram made of white marble, 51 feethigh and the Simhadwaram create aspiritual atmosphere in the minds ofdevotees, leading to Bhuloka Vaikuntam. Alarge panel of Gitopadesa in front of themain entrance sets the tone for thedevotee. A few steps ahead, on both sides,one finds 18 panels depicting selectsequences from the Ramayana by SaintTulsidas, with the original text in Hindi andbelow, the Telugu translation inscribed ingolden characters. Scanning them,transports a devotee to spiritual realms.Pooja Vidhan of the deities and thedeities installed in the templePooja in the South Indian style withPancharathra Agama of the PrabandicSchool of Bhakti cult is conducted. Apartfrom the main deity, Sri Venkateswara,Lakshmi, Andal and Garuda have been217