Chintalarayaswami (Venkataramana) Temple, Andhra Pradesh

Address

Chintalarayaswami (Venkataramana) Temple, Tadipatri, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh- 515411.

Diety

Chintala Venkataramana

Introduction

• The Chintalarayaswamy Temple, also known as Sri Chintala Venkataramana Temple, is a Vaishnavite temple located in Tadipatri, Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh.
• It is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, a form of Lord Vishnu, who is worshipped here as Chintala Venkataramana.
• The temple was constructed by Pemmasani Timmanayudu II of the Pemmasani Nayaks during the Vijayanagara Empire.
• Situated on the bank of the Penna River, the temple is renowned for its intricate granite sculptures and has been designated as a Monument of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• The temple features a unique Garuda Mandapa designed as a chariot with rotating granite wheels, similar to the one at the Vithala Temple in Hampi. However, many sculptures have been defaced due to invasions.

Puranic Significance:

• Spanning an area of 5 acres, the temple was constructed during the 16th century by the order of Timma Naidu, the son of a chieftain of the Vijayanagara Empire.
• According to legend, a loud noise emerged from a tamarind tree, and upon investigation, the villagers discovered an idol of Lord Vishnu within the tree.
• That same night, Lord Vishnu appeared in Timma Naidu’s dream and instructed him to build a temple around the idol. The temple was subsequently named after the tamarind tree (Chintha means tamarind in Telugu).
• The temple is renowned for its beautiful surroundings, located by the Penna River, and attracts thousands of Hindu devotees annually.
• The temple was primarily built under the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire, with the Pemmasani Nayaks playing a crucial role in its construction. The entrance towers were later contributions from the Tuluva dynasty.

Special Features:

• The main deity in the temple’s Sanctum Sanctorum is 10 feet high.
• A fascinating natural phenomenon occurs during the Mukkoti Ekadasi festival: for three consecutive days (Ekadasi, Dwadasi, Trayodasi), sun rays directly touch the feet of the deity. This happens as the sunlight passes through the holes of a monolithic chariot located 70 meters away from the deity.
• The temple corridor (mantapa), which starts from this chariot, is supported by 40 pillars and is adorned with intricate sculptures depicting scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharatha, and Bhagavatha. These sculptures narrate the epics in a sequential manner.
• The ceiling of the corridor features an octagonal-shaped flower design.
• The temple also houses sub-temples dedicated to Sita Rama and Sri Padmavathi Amma Varu.

Festivals:

• The Annual Brahmotsavam begins on Aswayuja Suddha Astami (Durgastami), attracting devotees for grand celebrations.

Century/Period/Age

16th Century

Managed By

Archeological survey of India.

Nearest Bus Station

Tadipatri

Nearest Railway Station

Tadipatri

Nearest Airport

Kadapa

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