Sri Balaji Venketeswara Swamy Devasthanam, Hyderabad

Address

Sri Balaji Venketeswara Swamy Devasthanam. Jodimetla village, Hyderabad, Telangana 500088

Diety

Balaji, Venketeswara

Introduction

The temple is a Hari Hara Kshetra where Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu reside in one place. Most people in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are not aware of this 800-year-old temple, located nearby. Jodimetla is a village on the Uppal-Warangal road with many colleges and it is easy to miss the turn which leads to Venkatapur village. Anuraag Group of Institutions serves as a popular landmark. Recently, a signboard has been put up at the Jodimetla junction, showing the temple location. It lies near the Talakunta lake which is also connected to Tirumala as Rathotsavam starts by chanting Talakunta Venkateshwara Govinda, Govinda. “That is because Lord Venketeswara rested here along with his consort Lakshmi enroute to Tirumala,” Venkateshwarlu, says and adds, “He is called Balaji here.” The Balaji is swayambhu and is embedded in a rock around which the temple is built.

Puranic Significance

“This temple was built in 1219,” says Yadavalli Venkateshwarlu, the only priest in the temple. One of the pillars of the mandapam is cited as proof. The legend has it that Bhulumalle Narsaiah built this mandapam in 1219. “The temple has supernatural powers, which is stronger than that of Tirumala, The priest said that he is a Smartha or a Shaivaite and the temple is a Hari Hara Kshetra where Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu reside in one place. There must be a story behind the Shiva temple. However, the priest pleaded his ignorance about it. Though the Shiva linga and Swayambhu Vishnu existed together, the temple is called Sri Balaji Venketeswara Swamy Devasthanam. Lord Vishnu is present here as Mohini and is standing on the left side of Shiva, who is the ultimate personification of manhood, forcing Lord Vishnu to take the avataar of a woman. The temple icon does not show all these intricacies. In fact, it is dark that it is not visible unless some light is flashed on it. There is also a sweet water lake or a koneru known as Mahanand