Tirupati Govindaraja Temple, Andhra Pradesh

Address

GS Sannidhi St, Varadaraja Nagar,

Tirupati, Chittoor District,

Andhra Pradesh 517501

Moolavar

Govindaraja

Amman

Pundarikavalli.

Introduction

Govindaraja Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, situated at the heart of the Tirupati city in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh state in India. Presiding Deity is called as Govindaraja and Mother is called as Pundarikavalli. The Tirupati (downhill) city is built around this temple. The temple is being administered by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

Puranic Significance

The temple was built during 12th Century AD and was consecrated in the year 1130 AD by Saint Ramanujacharya.

It is believed that during invasion of Govindaraja Perumal Temple in Chidambaram, the Utsava murti (processional deity) was brought to Tirupati for safe keeping. The Utsava murti was taken back after the invasions.Govindaraja is considered as the elder brother of Lord Venkateswara. The temple is one of the earliest structures in Tirupati and also one of the biggest temple complexes in Chittoor district.

Special Features

The temple is dedicated to the god Vishnu, who is referred to as Govindaraja-swamy. The deity is in reclining yoga nidra posture, facing east, with his right hand under his head and left hand straight over his body. Sridevi and Bhudevi, the consorts of Vishnu, are seated at his feet. In some texts, Govindaraja is mentioned as the elder brother of Venkateshwara, a form of Vishnu whose chief temple is in Tirupati.

The temple is one of the largest temple complexes in Andhra Pradesh.A 50 m high, seven storied Rajagopuram was constructed on east entrance of the temple by Matla Anantaraja, a local chieftain. This structure has Ramayana scenes and portrait of Matla Anantaraja and his three wives carved onto the passage walls. Towards the west of Rajagopuram, there are two enclosures of the temple, arranged one behind the other. The outer enclosure hosts sub shrines of the consort of Govindaraja – Pundarikavalli (a form of Lakshmi) and Alvars. The inner enclosure hosts the main shrine of Govindaraja along with shrines of Krishna with his consort, Andal. Towards south west corner of the inner enclosure, there is a shrine dedicated to Kalyana Venkateswara which had a mandapa with finely finished colonettes on the outerpiers and with central space lined with yalis projecting inwards. The pavilion in the middle had columns of grey green granite and wooden roof.

Besides Govindaraja, the shrines of Parthasarathy (the former presiding deity) and Kalyana Venkateswara are considered religiously significant.

Govindaraja temple also has shrines of goddess Padmavati, Ramanuja and Andal near the entrance. There is a structure housing the Vishnu avatars to the right side of the entrance as like common in other Vishnu temples. There are also shrines dedicated to Chakratalwar, Lakshmi Narayana, Anjaneya and Tirumala Nambi.

Festivals

Vaisakha Festival (Annual Brahmotsavam), Float Festival, Adhyanotsavam, Thiruvadipuram, Godaparinayam, Sri Salai Nachiyar Panguni Uttiram Festival are the festivals celebrated here with much fanfare.