Mari Tirupati – Bangalore
There are many temples of Lord Venkateswara in Bengaluru in Karnataka State. One of them is very old as it belongs to the 17th century. It is “Kote Venkateswara temple” near K.R Market. There is one temple in Vyalikaval near Chowdiah Memorial Hall under the auspices of the T.T. D. This temple is known as ‘Mari Tirupati’ (Small Tirupati) situated in Mahalaxmipura in north-west Bengaluru. This temple is almost a replica of Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.
Mari Tirupati location on Google Maps
Temple History
After the year 1956 under the reorganization of States on a linguistic basis, Mysore State, now Karnataka State, was formed with Bengaluru as the capital. A large number of families from the North-West and North-East areas of the state shifted to Bengaluru. From the Rajani Nagar suburb, some families also moved in 1960 to an adjoining new area called Mahalaxmi Lay Out, which is now known as Mahalaxmipura.
The residents felt that they should have one temple of their faith and formed as a welfare Association. The members of the association actively started looking for plots in the picturesque surroundings.
The government allotted the desired plot to the welfare association and many members agreed to build a temple for Lord Srinivasa. The concept took shape with strong wishes for a beautiful temple along with Sridevi and Bhudevi. The project started and sculptors were called from Coimbatore to carve out this temple. It was completed in 1976. The temple was inaugurated by Sri Vishwesha Thirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt.
Over time, this temple was fondly called ‘MARI TIRUPATI’ and became popular and gained grandeur. All the ‘pujas’ performed here are the same as the ‘pujas’ in Tirumala. The names of some ‘sevas’ are Abhisheka, Alankara, Marriage (Kalyanam), Suprabhata, Prabandh Parayana and Nithyoth.
Features of the Mari Tirupati temple
The main feature of this temple is that it has a ‘Charan Gopura’ or ‘Charan Raj Gopura.’ On the ground floor, the divine feet of Lord Srinivasa in small mandapam were installed. Normally one finds in the temples of Lord Srinivasa, Lord’s head is covered with gold ‘Kireeta’ (Headgear) but here the gold covering is given on the Divine Charan (Feet) of Lord Srinivasa.
Another special feature is that the devotees can perform Abhisheka of Charan. It is said that by performing this Abhisheka to these divine feet, one gets free from all doshas (evils). The Gopura of 7 floors is known as ‘Charan Gopura’ where the Lord’s divine feet are kept. In this Charan Gopura, Kumbhabhishekh and adorning Gold ‘Kavacha’ to the divine feet were performed during the first week of June 2011.
After performing Abhisheka to the divine feet, devotees go to the 7th level/floor either by lift provided or by staircase. There is no provision for ‘pujas’ in all the higher levels/floors where God/Goddess idols are beautifully kept with suitable background paintings on the wall.
Attractions inside Mari Tirupati Temple
In each level of this Charan Gopura, several idols are depicting the scenes such as
- Srinivas Kalyanam (marriage),
- Kamadhenu,
- Srinivas Mahima,
- Ashta Laxmi,
- Samudra Mathan,
- Saptharshi,
- Gokarn Mahima (Ravana trying to lift Atma Linga),
- Bhudevi, Narayan, Hari Hara, Dashavatar, Kuber etc.
Seeing all these statues, devotees come slowly to the ground floor. The entry ticket for this Charan Gopura is Rs 50/- for adults and Rs 20/- for children below the age of 12. The entry for devotees is from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. on all days.
On one side of the Charan Gopura, Lord Anjaneya carrying Dronagiri is shown. On the other side, Goddess Mahalaxmi with the elephants facing the main entrance of the temple are seen. On the third side, Lord Srinivasa is sitting on His Garuda Vahana with His consorts facing towards the entrance and on the 4th side there is Sheshashahi Bhavan.
7 Floor Gopuram
This gopuram is 184 feet high. This structure is 2nd highest Gopura next to the Gopuram of Murdeshwar temple which is 249 feet high with 20 floors. On the 7th floor, there is a hall and above this, there is one structure erected as Shikhar/Kalasa/ Spire Gopura, where devotees are not allowed to go.
Brahmotsavams – 7 Days
The main festival performed here is the Brahmotsavams for seven days. Another festival is “Vajra Kavacha Dharane” four times in a year as on Ugadh dayi, last Saturday of Shravana Month, the Brahmotsavam Day and on “Vaikuntha Ekadashi.” Every Friday Abhishekh is also performed to the main deity and on every month on ‘Shravana Nakshatra’ day, Abhishekha is performed to “Utsava Murti.”
In the main temple, on both sides of the Sri Srinivasa idol, Goddess Lakshmi, and Goddess Padmavati are installed for performing the Archana Puja of these Goddesses along with the main deity. At the entrance door of the main ‘sanctum sanctorum,’ there are Jaya and Vijaya in their standing posture. As all devotees enter from left side of main door, they first get the blessings of Lord Ganesha.
Then on right side of exit door there is Lord Anjaneya and in between both doors there is a Garuda statue installed. Outside the main temple, one side is Navagraha and other side Bhu Varaha Swamy idols are also kept for performing puja.
Main Attraction in Bangalore
This temple became one of the tourist attractions in Bengaluru. Very close to this temple are the temples of Lord Pancha Mukhi Ganesh and Lord Sri Prasanna Veeranjaneya Swamy. The idol of Sri Prasanna Veeranjaneya Swamy is twenty-two feet high and sixteen feet wide which is carved in monolithic stone. These two temples are worth visiting to get the blessings of the deities. Visit this temple and get the blessings of Lord Srinivasa and can take a tour of charan Raj gopura.
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