Narayanavanam
Narayanavaram or Narayanavanam is the sacred residence of Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy and Goddess Padmavatidevi. This is the very holy place where Lord Srinivasa married Padmavati, the daughter of Akasaraja.
Narayanavanam is a sacred place that is at a distance of 34 kilometers from the temple of Lord Srinivasa who is hailed as the visible God and lies on the Tirupati – Chennai route, within five kilometers of Puttur.
The original name was Narayana Puram. When Lord Srinivasa came to the forest for hunting, saw Padmavati playing with her friends, fell in love with her, and married her here, and so the place came to be called ‘Narayanapuram’.
As it was Sri Narayana himself who incarnated as a bridegroom to marry Padmavati here, the place is known even today as ‘Narayanavaram’.
Greatness & Glorious facts
The greatness and glorious facts about this place are given in detail in Sri Venkatachala Mahatmyam. Akasaraja built this temple. The temple which had suffered decay was rebuilt in 1245 A.D. by the then ruler of the area, Veera Narasimhadeva Yadavaraya (1205-1245).
It is said that Penugonda Veerappa – I rebuilt the temple of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara in Narayanavanam in 1541-42. In 25.3.43 renovation was undertaken and completed by SurajmalKarva, the manager of the principality of Alwar (Rajasthan).
The places in and around Narayanavanam also are famous. The Kailasanadha Kona waterfalls which spring from the slopes of Nagarimukku hill attract many, especially tourists from Chennai. Here is the temple of Kailasanadha.
Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy of Narayanavanam
Here the presiding icon is Sri Kalyana Venkateswara. He grants all our wishes. The Lord is seen facing east. Lakshmi is seen residing on his bosom. ADasavatara band adorns his waist. A garland of salagramas adorns his shoulders as also the Conch and the Discus. His hand carries a hunting sword.
Goddess Padmavati Devi
When Akasaraja was tiling the earth for performing a sacrifice, he found a box. In it, there was a girl child on a lotus. So she came to be known as Padmini and Padmavati. In the Skandha Purana she is known as Padmini; in Bhavishyottara Purana, she is called Padmavati. She is also called Padmavati.
Here the goddess is in a separate temple. The vimana of the temple is known as Vishnuchandravimana. The temple is located to the south west of the main temple. Near to the main entrance of the temple, you get darsana of Saraswati to your right and Kamadhenu and Kalpavriksha on the left.
Goddess Padmavati is seated on a lotus, has four shoulders and faces east. According to VenkatachalaPurana, Vedavati was born as Padmavati. The temple is encircled by a pathway for circumambulation and that has another circle outside for performing Mahapradakshina too.
To the Northwest is the temple of Andalamma (Goda Devi). The northern gate is opened every year on Vaikuntadwadasi day.
Sadasiva Kona
Sadasiva Kona is on the northern side. There is another waterfall there and also a small Siva temple. Many people throng to the place on the auspicious day of Mahasivaratri.
In the forest to the east, an ancient path leads to Sri Kalahasti. Tondaman Chakravarty who claimed Narayanavanam made Tondamanadu near Sri Kalahasti as Capital. There is a temple of Sridevi Bhudevi and Narasimha on the way.
Scarcity of water and the resolution
It is said that when water was sufficient on the day of the wedding festival, the river Aruna was created with a herb called Aruni.
Now a dam named Araniyar is built on it to provide water for irrigation in the area. The Kailasanadha Kona waterfall is at a distance of three kilometers from here. It falls from the central part of the Nagarimukku hill which attracts tourists.
