Padmavathi Women’s Degree & PG College
There is no difference between a school and a temple. Both places are symbols of knowledge and devotion. TTD’s Sri Padmavathi Women’s Degree & PG College is a direct manifestation of practical wisdom and spiritual knowledge as its existence expresses the values of a school and a temple put together in the present modern world. Under the aegis of the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams, it was established approximately seven decades ago.
This renowned college is situated on the highway of Tirupati-Chandragiri in the interior, south of Sri Venkateswara University. Such landmarks like the N.C.C. Office, Police Station, Padmavati Rest house and the bungalows of the Executive Officer of the T.T.D. and the Joint Executive Officer can be found on either side of the interior road that leads to the college.
In front of the college, the railway route of Tirupati- Pakala – Katpadi which was laid in 1891 stands like Lakshmana Rekha protecting the sanctity of the college, the abode of goddess Saraswathi.
One needs to know that on the college premises, there are wonderful ancient temples seen even today. Except for the dilapidated temple belonging to the time of Hathiramji, the other three temples, two tanks and a well, stand testimony to the architectural excellence of the Vijayanagara empire. These are the evidences to the architectural history of the region and belong to the 16th century.
Sri Padmavathi Mahila College / Sri Venkateswara Women’s College
Initially, the college was started as Sri Venkateswara Women’s College in 1952. It became Sri Padmavathi Mahila College in 1956. It acquired its buildings in 1963. The region was called Mahanthi Thota in those days. A Ring Road was also formed from Tirupati to this region through Chandragiri Highway.
Lord Venkateswara is a great boon to Tirupati. The T.T.D. is like an ‘Akshaya Patra’ to fulfil the needs of both Tirupati and Tirumala. The great number of earnest devotees of Lord Venkateswara like Acharyas, vassals, Dandanadhulu (military officers), and Devadasis undertook many useful and auspicious programmes for the welfare of the innumerable devotees.
They transformed Tirupati into a wonderful and glorious garden. As a backdrop, the kings of Chandragiri who were the vassals to the king of Vijayanagara and other royal representatives shared doing many welfare activities with the other kings. They built temple towers, pillared halls [Madapas], wells and tanks.
During the years 1530-1560 A.D., they built many scintillating constructions in the regions of Tirumala and Tirupati. The square pond and other Vaishnava temples on the premises of Sri Padmavati Mahila College are some remarkable constructions among them.
Square Pond
There is a divine and sacred geometrical pond in the shape of a square. It is a wonderful architectural piece. It is an appropriate testimony to dexterous ‘vastu’ (according to architecture) observed by the great kings of Vijayanagara. It denotes the significance shown through constructions by the kings of Vijayanagara to such small places as Tirupati.
There were many ponds and watery places near Padmavathi Guest Houses and ‘Sveta Bhavan’ in Tirupati. On the western side of Sveta Bhavan, one can see even today the tombs of officers and gurus of Hathiramji mutt. One of the tombs is that of Sri Ram Lakhan Das who was one of the important officers during the time of the last Mahant Sri Prayag Dasji. In 1909, Ram Lakhan Das played a vital role in gold plating the ‘Ananda Nilayam’ the sanctum sanctorum of the temple of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala.
There was a garden in between the streams of water that were eager to join the river Swarnamukhi on the southern side. Keeping the availability of water in view, the kings of Vijayanagara built small temples in the garden. The big square pond could come into existence as the area is full of water springs.
Watersheds
In 1332, Sri Tiruvenkatanadha Yadava Raya declared Tirupati as Srivari ‘sarva manyam.’ By the first part of the sixteenth century, Tirupati had become a big town with its wonderful expansion. Mainly, Tirupati’s great population depended on three watersheds.
They are
- Kapila Thirtham Watershed (4.8. sq. k. mts),
- Malwanigundam (4.5 sq.k. mts)
- Sri Venkateswara University Water shed (3.6 sq. k. mts),
Sri Venkateswara University Water Shed is responsible for the present cultural diversity in the surrounding places of Sri Padmavathi Women’s College in Tirupati. Tiruvenkatapuram of Yore is the region of the dilapidated temple complex in today’s Padmavati College campus.
History
During the reign of Sri Achyuta Devaraya of Vijayanagara, Sri Bhutanadha Bhattarayya of Chandragiri Fort built the temple of Sri Raghunadha Swamy between 1530 and 1535 A.D. Approximately in the same period, another temple of Sri Raghunadha Swamy in Tiruvenkatapuram in Tirupati came into existence. A gigantic pond was dug for performing Snapana Tirumanjanam and Boat (float) Festival of the Lord. The same glory was continued during the reign of the kings belonging to the Aaraveeti dynasty.
Thieves stole the idols in the present main temple, idols in the ‘Upalayamulu’ (sub-temples) and the idols worshipped during the ‘Utsav.’ They also stole the jewellery and other temple goods. In 1613 A.D. the Vijayanagara king Sri Venkatapati Rayalu II donated some agricultural lands and groves belonging to Chandragiri and Gollapalle to Lord Venkateswara Swamy and Sri Nachhiyar in Tirupati.
The present compound of Sri Padmavathi Women’s College comes under the purview of the Gollapalli and its surrounding lands.
3 Temples
There are 3 temples including inner temples in front of Sri Devi Hostel which was inaugurated by the late Sri Lal Bahadur Shastri, the then Prime Minister of India. The temple on the right has survived with ‘ardha mandapam’ ;’antaralam’ and ‘garbha gruham.’ It is remarkable that the ‘Vimanam’ on the ‘Garbhagudi’ still stands proclaiming its ancient glory. All three temples are facing to the East.
The first temple on the western side was renovated as the temple of Sri Padmavathi Devi by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams in February 2005. The TTD had rebuilt its ‘Vimana’ in the tradition of ‘Dravida Agama’ and installed the idol of Goddess Padmavathi Devi. The rituals are being performed to the Moola Vigraham’ of Goddess Padmavathi Devi based on the tradition of ‘Vaikhanasa Agama.’
The sculptural beauty of the statue of the goddess Gaja Lakshmi who can give auspiciousness and immense wealth at the door’s threshold is very majestic. The sculptural glory on the gates of the sanctum sanctorum of the goddess is an added charm created by the sculptors at that time.
The Pushkarini with the stone steps is now damaged. It was located in the South-West direction towards the temple complex. It is said that Sri Pedda Tirumallayya, the son of the renowned ‘vaggeyakara’ Sri Tallapaka Annamayya built a ‘mandap’. To the southeast of the old temples and in front of the Srinivasa hostel, there is a square pond with downsteps with three main doors. It is a feast to the eyes of the onlooker.
It is a technical miracle when one finds the entrances of the East, North and South with long corridors. The large stones were laid as slabs over the head with the angles of the octagon ‘Astabhuji.’ It reflects the spiritual atmosphere with the hide-and-seek technique due to its light and shadow atmosphere.
There are long-standing pillars full of sculptural glory. In the middle, there is a small round well. It is an artistic treasure hidden in the earth. It is the royal ‘darbar’ of the deities. The place where one gets one’s inner tranquillity. It is like a cradle in the lap of the earth.
Gods, Puranas, epics, social issues and art forms have been compactly presented on the pillars. They rob the hearts of onlookers with the help of this crowning example of the architecture of the Vijayanagara Empire. In all, there are 28 pillars. Around four hundred sculptures are hanging like photographs from the pillars.
Sculptures carved on the canvas of granite like fish and animals about the Puranas, deities, incarnations, courtesans, dancers, accompanists on the instruments, and gurus leave the people spellbound by their splendour.
The gorgeous lion in the squatting position is almost on all pillars. Lord Nrusimha in His various postures and the different forms of Lord Hanuman captivate everyone. It reflects significantly the Vijayanagara temple architecture.
Everything is ‘Vaishnava school of sculptural grammar’. The sculpture expounds the ‘existence and wealth of ‘Vaishnava Leela.’ If one looks deep into the things, one finds very clearly the profound influence of Sri Kumaratatayyamgar, the great Vaishnava Acharya on the constructive approach of the kings of Vijayanagara.
Sthapatya Veda
Constructing ponds, tanks and wells is the main branch of the science of architecture which is also known as ‘Sthapatya Veda’. Before constructing concretely the examination of land must be done. All four directions in the ‘Vastu’ (according to architecture) must be studied with the help of a compass. Vastu Mandal must be drawn depending on the Vastu Purusha (deity of architecture).
According to the rules of constructing a temple, Moola Murti is installed in the ‘Brahmastanam’.
In the bramhasthanam of the pond, a small stepwell is constructed with a gushing water spring. Representing the 8 dikpaalakaas (Gods of 8 directions) an octagonal shape is achieved in the square pond. The stone platform that is beside the pond is made for snapana tirumanjanam. The glorious pond, the like of which is not duplicated anywhere near Tirupati, is an enormous wealth of heritage for SPW College.
The uniqueness of the pond is in the fact that the essence of aesthetic taste does not diminish even a bit even when it is dry. This artistic Amphitheatre that exudes navarasas through its delightfully sculpted pillars is a remarkable heritage of the past in the Tirupati region.
In the Middle Ages, the square, rectangular, and octagonal ponds were very famous in Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Most of them were bathing places. The ponds that flourished around Tirupati in Srikalahasti and Karvetinagaram were also bathing places. They were intended for enjoyment only. Contrary to these places, the unique water pond on the premises of Sri Padmavathi Women’s College was designed for divine purposes and activities.
The temple of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy along with Sridevi and Bhudevi built under the aegis of Sri Hathiramji Mahants is quite different from the above constructions. Their administration continued for a period of nine decades up to 1933. After entering the college campus, one finds the dilapidated temple of Mahants.
The high walls of the temple were seen amid the bushes and trees. Though the architectural style is different from the style of Vijayanagara kings the temple follows Vaishnava Agama tradition. They built Maha, Mukha and ‘Ardha Mandapas,’ The Vimana Gopuram was built in the ‘Naagara’ style like the northern people.
Broad slabs, corridors and arches were constructed to accommodate organizing bhajans, and discourses. Though it is ruined, the beauty and charm of the temple is not diminished. In front of this Vaishnava temple, a small idol of Lord Garuda is consecrated in a small temple. At the back of the temple, there was a well that fulfilled the temple’s necessities. A long canal that takes water from the well remains intact.
A strong steel chain from the time of Mahants hangs into the well like a huge snake. On the pedestal of Moola Murti, there is evidence of three deities namely Goddess Sridevi, Goddess Bhudevi and Lord Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy. It is said that at that time, when Mahants had full authority they intended to install Dasavatara idols in smaller temples around the temple. As a part of the activity, they got idols of ten incarnations. Later they lost their authority.
They sent those idols to the Hathiramji Mutt. One can see those idols even now in the rooms of the temple of Lord Rama while taking circumambulation.
Final Word
Sri Padmavathi Women’s College has such a great sacred history and heritage. It is good fortune that it carries the divine blessings thus.
