Alipiri /Adipadi – Steps at the bottom
The pathway leading to the hill shrine of Tirumala starts from ‘Alipiri’, Tirupati. It is called ‘Adipadi’ meaning the steps at the bottom. The word is in vogue in both Telugu and Tamil. After the advent of the motor facility in the twentieth century, a motor road was opened in 1945.
This facilitated two-way traffic was used between Tirupati and Tirumala. In 1972 another metal road was constructed and opened for one-way traffic to Tirumala.
The old one was commissioned to reach Tirupati from Tirumala. All three ways begin from Alipiri, which can be reached by road from Chennai, Bangalore, and Kadapa.
Pilgrim facility centre
A pilgrim facility centre has been established here. Parking spaces for vehicles, a Bus Station, and a Rest house have been provided here. Padala Mandapam (a small shrine for Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple to enthuse and bless the devotees who tread the pathway to Tirumala) is at the bottom of the hills from where the stepway begins. A newly renovated Temple housing Lord Lakshmi Narayana is also here to facilitate pilgrims to offer prayers.
The first Idol one will see at Alipiri is of ‘Garuda’ standing in ‘Anjali Hastha’ pose. Behind this the arch of Alipiri for vehicles. In between there is a pilon celebrating the 75th year (Diamond Jubilee) of T.T.D. Board of Trustees. All arches facing east. In the south towards Ruia Hospital, the statue of ‘Kannada Haridasa – Purandaradasa’ invites devotees to ascend the hills.
The pilgrim on foot has to pass through an underground passage beneath this Vigraha (statue) of Purandaradasa to reach Padala Mandapam.
There are mandapas on both sides of the gateway. To the right of this Padala Mandapam, after the connecting steps to the main tower ‘Pedda Gopuram’ is the newly renovated Temple, wherein Lord Lakshmi Narayana Swamy has been installed anew. One has to ascend the steps in between to reach the big gopuram, which invites devotees to ascend the hills.
On the way up one can rest at various mandapams and find Shanku, Chakra, and Namam gopuram at the end of the horizon. In front of Padala Mandapam, on the floor, one can see an embossed figure of a man. Now, a glass protective cage is set on this Moorthy.
An epigraph in Tamil and Telugu, dating back to 1623 A.D. can be found on this stone slab. (It is the image of Lakumaiah, son of Kolala Kondaiah who was the overseer of the charities of Matla Kumara Anantharaja, though the reading of the inscription is wanting in some places.
Lakshmi Narayana Swamy temple
The Lakshmi Narayana Swamy temple is in the East of Padala mandapam, facing towards the west. It is a big Temple with all the characteristic features of a full-fledged Temple. There is a big open space inside the tall and heavy Prakara walls. In this open space, two small shrines are facing one another, that of Perialwar and his daughter Andal.
As such the entire Temple is recognised as Perialwar Temple. There is a vast mukha mandapam beyond these two Upa Aalayas temples.
A narrow Antarala leading to Sukanasi and Sanctum Sanctorum where Lord Lakshmi Narayana Swamy majestically dwells can be seen. Originally this Temple was dedicated to Lakshmi Narasimha, built by Saluva Narasimha Raya in 1483 A.D. (April 20).
This has been established in the inscription on the outer wall of the mukha mandapam to the south at a height of 6-7 feet (switchboard is there obscuring the worn-out inscription), but the place of the inscription is listed as “on the East wall, outer side south of the entrance in Perialwar’s ruined temple at Alipiri, foot of the hills of Tirupati.
To recognize this Temple as Perialwar’s temple is a bit far from reason Perialwar’s temple must have been constructed by the Tallapaka clan of poets at Pedda Chimugu-big waterfalls, near Kapila Theertham. This is only a name nowadays that too in the inscriptions of Tallapaka poets.
This was a temple constructed by Saluva Narasimha Raya dedicated to Lakshmi Narasimha has been corroborated by another inscription on the outer entrance of the same temple facing south. The inscription describes the stone stepped well constructed by Karaivetti puli Alwar, (A.D.1490 Jan. 25.) in Grantha lipi Tamil language.
The place of this well is – to the south of Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and the big gopuram-periya gopuram listed as the charity Saluva Narasimha Raya. (one can see this well at Alipiri behind the luggage counter-the north of the road leading to the security checking point at Alipiri).
The big tower in front of the hills at Alipiri was ruined in 1929. A big bolt from the blue stuck and bisected the tall tower vertically and the left and right sides stood supporting one another. The pilgrims used to go around avoiding it to reach the stepped pathway. This tower was renovated in 1978 and opened to pedestrians.
Padala Mandapam
The Padala Mandapam has an inner ambulatory pathway and is covered on three sides. It is believed that the lord comes down every night to visit Alamelumanga who is enshrined in Tiruchanur and leaves his slippers here. (the famous Telugu song – ‘Nadireyi ey Jamulo’ -aptly describes this legend of the Lord visiting Tiruchanur Tayaru.)
Devotees willing to take a trek along the footpath take the sandals of the Lord kept in the temple and circumambulate the Garbhagriha.
