Sri Krishnadevaraya Mandapam / Prathima Mandapam
Abuting the main gateway i.e., inside, you will come across a sixteen-pillared lofty portico of 27″ x 25″ size. People call this portico by the name Krishnadevaraya Mandapam or Krishnaraya Mandapam. Some call this Prathima (idol) Mandapam also. This portico is constructed as per the Vijayanagara style of portico construction.
Amid this portico, we can see life-size copper idols. To the right and left of a male statue we can see two female statues. The male statue is that of the famous Vijayanagara emperor Sri Krishna Deva Raya. He is known for his command over the sword as well as a pen. He has the title of Sahiti Samarangana Chakravarthi. He is standing amid his two consorts Tirumala Devi and Chinna Devi.
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Sri Krishna Deva Raya
Sri Krishna Deva Raya as per the available records had visited Tirumala Temple seven times.
When he visited the temple on 02.01.1517 with his two consorts, it is believed that he carried out the installation of copper statues. The note-worthy thing is, that he is not in his kingly robes. He is in the robes of an ordinary devotee. The names are inscribed on the shoulders of the statues. From that day onwards the portico got the name of Krishna Deva Raya Portico.
Sri Krishna Deva Raya – Tirumala’s First Visit
Sri Krishna Deva Raya first visited Tirumala along with his queens in the year 1513 A.D. He had darshan of the Lord on 10th February. He offered a Nava Ratna Kireeta (gem-studded crown) and 25 silver plates to the Lord. His consorts offered two golden food bowls.
Sri Krishna Deva Raya – Tirumala’s Second Visit
In the same year (1513), on 2nd May and also on 13th June Sri Krishna Deva Raya visited Tirumala for the second and third time.
During these two visits, he offered valuable jewels to the main deity and three precious studded crowns to three Utsav Moorthies (movable idols). To meet the expenses of daily naivedyam (food offerings to the deity) he gifted three villages to the temple.
He made arrangements for special celebrations in memory of his departed parents. He requested the temple authorities to perform this special celebration in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb) every year without fail.
Sri Krishna Deva Raya – 3rd Visit
On 6.7.1514 Sri Krishna Deva Raya visited Tirumala temple for the fourth time. He arranged for kankabhishekam (giving a bath or pouring gold coins over the head of the deity) with 30 thousand gold coins (varahas). He gifted Tallapaka village (A village in modern Y.S.R. Kadapa Dist., A.P.) to meet the daily pooja (worship) expenses.
In the year 1515 from Vijayanagara his capital city he sent a golden festoon with a crocodile head (Makara Thoranam) to the Tirumala temple for the Lord’s use.
Sri Krishna Deva Raya – 5th Visit
On his fifth visit i.e., 02.01.1517 to Tirumala he installed his copper life-size image along with the images of his two consorts in the temple premises.
On 09.09.1518 he offered 30 thousand gold coins to be used for the gold plating of the Vimana (dome above the sanctuary).
Sri Krishna Deva Raya – 6th Visit
His sixth visit to Tirumala occurred in October 1518. On 17.02.1521, he visited Tirumala for the seventh time. To mark this visit he offered a rare cap studded with precious stones and silk robes to the Lord.
Sri Krishna Deva Raya the darling ruler of Telugus, who is known for his devotion as well as sacrifice, stands with folded hands in the golden abode premises of Lord Venkateswara. Telugu-speaking people particularly are ever grateful to this benevolent ruler. He permanently dwells in the hearts of Telugus.
Similarly, to the left of the main entrance, you will find another copper statue with folded hands. The figure in the statue is that of Venkatapathi Rayalu, the ruler of Chandragiri (the second capital of Vijayanagara kings). This generous ruler has generously donated for the protection of Tirumala temple.
Achyuta Deva Raya
Abuting the copper statue of Venkatapathi Rayalu, towards the south, we can see two life-size granite statues. In the garb of devotees, the royal couple Achyuta Deva Raya and his consort Varadaji Ammani stand there. The available historical evidence says that the coronation ceremony of Achyuta Deva Raya was completed after he was given the sacred bath.
Achyuta Raya Brahma Utsavam
It is said that Lord Venkateswara’s golden conch shell was used to pour water on his head by the priests. In his name, a Brahmothsavam was organized at Tirumala in the year 1530 as Achyuta Raya Brahma Utsavam. He has gifted many villages to the temple for its maintenance. He was a great devotee of Lord Venkateswara.
These royal statues with folded hands are announcing to the world at large that if we have become rulers and benevolent kings it is because of Your (Lord’s) Grace. We are Your humble (Lord’s) servants only.
This sculptured pillar portico was constructed somewhere in the first half of the 16th century. It has carved figures of Siva Dhanur Bhanga (Rama Breaking Shiva’s bow), Sri Rama’s coronation, Hanuman presenting Rama’s ring to Seetha in the Ashoka Vana, Sri Krishna Leelas, Sankhuchakras, Urdhwapundram’s (Upright marks) etc., these enchanting carvings are worth watching.
This particular portico has another special significance. After Utsav Moorthy’s (moveable idols) procession through the streets of Tirumala, Swamy rests for a while in this Mandapa. At that time Sri Vaishnava Acharyas like Jeeyangars praise the Lord by singing Divya Prabandham (A Vaishnava Epic). After singing Divya Prabandham, the Lord is offered pious Nirajanam (waving a lamp or burning camphor to avert an evil eye).
Immediately after this Harati ceremony (fumigation), the Lord enters the temple by going around the Dhwajasthambham in a clockwise direction.
Let us express our heartful gratitude to those rulers who are dwelling in this Krishnadevaraya Mandapam. They by their sheer service-mindedness have strived to make Tirumala a holier than the holiest place and a Kaliyuga Vaikuntam (Lord Vishnu’s Abode on earth).
