Sayana Mandiram / Ardha Mandapam
As you cross Ramulavari Meda you will enter into a 13 ½ ” by 13 ½” room. This room is called Sayana Mandiram i.e., Lord’s Bed Room. This is exactly in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum of Lord Venkateswara. This is also known by the name Ardha Mandapam. (A Moiety porch).
As the name goes everyday night Lord goes to bed in this room after all the rituals (pavalimpu seva) are performed. There is one hanging broad-taped cot. On a smooth silk bed, Lord goes to sleep. In Telugu, Sayanam means sleep. Hence the room gets the name ‘Sayana Mandiram’ i.e., Bed Room.
By reciting the glory of the Lord (suprabhatam) Lord will be gently awakened. After waking him, He will be decorated with flowers. While flower decoration is going on vaishnava Swamys recite Divya Prabandham (in praise of the Lord in Tamil). After this pooja with flowers (Pushpa alankarana seva), a thousand holy names of Lord (Sahsra Nama Archana) along with Ashtothara Satanama archana, (108 holy names) is performed.
With these things that are being chanted Lord enters into the Sanctum Sanctorum. While the entry is taking place, to the Moolavirat the Chief Image, pooja’s are performed.
- On Fridays, Abhishekam (holy bath) will be performed. The Vedic scholars stand in this Sayana Mandiram and recite Sri Sooktham, Purusha Sooktham etc.,
- Similarly on Tuesday also Ashtadala PadaPadma Aradhana (worshiping the Lord with eight-petalled lotus by keeping them at the feet of the Lord).
On these days paid Sevas are also performed. Those who would have paid for the seva will be seated in an orderly way in this Sayana Mandiram which faces Sanctum Sanctorum.
Sanctum Sanctorum
Near the threshold of Sanctum Sanctorum i.e., right in front of the Chief Idol, all the offerings meant for God are kept in Sayana Mandapam only. All the offerings are, under any circumstances not taken inside the threshold of Sanctum Sanctorum. Only curd rice offering which is known as ‘Mantra’ is taken inside and offered to the Chief Idol.
This mandapam serves two purposes.
It becomes Sayana Mandapam i.e., bedroom during night and dining hall during day time. It is only in this bed room Lord Venkateswara’s consort Alamelumanga whispers Her recommendations regarding some deserving cases into the ears of Lord Venkateswara at the appropriate time.
Let us reverentially bow to the Lord’s Bed Room.
Only priests and Jeeyangars are allowed to enter into Sanctum Sanctorum. Other devotees will have darshan only from Sayana Mandiram. Ananthalvar has described the handsomeness of Lord Venkateswara in these words:
Hai Mordhvapundra Majahan Makutam Sunasam
Mandasmitham Makara Kundala Chaarugandam
Bimbaadharam Bahula DeerghaKripaakataksham
Sri Venkatesam Mukhamaatmani Sanni Dohattam
Fully garlanded, bejeweled Lord is a feast for the eyes. Words fail to describe him. As Tulasidas puts it: The eyes which see do not have tongue to describe and the tongue which can describe has not got eyes. We have to look at the Chief Idol of God with broad open eyes.
Kandarpa Koti Sadrusam Kamaneeya Vesham
Mukthavalee Lalitha Kantta Mudaara Haaram
Peethambaraa Dyuthi Viraajitha Divya Deham
Sri Venkatesa Vapuraathmani Sanni Dohattam
Names of Tirupati Balaji
Lord Venkateswara has umpteen names
- Yedukondala Vaadu (Lord of seven hills)
- Venkataramana,
- Srinivasa,
- Tirumalappa,
- Sankata Harana,
- Venkatachalapati,
- Govinda etc.
Irrespective of the name devotees use, he showers his blessings on all alike. The place where the Chief Idol stands is known as Ananda Nilayam i.e., the abode of happiness.
In between Sayana Mandapam and Sanctum Sanctorum, there is one sculptured stone door. This is the nearest threshold to the Sanctum Sanctorum. All around this threshold gold plating is done. We can reach Sannidhi i.e., Sanctum Sanctorum after crossing this threshold. But only priests are allowed to go near the Chief Idol. This all-important Golden threshold is popularly known as Kulasekhara Padi.
Govinda! Govinda!! Govinda!!!
