Temple Bells
Maha Mani Mandapam gets its name from the great bells to the right of the exit into the Vimana Prakara. The Bells are presently kept within glass doors. The ringing of bells is an important aspect of Vaikhanasa Agama, the religious system that is followed in the worship of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala.
The ringing bells denote that the Lord inside the Sanctum is offered ‘Naivedyam.
History shows that Sri Krishnadeva Raya, the most famous ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire built several Ghanta Mandapams or bell porches all along the route from Tirumala to Chandragiri, his ruling seat.
The ringing bells at Tirumala would set off a series of gongs in these mandapams. Ringing from each post would signal the next bell post. It is said that Sri Krishnadeva Raya would take his food only after hearing the ringing of bells which implied that the Lord of Tiruvengadam had been served His Naivedyam.
So great was the emperor’s Bhakti towards the Lord. He consequently went on to script Amukthamalyada, a most beautiful epic poem in Telugu, that describes the story of Andal’s wedding with Maha Vishnu.
