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ToggleGoddess Padmavathi - Tiruchanur
Tiruchanur which is located at a distance of 5km from Tirupati is the abode of Goddess Padmavathi, the consort of Venkateswara Swami of Tirumala. Long ago as it was the hermitage of the sage Suka, it was called as 'Sri Sukanoor' or 'Tiruchukanur'. (Later it became Tiruchanur).
Here Goddess Padmavathi is being adored as “Svatantra veera Lakshmi” (the queen of the universe) in 'Shanti Nilayam' (Sanctum of the Goddess).
Shanti Nilayam
A Kalasha with a gold cover rests on the Gopuram above the sanctum of Goddess Padmavati and is called ‘Shanti Nilayam’, facing the Tirumala hill shrine of Sri Venkateswara Swami.
It also accommodates the sparkling idol of ‘Vimana Lakshmi’ as well as akin to Ananda Nilaya Vimana Venkateswara Swami in Tirumala temple.
Sanctum Sanctorum - Tiruchanur
The majestic and holy idol of Goddess Padmavati Devi in a sitting pose is installed in the sanctum after the Antaralam. The four-handed Goddess wielded lotus in her upper hands, Shanku and Padma in her lower hands.
The main idol also popularly hailed as Alarmelu Manga is worshipped with suprabatham, Sahasranamarchana, and Kukumarchana every morning.
- On Mondays, Asta dala Paada padmaradhana,
- Thiruppavadai Seva on Thursdays,
- Abhisekam on Fridays, and
- Pushpanjali Seva on Saturdays is performed.
Temple Courtyard in Tiruchanur
The massive courtyard of the temple is located between the sub-temple of Sri Krishna Swami opposite the majestic Rajagopuram with seven Kalashas and the sub-temple of Sri Sundararajaswami temple on South and Sri Padmavati Devi temple to the North.
Tiruchanur - AlameluMangapuram
Tiruchanur, also known as Alamelumangapuram, is located about 5 km from Tirupati. The Temple of Sri Padmavathi Devi, the consort of Lord Venkateswara is situated in this place. It is said that the visit to Tirumala is fruitful only after a visit to Sri Padmavathi Devi Temple at Tiruchanur.
Therefore, after visiting the temples at Tirumala and Tirupati, the pilgrims proceed to Tiruchanur to worship Goddess Padmavathi Devi. The sacred tank adjoining the Padmavathi Devi Temple is called Padma Sarovar. The legend is that the Goddess revealed Herself on a lotus in this sacred tank.
Goddess in other temples
Apart from Tiruchanoor, in other temples that follow Vaikhanasam, the presence of Goddess Padmavathi gives way to many interesting stories associated with them.
In Nagulapuram, where the presiding deity is in Matsyavatara, there used to be a big ocean spread up to this area. But in the aftermath of natural calamities, the ocean sank.
Then Lord Veda Narayana Swamy emerged and protected Vedas. Here also Goddess Padmavathi Devi is present. It is here in Narayana Vanam that Lord Srinivasa and Goddess Padmavathi Devi met and love blossomed between them. Later in Kayampeta near Appalayagunta, both got engaged.
So in this temple, Lord is worshipped as Sri Prasanna Venkateswara while the Goddess is Mahalakshmi. From there they went to Srinivasa Mangapuram and tied the knot. So the Lord here is famous as Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy.
Both the Devine couple reached Tirumala through Srivari Mettu and the Goddess settled permanently on the chest of Lord Vakshasthala Lakshmi.
