Shanti Nilayam

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).

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.

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.