dnarendran
★★★★★5.0Wrote on 19 Jul 2022
Ancient Temple
Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple is an ancient temple. We can see the deity lying down in yoga nidra position, facing east, holding his right hand under his head while holding his left hand straight over his body. Sridevi and Bhudevi, the consorts of Vishnu, are seated at the foot of Govindaraja. According to legend, this God is the replica of Chidambaram Divya Desa Perumal. The presiding Perumal of Chidambaram, Sri Govindaraja Swamy, was brought and kept in Tirupati during the Muslim invasion of South India. After the situation at Chidambaram returned to normalcy, the vigraham of Lord Govindaraja Swamy was taken back from Tirupati. Please note mobile phones are not allowed inside the temple.
curatorofmemories
★★★★★5.0Wrote on 9 Mar 2021
1130 CE temple established by Ramanuja
The main entrance to the shrine is surmounted by a big gopuram built by Matla Anantaraja in 1624 CE. The walls of this seven storied gopura are decorated with the series-pilaster, Kuta pilaster, Kumbhapanjara pilaster, Salakoshtha pilaster, Kumbhapanjara pilaster, Salakoshtha pilaster, kumbhapanjara pilaster and Kuta pilaster. There are numerous Vaishnava sculptures all over the walls and the figures of the donor and his wife and parents. The main gopuram leads to the first and outermost courtyard. In this are the Vedanta Desika shrine, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple, Sri Rangaanatha Swamy temple, Sri Chakrathalwar sanidhi, Sri Sudarshana murthy sanidhi and Sri Kondandarama Swamy temple. If you go early morning you will be blessed by two temple elephants. Since no mobile phone is allowed inside you can deposit them for free at the locker facility here. You can also deposit luggage and slippers here. A gopuram and an entrance below it leads into the second courtyard. In this is located Sri Pundareela Valle Amma vari temple and Mahalaxmi Amma Vari Sanidhi. On the roof of Mahalaxmi temple you can see sculptures of various forms of Laxmi including Gajalaxmi and Dhanalaxmi. Opposite this temple is mandap and on the roof you can see sculptures of dashavatars including Kalki avtar. A little ahead is the Shrine of three Alvars- Sri Kurath alvar, Sri Anand alvar and Sri Madhura Kavi alvar. Also located in this courtyard is Thirumalainambi shrine, Ramanuja shrine and Sri Bhashya Karla sanidhi. A gopuram at the far end and the entrance below it leads to the last and inner most courtyard. The main shrine of Govindaraja is located here. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is referred to as Govindarajaswamy. The deity is in reclining yoga nidra posture, facing east, by keeping right hand under his head and left hand straight over his body. Sridevi and Bhudevi the consorts of Vishnu are in sitting posture at the foot of Govindaraja. Near the entrance to this shrine is Sri Andal Amma Vari temple. Towards south west corner of the courtyard, there is a shrine dedicated to Kalyana Venkateswara which had a mandapa with finely finished colonettes. The beautiful pavilion in the middle has columns of grey green granite and a wooden roof. Also located in this courtyard is Sri Varadaraja Swami Vari temple, Sri Thirumangalai alvar shrine, Sri Vari Padamulu shrine and Sri Vyasanjaneya swamy temple. No camera or mobile phone is allowed. It is best to go early morning between 6-9 am when the crowd is less. The temple is closed between 9.00-9.30 am, 12.30-1.00 pm and 5-6 pm. So, plan your visit accordingly.
