Kodandaramaswamy Temple

Overview

The Kodandaramaswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. This temple was built to commemorate the visit of Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman to Tirupathi after their victory in Lanka.

About the temple

The Kodandaramaswami temple stands in the centre of a rectangular courtyard surrounded by a compound wall and faces the west. The only entrance to the courtyard is in the West and is surmounted by a gopuram. The adhisthana of the gopuram is 4' 6" high and contains from bottom upwards upana, two pattikas, broad patta, tripatta, gala, another patta, gala, padma and alingapattika. The wall above the adhisthana is decorated with pilasters having Vijayanagara capitals. The superstructure which was renovated in the year 1951 is of brick and contains three talas, each with the kuta series. The crowning member is oblong and contains seven kalasas above. The Vijayanagara emblem (i.e. boar and an inverted sword) is found carved on the right door jamb wall (inner side) of the gopuram. Passing through the above stated gopuram one enters the courtyard. A few yards to the east of the gopuram are found Balipita and Dhvaja sthamba. On the axis, the temple consists of the Garbhagriha, antarala surrounded by a Pradak shina, mukhamandapa and maha mandapa. This shrine is situated in the centre of the western side of the Mahamandapa and houses two armed standing Garuda with his hands in anjali pose. This mandapa contains four pillars. Each pillar has three square blocks with two octagonal shafts in between. The capitals are in the Vijayanagara style. There are interesting sculptures on the square blocks of the pillars.

The antarala and garbhagriha of the main shrine of Kodandarama are at a higher level than the Mukhamandapa. They stand on a 5' 6" high adhisthana which contains from bottom upwards Upana, patta, padma, broad patta, tripatta, gala cut into compartments, another patta, gala, padma and alingapattika. The walls of the Garbhagriha and antarala are embellished with pilasters and salakostas. These pilasters have Vijayanagara capitals. There is a Kapota above the wall with its outer surface decorated with garbles. The Vimana above the Garbhagriha is of dvitala type containing the series Kuta, panjara, sala, panjara and kuta. Above the second tala, there is a phalaka containing the figures of Garuda with hands in anjali in each of the four corners. The sikhara is round and belongs to the Vesara order. There is a single kalasa above the sikhara. The Garbhagriha of the main shrine contains stone images of Sri Rama in the middle, Sita to his right and Lakshmana to his left side. There is also a set of processional images of Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Sita and Krishna inside the Garbhagriha. There are two dvarapalaka images on either side of the entrance of the antarala. The pradakshina round the Garbhagriha and antarala contains six pillars on the north, two pillars on the east and six pillars on the south. The capitals of all these pillars are in the Vijayanagara style. There is about four feet wide space between the pradakshina wall and the adhisthana of garbhagriha and antarala. The outer surface of thepradakshina wall is plain and constructed with large blocks of granite stone. The Vijayanagara emblem is carved on the south of the pradakshina wall. The temple kitchen (Potu) is situated in the south west corner of the courtyard. There are two small four pillared mandapas in the south west and north west corners of the courtyard. Sri Kodandarama Swami Devastanam popular temple .This temple is located in the town of Buchireddipalem. This temple construction was started in the year 1765 by one Sri Dodla Rami Reddy well known as 'Bangaru Rami Reddy' member of the family which established a settlement called Buchireddipalem around 1715-16 and was completed in the year 1784. Since then Bramhotsavams are held every year commencing on the Sri Rama Navami day which falls in the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar. This temple was open for devotees since 1784 and in the early 1800s Sri Dodla Pattabhirama Reddy built the Ratham for the temple and also got the Temple Tank built In 1939 during the trusteeship of Sri Dodla Varada Reddy the 'Limestone' kalasams atop the Rajagopuram were replaced with Copper Kalasams. This temple has a huge tank of One hectare size. During the bramhotsavams a well decorated float is taken around three times in the tank. This is witnessed by thousands of people who sit on the banks of the tank. A compound wall has been constructed around the tank.

Legend and stories

According to Varaha Purana, during Treta Yugam, Lord Sri Rama resided here along with Sita Devi and Lakshmana on his return from Lankapuri.

Medieval History

It was built by a Cholas during the tenth century AD.

Festivals

Rama Navami will be celebrated with major grandeur at this temple which includes Hanumantha Vahana Seva in connection with Sri Rama Navami day, followed by Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam on dasami, Sri Rama Pattabhisheka Mahotsavam on ekadasi. The nine-day annual brahmotsavams celebrated every year which falls between March and April is another biggest event in the temple. The Annual three-day Teppotsavams(Float festival) will be celebrated during April at the temple where the processional deity of Sri Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana will taken over a float in Sri Ramachandra Pushkarini.

You can conduct various Pooja's and Seva's at the temple. It can differ from a simple Arthi to elaborate Sri Rama Kalyanam conducted annually after the Sri Rama Navami. You can also enroll for the Nityaarchana, Abhishekam or Unjualseva. While this means paying occasional visits, these visits are made into biggest business products.

Arti/Pooja/seva (Table)

Name of the Seva	Timings
Suprabhatham	5:00 AM to 5:30 AM
Suprabhatha Darshanam	5:30 AM to 6:00 AM
Thomala Seva	8:00 AM to 8:45 AM
Sahasranama Archana	8:45 AM to 9:15 AM
Archana Anantara Darshanam	9:15 AM to 10:00 AM
Ekantha Seva	8:45 PM to 9:00 PM

Sarvadarshan Timings

6:00 AM to 8:00 AM
10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
7:00 PM to 8:45 PM

Accessibility

Located 2 km away from Tirupathi Railway Station and 2.5 km away from Tirupathi Bus depot, this temple can be reached by all available means of local transport.

Address

Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple,
Chinna Bazar Street,
Tirupati,
Andhra Pradesh, 517501,
India