Devuni Kadapa

There are many renowned pilgrim centres in Andhra Pradesh. The temple of Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami of Devuni Kadapa is one among them. It has immense name and fame as a pilgrim spot with great puranic significance. Devotees feel that it is the first threshold to Tirumala. As Lord Varaha Swami is the ‘Kshetrapalaka’ of Tirumala, so is Lord Hanuman to Devuni Kadapa. There is a lot of information in the ‘kaifiyats’ of Kadapa. 

Installation by Janamejaya: Lord Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami of Devuni Kadapa as ‘Moola Murthi’ was installed by king Janamejaya as per the Kadapa ‘kaifiyat.’According to the ‘kaifiyat’ the name of the region is Devuni Kadapa. In course of time, Kadapa became Gadapa. After visiting all the divine kshetras, King Janamejaya came to Tirumala. After having the grand ‘darshan’ of Lord Venkateswara, he stayed in Tirumala at night. In his dream, the Lord gave him a hint to find His statue on the tank bund of Tirumala and install it in a specific place. Consequently, the king found the hidden statue of Lord Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami on the bund and searched for a suitable place to install it. Towards the north-west to Tirumala, there is a pushkarini. Near to it, there is a temple of Lord Hanuman. The king thought that it would be a better place to install the statue of the Lord. One can see the statue of Lord Hanuman behind the Moola Moorthy of Lord Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami. Lord Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami was called Kadapa Venkateswarlu in those days. As Lord Hanuman has the ‘amsa’ of Lord Shiva, a temple for Lord Shiva was also built.

The ‘mukha mandapam’ of the temple has a wonderful architectural beauty that gives eye-feast to the onlookers. During the annual Brahmotsavams, Ranga Mandapam in the temple and the other small temples in the complex give immense joy to the devotees. In the Ranga Mandapam, there are wonderful sculptures related to music and dance reminding of the exhibition of various artistic forms in the past. One can see the sculptural images of Lord Hanuman, the ‘kshetrapalaka’, the ‘Dasavataralu’ and many ‘rishis’ on the pillars of the Ranga Mandapa. There are many inscriptions in the temple of Lord Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami, Devuni Kadapa. These inscriptions reveal the greatness and glory of the history of the temple, the great spiritual thinking of the kings of that time, the maintenance of the temple emphasizing the significance of the temple. Besides, the inscriptions of the Kadapa district, there is a brief reference regarding the details of the temple in the ‘kaifiyats’ of Kadapa. 

Vaikuntam on the Earth: The divine replica of Lord Srinivasa in Tirumala is Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara in Kadapa. He is also called Lord Kadapa Rayudu who is shining gloriously in Kadapa. For the devotees, the kshetra of Lord Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara is really a Vaikuntam on the earth. It is believed that those who worship the Lord in Devuni Kadapa feel that their worship is equal to the worship of the exact Lord at Tirumala. It is a tradition that devotees belong to these regions get the grand ‘darshan’ of the Lord Lakshmi Venkateswara first before they go to Tirumala. The devotees who stop their pilgrimage and may not go to Tirumala due to unavoidable circumstances may keep their promises in the temple itself. The tradition is still in practice. In front of the sanctum sanctorum, there is Ranga Mandapam exhibiting a marvelous sculptural affluence. The devotees wish to sit in the ‘mandap’ to enjoy spiritual peace and bliss. In the northern side of the temple, there are the statues of ‘Nagas’ under a tree near to the compound wall. Next to it, there are the temples of Lord Vishvaksena, the Chief Army Officer of the Lord and Lord Sri Ganapathi. These two temples are facing towards the south. Near to the north entrance, the temple of Goddess Andal Tayar is facing towards the west. The mandapas and the walls of these two temples are filled with sculptural glory. Before having the grand ‘darshan’ of the main deity, devotees used to worship the deities in these two temples. Paada Mandapam: While entering the temple from Rajaprasadam, the devotees see the Paada Mandapam. In the ‘mandapam’, they see ‘Srivari Paadaalu’. The divine feet are covered with brass. First of all, the devotees get the grand ‘darshan’ of the feet of the Lord and they go to break the coconuts at ‘bali peetam’. They light the ‘diyas’ in the ‘Jyothi Mandap’ which is in front of Ranga Mandapam. Adjacent to the compound wall of the temple’s South gopuram, there are nearly ten statues of the Alwars in a big hall. In the Jyothi Mandir, there is an ancient statue of Lord Chennakesava Swami. Devotees first worship the Lord and then worship the Alwars. There is an ancient ‘jammi’ tree towards the northern entrance. Devotees go round the tree and pray to get progeny and they want their other desires to be fulfilled. 

Lizard: Devotees who visit the temple in Kanchi touch the lizard in order to get relief from their sins. Next to Kanchi, the same aspect is there in the temple of Lord Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara in Kadapa. There are two stony lizards on the entrance roof of the temple of the goddess Sri Lakshmi. Those who cannot go to Kanchi and those who cannot touch the lizards may touch these two lizards in the temple in Kadapa and get relief from their sins and they may get spiritual satisfaction. After getting the grand ‘darshan’ of the Goddess, devotees touch the lizards as a traditional procedure. 

The Pushkarini: In front of the temple, one sees a ‘pushkarini’ which is the biggest of all in the district. The priests used to say that the ‘pushkarini’ belongs to both the temples i.e., the temple of Lord Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami and the temple of Lord Someswara Swami. They use the holy water of ‘pushkarini’ to these temples for worship. After the completion of the ‘Teppotsavam and the Brahmotsavam, Chakrasnanam will be organized in this ‘Pushkarini’ only. They organize ‘Diksha Tirumanjanam’ along with the Vedic scholars of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. In the beginning, they conduct the worship to Lord Vishvaksena’. Later, they perform ‘punyahavachanam’, ‘raksha kankanadharana’ Lord Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami is brought to the pushkarini in His palanquin along with auspicious musical tunes. The priests conduct special worship called ‘Mrutsamgrahanam’ to the Lord. They return to the temple and conduct ‘Ankurarpanam.’ Lord Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami occupies different vahanas like Hanumad vahanam and Garuda vahanam with pomp and gaiety. In summer, ‘Teppotsavam’ will be performed in the ‘pushkarini’ for a period of five days. Kalyanotsavam and Pushpayagam will be performed in a grand manner in the temple. In 2007, the temple came into the jurisdiction of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

The Four Thresholds: In the beginning, there was only one Kadapa i.e., Devara Kadapa or Devuni Kadapa in the region. Some farmers lived in the area between the temple and the river Penna and they did cultivation in the land. Once the entire village was totally washed away by the severe flood. Later, the villagers settled in a furlong distance from the temple. The Nawabs who ruled the region took up the construction and made a town called ‘Kadapa Sheher’. The Nawab invited the families of the priests to come to the newly-built town for help because there are only his soldiers for the improvement of the town. The priests did not agree because of the difference of tradition. The Nawab promised them that he would look after their tradition and built a temple of Lord Hanuman near the fort and constructed a special residence and arranged facilities for them. Devara Gadapa is Toli Kadapa. The Kadapa, which was washed away, is the second Kadapa. Kapu Gadapa is old Kadapa and the Kadapa ‘Sheher’ is the fourth Kadapa. The distance between Devuni Kadapa and Kadapa is only of two miles. It seems that the two towns are very close to each other. During the Brahmotsavams, Gramotsavams will be organized in these two towns in two consecutive days. 

Festivities: On Vaikunta Ekadasi, the devotees get the grand ‘darshan’ of the Lord through the Uttara (Vaikunta) Dwaram. On all the festival days, decoration with flowers and pujas will be done specially to Lord Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami. Devotees visit the temple on that day in large numbers. On the day of Ugadi, Asthanam to Lord Venkateswara and Goddess Sri Lakshmi will be performed and the scholars organize Panchanga Sravanam in the temple. The Brahmotsavams will be celebrated from Magha Suddha Padyami to Navami. The Brahmotsavams will commence with the ‘Ankurarpana’. This year Brahmotsavams will be from 26-01-2020 to 03-02-2020. Pushpayagam will be performed in the temple on 04-02-2020. May Lord Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami bless us with prosperity and spiritual bliss!