Padmavathi Temple - Tirupati Balaji Darshan packages

Padmavathi Temple

          Sri Padmavati Devi Temple, Tiruchanoor, also known as Alamelumangapuram, is about 5 km from Tirupati. The presiding deity of the temple is Sri Padmavati Devi, the consort of Lord Sri Venkateshwara. It is said that a visit to Tirumala is fruitful only after visiting the Sri Padmavati Devi temple. The deity, Sri Padmavati Devi is seated in 'Padmasana', holding a lotus in both of her upper hands. Her lower hands are in poses of 'Abhaya', fearlessness, and 'Varada', benediction. The other deities in this temple are Sri Krishna, Balarama, 'Sundararaja Swami', and 'Surya-Narayana Swami'. It is traditional to first worship Sri Krishna and then to take darshan of Sri Padmavati.

           According to tradition, the Goddess Padmavathi Devi manifested herself in the Holy Pushkarini called Padmasarovaram in a Golden Lotus. The Venkatachala Mahatyam states that Lord Suryanarayana was instrumental in blossoming of the lotus in full splendour. A temple dedicated to Lord Suryanarayana is situated on the eastern side of the Pushkarini. The manifestation of Sri Padmavathi Devi occurred in the month of Karthika on Sukla Paksha Panchami when the star Uttarashada in the ascendent.

           Sri Padmavati Devi, being wife of Lord Venkateshwara, her temple is away from Sri Venkateswara's temple, as according to the legend, Sri Maha Vishnu, who later took on the incarnation of Sri Venkateswara, showed his reverence towards the sage, 'Bhrigu Maharishi', even though the sage had insulted Vishnu by kicking him on the chest. In anger, Sri Maha Lakshmi (the Lord's consort) reached 'Patala Loka', where she heard a divine voice stating that a 'Pushkarini' was dug on the banks of the river 'Swarnamukhi', and here She immersed herself in penance for 12 years. In the 13th year in the month of karthika, on panchami day, Sri Padmavati Devi emerged from a Golden lotus.It is believed that Goddess Maha Lakshmi herself emerged as Sri Padmavati Devi.