Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala – Ramanuja Shrine
The Shrine of Sri Ramanuja is
located adjacent to Sangeeta Bhandara in the northern corridor of the Vimana
Pradakshinam. It is also known as the Bhashyakara Sannidhi. The shrine was
built around in the 13th century A.D. Ramanuja was the architect of
Tirupati and the father of the Sri Vaishnava community there. He designed the
Nandhavanams or flower gardens of the temple. He was responsible for managing
the worshipping procedures and other affairs of the Sri Venkateswara temple. He
established the Pedda Jeeyar Madam. This Shrine overlooks the western end of
the Tirumamani Mandapam. The Pandyan emblem of two fish and a hook is carved on
the wall next to the entrance.
The right hand of the stone
image of Ramanuja is held in the gesture of exposition (Vyakhyana Mudra), and
the left hand in the form of boon bestowal (Varada Hasta), or of holding a book
(Pustaka Hasta). The shrine figures prominently during the festival of
Adhyayanotsavam, which is a typical Pancharathra observance. Special worship is
conducted in this shrine during Gandhapodi Utsavam and Bhashyakara Utsavam. The
Utsava murthi of Ramanuja is taken in a grand procession to meet Malayappa near
the Padi Kavali.
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