Konetirayala Temple, Keelapatla, Chittoor, Andhra
Pradesh
Konetirayala Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord
Vishnu, located at Keelapatla Village in Palamaner
Taluk in Chittoor District of Andhra
Pradesh State, India. Konetirayala Swamy Temple is also
known as Venkateshwara Temple. Presiding Deity is called
as Konetirayadu / Venkateshwara. The temple at present is being
administered by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
board.
Legends
Sage
Brighu consecrated the idol:
According to temple legend, Saint Brighu came to earth
after kicking on the Lord Vishnu’s chest. To eradicate such a sin, Saint
Kashyapa advised him to establish the lord idols in 7 different place which
shows the features of Lord Venkateshwara Swamy. Some of these places are:
1. Dwaraka Tirupati, near Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
2. Kalyana Venkateshwara Swamy, Srinivasa Mangapuram,
Andhra Pradesh
3. Konetiraya Swamy, Keelapatla, Andhra Pradesh
4. Diguva Tirupati, Mulbagal, Karnataka etc.
These places were hidden and the saint himself who went
into disappearance by his mystical powers, were established much before the
Lord himself came to the Earth. After Lords arrival, Brighu came into existence
with Agastya Maharshi, the mystical powers which hid these places were removed
and they came into visible light of the common man. The idols were all under
trees. The ruling kings then came forward to build temples around these idols.
Lord Venkateshwara placed his Holy Foot
here:
It is believed that Lord Venkateshwara first
placed his Holy Foot here at Keelapatla and then reached Tirumala.
History
History says that this temple was constructed by the
Regents of Pallava Kings in the 9th and 10th centuries. Later
renovated by Thondai Mandala rulers, Cholas, Punganuru Zamindars and
Vijayanagara Empire. The 15th century Hindu saint, Andhra Pada Kavita Pithamaha, Annamacharya mentions the name of Konetiraya in
many of his Sankirthanas. Saint Poet Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya is said to have
visited this great shrine in the latter half of 14th century and
penned some extraordinary kirtanas like, “Kondalalo Nelakonna Koneti Rayudu
Vadu”, “Podagantimayya Mimmu Purushottama-Nedayakavayya Konetirayada”,
“Tirumalagiriraya…Kondala Konetiraya” and so on.
The Temple
The temple is constructed based on Dravidian style of
architecture. The temple has pyramid shaped towers and are constructed with
sandstone, soapstone or granite. The temple has four gateway towers and gopuram
on its four sides. The base of the eastern tower, the Rajagopuram is made of
granite. Presiding Deity is called as Konetirayadu / Venkateshwara. The Deity
is believed to be Kalpatharu (A heavenly tree that gives boon), Chintamani (A
celestial power) and Kamadhenu (the heavenly cow that gives
all).
The significant feature of this temple is that the
presiding deity of Sri Konetirayadu Swamy is a look-like of Tirumala Sri
Venkateshwara Swamy. He is in standing posture with his "Kati Varada
Hastas", natural "Sankhu Chakras" and with the impressions of
Sridevi and Bhoodevi, on the chest. Huge Dwarapalakas Jaya
and Vijaya can be seen guarding the sanctum.
To protect the presiding
deity from Muslim invasion, it was preserved safely in the huge temple tank
located opposite the shrine and later it was re-consecrated. As the deity was
protected in the temple tank-Koneru, the presiding deity is known as
“Konetiraya Swamy”. It is believed even today, that there is a passage from
this area to Tirumala. An ancient Chenna Kesava idol with his two
wives, five Alwars,
Bhoovaraha Moorthy, Garudalwar, Anjaneya Swamy statues, all can be
seen in the temple.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 5 Kms from Gangavaram Bus
Stop, 7 Kms from Palamaner Bus Stop, 33 Kms from Punganur, 44 Kms from Chittoor,
45 Kms from Chittoor Railway Station, 111 Kms from Tirupati, 133 Kms from Tirupati
Airport, 147 Kms from Bengaluru Airport and 185 Kms from Chennai Airport. The Temple is situated off Tirupati Bengaluru
Highway.
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