Sri Ashta Lakshmi sametha Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy Temple

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Sri Ashta Lakshmi sametha Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy Temples (Vepanjeri)

 

Vepanjeri Village, situated around 65 kms from the temple town of Tirupati and

15 kms from Chittoor, has a more colourful background than is known. " VEM PANCHA

HARI " meaning the abode of the Lord who rids his devotee of the five grave

sins', gradually came to be known as today's Vepanjeri.

 

SRI LAKSHMI NARAYANA SWAMY TEMPLE

 

VISISHTADWAITA PHILOSOPHY believes that there are two forces governing the

activities of Nature. While Lakshmi is the presiding deity for Nature, Lord

Srimannarayana represents the basic consciousness and the motivating force

behind the activity, be in physical, mental or spiritual. This school of thought

sees two visible entities - Lakshmi and Narayana to form a single force. This is

the reason for Vaishnaviate shrines having the idols of the Lord and the Goddess

side by side.

 

Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy temple at Vepanjeri is one such. The presiding deity

is Sri Lakshmi Narayana. His Consort, Sri Lakshmi Ammavaru on his left thigh

controls effective dispensation of grace and divine providence. Lakshmi looking

intently towards the face of Sri Lakshmi Narayana, as she is the instrument and

efficacy through which prebendary benediction and prosperity are awarded. More

and more devotees narrate the experience of the fulfillment of their wishes

justifying the name KALPAVRUKSHA and Vepanjeri steadily emerged as sub-center

for pilgrimage.

 

Turning to the pages of the history, one finds that the first reference of this

temple was available in the 12th century (between 1178 and 1218), when

Kulottunga III of the Chola dynasty was ruling this part of what used to be

called as " Thondamandalam " .

 

Between 1216 AD and 1260, Raja Raja II had donned the mantle, and the period was

known as an era of great disturbances with frequent wars becoming a mundane

affairs.

 

During the reign of King Rajendra III (1246 - 1279), the region slipped into the

hands of Telugu Pallavas from the Cholas, and Vijaya Ganda Gopala acted as the

Governor for this region of Thondamandalam.

 

According to scriptures available, during the rule of Kulottunga III, either

there was no royal patronage or it has been withdrawn. The locals, disturbed

over the neglect of the temple, donated a piece of land and met its expenses

from the proceeds of this land.

 

The first time, a ruler had paid attention to this ancient temple was during the

Vijayanagara rule, when King Saluva Narasimha, as the regent of Chandragiri

area, had extended the boundaries of his kingdom upto Vepanjeri.

 

There are evidences that he had stayed here in the year 1485 to worship the

Lord. Between 14th and 15th centuries, when the French had ruled the region

(presently in Karnataka and part of Andhra Pradesh), the temple was pushed to

its nadir.

 

Between 1714 and 1880, Komandur Ramanuja Iyengar managed the temple, while

members of the Madabhushi family were the priests. Even today, the descendants

of the Komandur lineage are managing the temple trust.

 

In 1986, the temple was reconstructed for the first time by the Komandur family

in the Pallava style of architecture, from the remains of what was supposed to

be built by the Pallava rulers long ago, which speaks volumes of the continous

neglect the temple had been subjected to. Ever since, pujas have been performed

regularly and annual festivals (Brahmotsavams) held.

 

THE ASHTA LAKSHMI TEMPLE

 

A new attraction to this village is the recent Ashta Lakshmi temple said to be

the first of its kind in the State. The temple complex comprises Lord Lakshmi

Narayana with Kubera Lakshmi at the central complex, Goddess Lakshmi in eight

postures, as Adi Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Veera Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi, Santhana

Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi, Aishwarya Lakshmi, and Dhana Lakshmi housed in

surrounding complexes. The nearest similar shrine is in Chennai on the brink of

Elliots beach.

 

THE VIRAAT SWAROOP

 

Another significant feature of the village is the portrayal of Lord Vishnu's

supremacy over the world in the form is 21 feet depicting his " Dasavatharas " in

one icon. The dominating height constituting an aggregate of 10 incarnations in

a single statue along with the nature's divisions of land, water, etc.

 

THE DASAVATHARA THEERTHA

 

In the northeastern corner of the village, there is pushkarini, which is

popularly called Dasavathara Theertha with statues of Kaleeya Mardhanam in the

central mandapam; Dasavatharas, Koneti Lakshmi Narayana, Sudharsana Chakra,

Brahma, Vinayaka Muneeswara, Naga Prathishta, Gangamma and Saptha Kannikas

around are attracting the devotees. They are all arte facts blended with

figuring rays and sculptural elegance.

 

TO REACH VEPANJERI

 

From Tirupati - there are two routes - one, via Chittoor and G.D. Nellore; (90

K.M.) and another via Pachikapallam, Devalampet and G.D. Nellore (75 K.M.),

APSRTC buses ply every half-an-hour.

 

From Chennai - one via Chittoor and G.D. Nellore (171 K.M.) and another via

Tiruttani, R.K.Pet, Balija Kandriga and Thoogundram Village (140 K.M.)

 

From Bangalore - there are direct APSRTC buses plying to Balija Kandriga via

Chittoor touching Vepanjeri.

 

Temple Timings: 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.