There was a poor pilgrim by name Gunala Madhava Reddy who
used to go to Tirupathi every year, by foot. As he grew old, it became very
difficult for him to make such a tedious journey, yet he never ceased to visit
Tirumala every year. In that particular year while he was going to Tirumala,
unable to bear the strain, he fainted. Then he got a wonderful vision in which
Lord Balaji appeared and said, " you need not go to Tirumala to have my Darshan.
I am here in an anthill under the tree". Sri Madhava Reddy woke up, called all
the villagers and went to a "Valugu Tree" under which they found the anthill.
When they started digging they found blood on the tip of the crowbar and from
the anthill they heard a voice saying, "you need not dig further. My body is
burning. If you pour milk on the anthill, I will appear". The villagers stopped
digging and poured milk on the anthill. The anthill melted and the idol of Lord
Venkateswara in the middle with Sri Sridevi and Sri Bhoodevi on either side
emerged. The Lords Shanku, Chakram, Abhayahastham and Sharanayathathvam are very
clear establishing the fact that he is Lord Vishnu himself.
Some of the special features of the idol are that Sri Sridevi and Bhoodevi are
made of same stone, and the idol of Ammavaru has lotus flowers in 3 hands and
Sharanayathathvam in the fourth hand. About 300 years back a Gujarati Mahant
came and decorated the idol with immense devotion. He then got a dream in which
Lord appeared like Srinathji of Nathdwara. Hence, Vallabh Sampradayam is
followed even now in the temple. The temple is very popular among Gujaratis too.
Initially only Garbha Gruha was there. Akkanna and Madana got built the arches.
In 1914, the flooring was got done by C.T Dalal. Smt. Vyjayanthimala Bali and
Smt.Bhanumati Ramakrishna very famous cine actresses of yester-years donated
required amount for the preparation of Uthsava Vigraham (procession idol) of
Ammavaru. 1962 is the year when war broke out between India and China.
The amazing fact is that on the day of its consecrati on, cease-fire was
declared between the two countries. That is why, the goddess is called
Rajyalakshmi Ammavaru. In those days, the temple did not have water. Therefore,
the devotees had to get water by pots from a distance of 4 to 5 miles. As such,
the devotees decided to dig a well next to the lake. While the digging was in
progress, some of the devotees circumambulated the temple praying for water.
There was no water to the depth of 40 feet. After they completed eleven
circumambulations, sufficient water oozed out from the well. After that, the
devotees completed another 108 circumambulations.
used to go to Tirupathi every year, by foot. As he grew old, it became very
difficult for him to make such a tedious journey, yet he never ceased to visit
Tirumala every year. In that particular year while he was going to Tirumala,
unable to bear the strain, he fainted. Then he got a wonderful vision in which
Lord Balaji appeared and said, " you need not go to Tirumala to have my Darshan.
I am here in an anthill under the tree". Sri Madhava Reddy woke up, called all
the villagers and went to a "Valugu Tree" under which they found the anthill.
When they started digging they found blood on the tip of the crowbar and from
the anthill they heard a voice saying, "you need not dig further. My body is
burning. If you pour milk on the anthill, I will appear". The villagers stopped
digging and poured milk on the anthill. The anthill melted and the idol of Lord
Venkateswara in the middle with Sri Sridevi and Sri Bhoodevi on either side
emerged. The Lords Shanku, Chakram, Abhayahastham and Sharanayathathvam are very
clear establishing the fact that he is Lord Vishnu himself.
Some of the special features of the idol are that Sri Sridevi and Bhoodevi are
made of same stone, and the idol of Ammavaru has lotus flowers in 3 hands and
Sharanayathathvam in the fourth hand. About 300 years back a Gujarati Mahant
came and decorated the idol with immense devotion. He then got a dream in which
Lord appeared like Srinathji of Nathdwara. Hence, Vallabh Sampradayam is
followed even now in the temple. The temple is very popular among Gujaratis too.
Initially only Garbha Gruha was there. Akkanna and Madana got built the arches.
In 1914, the flooring was got done by C.T Dalal. Smt. Vyjayanthimala Bali and
Smt.Bhanumati Ramakrishna very famous cine actresses of yester-years donated
required amount for the preparation of Uthsava Vigraham (procession idol) of
Ammavaru. 1962 is the year when war broke out between India and China.
The amazing fact is that on the day of its consecrati on, cease-fire was
declared between the two countries. That is why, the goddess is called
Rajyalakshmi Ammavaru. In those days, the temple did not have water. Therefore,
the devotees had to get water by pots from a distance of 4 to 5 miles. As such,
the devotees decided to dig a well next to the lake. While the digging was in
progress, some of the devotees circumambulated the temple praying for water.
There was no water to the depth of 40 feet. After they completed eleven
circumambulations, sufficient water oozed out from the well. After that, the
devotees completed another 108 circumambulations.