Andhra Pradesh   

Mangalampadu beckons devotees

MANGALAMPADU, a tiny agraharam near Sullurpet on the Chittoor-Nellore inter-district border, has a proud history that runs into over four centuries, and has been a vibrant centre for Vaishnavite philosophy.

The village is located at a distance of about 100 km from Chennai on the way to Nellore and is about 70 km from Tirupati via Srikalahasti. It is well-connected by road from Sullurpet which is only 12 km away. Surrounded by lush green paddy fields on all sides, the village can boast of a big minor irrigation tank, which is the lifeline for agriculture and allied activities that thrive in the nearby villages.

Given as an endowment by Venkatapathi Raja I of Chandragiri empire in 1602 AD to Sri Rangaraja Iyengar, son of the renowned Kidambi Jagannathacharya Swamy, for his erudite scholarship in Ubhaya Vedanta, this village has been the nerve centre of traditional worship and academic accomplishments. What's more significant in terms of divinity is that the endowment was made in the very presence of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala. So declares the gift inscription pertaining to the endowment.

Sriman Jagannathacharya Swamy's scholastic pursuits won him the title `Vadikesari' as he was considered unparallelled in argument. His family tree points to his descendance from one Vedantodayana, who was the cook of the Visishtadvaitha Philosopher Bhagawad Ramanuja. The Vaishnavites of this village largely belong to Kidambi, Kandadai and Eyunni lineages.

The temple of Lord Venugopalaswamy remained a not-so-popular shrine in a nondescript village in the olden days, but it appears to have grown in course of time. It houses a number of sub-temples for Bhaktanjaneya and the scores of Vaishnavite Acharyas.

The idol of Sri Venugopalaswamy is believed to have been found in the village well. This stone image has strong resemblances to the sculptural excellence of temples in the region ruled by the Vijayanagar kings. Akin to the deity of Sri Venkateswara at Tirumala, the image of Venugopala also appears very young when shorn of His embellishments. This standing image is known for its ornate carvings and extreme beauty as the Lord wears a cherubic smile. During later years, the temples of Bhagavad Ramanuja, Sri Vedanta Desika and Bhaktanjaneya have been added to make it a huge temple complex. Surprisingly enough, the Utsavamoorthy (processional deity) here is that of Sri Varadaraja and is believed to have been acquired from the temple city of Kancheepuram.

The people in and around Mangalampadu consider Sri Venugopala to be "Santana Gopala". Not just for namesake, but the Lord here is revered as the bestower of progeny and the perpetuator of lineage. Many of His devotees who were earlier childless confess to have conceived after offering prayers to Him and observing fast and other forms of abstinence.

Although the temple has lost its sheen during the post-independence days, the last decade of the 20th century witnessed a great deal of development under the aegis of Sri Kidambi Jagannathacharya, the hereditary trustee of the temple and under the stewardship of Sriman Kandadai Rangaswamy Iyengar, a great devotee of the Lord. The renovation of the "Vimana Gopuram" in the year 1992, the offering of a new "Garudavahanam" in 2000 and the reconstruction of the mandapams of Sri Ramanuja and Sri Vendanta Desika were a few among the major events that took place in the temple in the recent times. The annual Brahmotsavams take place in the month of Phalguna every year and attracts hundreds of devotees from near and far.

The newly-fabricated chariot will be commissioned and dedicated to the temple with "Ratha Samprokshanam" at a grand function in the temple complex on Mar 6. Also, "Krishna Kalyan", a massive Kalyana Mandapam complex will be inaugurated at the holy hands of HH Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeer, in the holy presence of HH Sri Vanamamalai Kaliyan Ramanuja Jeer and Sri Periya Kovil Kezhvi Appan Sri Ranga Ramanuja Jeer.

The spell-binding edifice is well equipped and self-sufficient to meet the needs of the residents of at least twenty surrounding villages and even Sullurpet and Srikalahasti towns, as it vies in beauty and facilities with the most modern halls in the urban centres.

<167,9p,1>- AD Rangarajan

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