Ambalagiri is one of the important pilgrimages in Chikkaballapur district. Here, the famous Shri Lakshmi Venkataramanaswamy temple, right from the days of the Kings of Vijayanagara, is extremely famous.
Constructed in those days, today the temple comes under the jurisdiction of the Department of Archaeology.
The Mukhamantapa, Navaranga, Sukhanasi and the sanctum sanatorium of the temple are very beautiful. In each and every section, there are beautiful carvings, architectural pillars with idols of Gods Ganapathi, Krishna, Lakshmi, Narasimha, Kalingamardana and several others engraved on them.
Shri Lakshmi Venkataramanaswamy temple was one of the most beautiful temples in the erstwhile Vijayanagar kingdom and is famous for its delicate and intricate designs and carvings. There are huge safety walls, around the temple and these walls depict dance and war scenes from famous Ramayana and Mahabharata. Above the Mahadwara, a 65 feet height huge Gali Gopura, which has five floors and is visible even at a distance of 10 kms.
The idol of Shri Lakshmi Venkataramanaswamy is formed on its own.
Neglected
In the recent days, the Government was also neglecting historical temples and architectural structures and the public did not bothered much about them. Thus most of these structures were now in a dilapidated condition.
And the temple in Ambalagiri was not an exception to it. About 800 years old, the temple is now in a fragile condition, having endured several weathers and seasons. It has lost its glamour and lustre due to lack of maintenance. The massive Gali Gopura of the Mahadwara has been totally ruined.
The Muzarai Department has not bothered to give a whitewash, undertake small repair works and has not implemented any renovation works in the temple. Several irregularities have also taken place with regards to the temple’s administration, like misutilisation of funds, thefts of the temple’s idols, etc. Thus, even routine pooja and other activities also came to a standstill, due to the closure of the temple most of the time.
Late C Bhairegowda took keen interest in the renovation works in 1999 and a project worth Rs 50 crore was prepared by the Archeological Department, however, the work never began. The Trustee of Shri Yoginarayana Yateendra Ashram of Shrikshethra Kaiwara M R Jayaram noticed this. Inspired by the keertanas and stotras created on Shri Lakshmi Venkataramanaswamy, Yateendra Jayaram began the renovation work.
The Vimana Gopura and the Raja Gopura have now been renovated as Navyagopuras, which symbolise the age-old style of temples. Already the Vimana Gopura of Shri Lakshmi Venkataramanaswamy Temple and the temples of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Anjaneya have been renovated.The walls, terrace and several sections of the temple are being renovated.
Thus, Yateendra Jayaram has stood stoic and has gone ahead of his ambitious plan, despite several obstacles and set an example by conserving the rich history and heritage of Ambalagiri.
Now, regular poojas are being conducted. Bhajans, Harikathas, Burrakathas, music programmes, Pandhari Bhajans, Sankeertanas, etc are organised on every Saturdays. Special poojas are performed on every Saturday and in the month of Karthik.
Giripradakshine
On every full moon day, Giripradakshine, a pradakshina around the Ambalagiri mountain is being undertaken by the devotees. Ever since, this programme has begun, the mountain, which was usually dry, is suddenly spurting green.
This is followed by all the members residing around Ambalagiri without fail, every month.Trustee of Kaiwara Kshethra M R Jayaram also takes part in this activity. A small pond by the name Venkatatheertha is very famous here. Though all the nearby streams and ponds dry, Venkatatheertha has never gone dry. Most of the devotees take bath here and drink the water from this pond.
There is a popular belief that the water is very holy and pure here and it helps curing several ailments. Most of the devotees take bath here, and drink water from here and pay their obeisance at Lakshmi Venkataramana temple.
