Chilukuru
A ‘Mini’ Tirumala
By J.U.B. Sastry

The compassionate Lord Venkateswara has been tirelessly fulfilling the wishes of all, especially the foreign visa seekers, ambitious students and lovers.

Pilgrims who visit for the first time have to offer 11 pradakshinas (Circumambulations) seeking fulfillment of their desires and have darshan of the Lord with their eyes open. Once their wishes are fulfilled, they should visit again and offer 108 pradakshinas, thanking the Almighty.

The temple of Lord Venkateswara, situated at the tiny, remote village of Chilukuru in Andhra Pradesh (approximately 25 Kms from Hyderabad), has become a ‘mini Tirumala’, attracting thousands of devotees from all over the country every day. Known as Chilukuru Balaji temple, it is now the most favoured pilgrimage centre of the masses, after the Seven Hills of Tirumala.

Surrounded by the unpolluted waters of the picturesque Osmansagar lake from three sides, the Balaji temple has the traditional ambience, reflecting its 500-year old history. The presiding deity is Lord Venkateswara (a self-manifested idol), flanked by Sridevi (Goddess of Wealth) and Bhudevi (Goddess of Earth) on either side. All sects of people, especially foreign visa-seekers, ambitious students and lovers throng to this temple. Chilukuru Balaji is affectionately (appropriately also!) called the 'Visa-God'. The compassionate Lord has been tirelessly fulfilling the wishes of each and everyone. The other attractions of this temple are the presence of Sri Sundareswara Swamy (Lord Shiva) and Goddess Padmavathy Devi (known as Rajya Lakshmi Devi).

Legends
Chilukuru village, was once the capital city of several kings like Kutus, Kalyani Paschima (West) Chalukyas and some followers of Vikramaditya. Once there lived a pious man named Gonnala Madhava Reddy, who took up agriculture as his main profession and led a saintly life. Being an ardent devotee of the Lord of the Seven Hills, he used to visit Tirumala every year without fail. In his old age also, he never failed to do so; but once he fell seriously ill, when he was about to leave for Tirumala. Despite his deteriorating health, the devotee’s micro vibrations (inner self) were revolving around Sri Venkateswara Swamy only and he cursed his inability to go on the pilgrimage. One night, Madhava Reddy slipped into sleep, thinking of the Lord and he experienced the bliss of a wonderful dream, in which the Lord appeared with Shankh and Chakra in two hands, an Abhayahasta for protecting His devotees and a Katya Valambitha hand (for self-knowing). He was all mercy towards Madhava reddy and assured “My dear devotee! Since you are unable to visit me, I have come to you. You can find me in an anthill under a tree, located near the Muchukunda river (presently known as the Moosi river) flowing east of your village. I will fulfill the genuine desires of my true devotees,”.

The aged devotee, elated at the blissful dream, regained his strength and spread the word to his fellow-villagers. The next morning, the entire village, along with Madhava Reddy went on a mission to the East of Chilukuru, to find the anthill. After a few hours of searching, they found the same. When they dug inside, blood started oozing up from under. Then a divine voice addressed the awe-struck villagers, “Dear villagers, bring cow’s milk and pour it over me.” The villagers then brought cow’s milk in abundance. As they poured it, the remnants of the anthill melted away and there appeared an attractive statue of Lord Venkateswara with cut injuries on the left forehead and also on the left part of the body. Then, they built a temple at that place.

After some years, a saint by name Srivan Satagopa Yathindra Sri Srinivasa Swamy (of Ahobilam), visited the temple and regulated the pooja activities by appointing one of his disciples, as in-charge of the temple. Descendants of this disciple have been looking after the same till date. Records show that Akkanna and Madanna, the respected ministers in the royal court of Abul Hasan Tanisha who ruled Golconda in the 17th century, Sri Ramadas, a great devotee of Lord Sri Rama and several other dignitaries paid several visits to the temple and sought the Lord’s blessings.

Contrary to the practice at Tirumala and Dwaraka Tirumala, Chilukuru Balaji does not accept any money offerings; tickets are not sold for darshan. Free distribution of prasad and equal treatment of all devotees, irrespective of their status, are the specialties of this temple.

Pilgrims who visit for the first time have to offer 11 pradakshinas (Circumambulations) seeking fulfillment of their desires and have darshan of the Lord with their eyes open. Once their wishes are fulfilled, they should visit again and offer 108 pradakshinas, thanking the Almighty. The fact that the number of devotees visiting for the second time are growing multifold everyday stands testimony to the underlying principle of worship of the Lord i.e. only devotion and dedicated prayers, and not tickets, offerings and donations, carry weight with Him.

Once, an over- flooded Moosi river inundated all the nearby villages forcing the people to evacuate, but the flood waters dared not to touch the Chilukuru village, thanks to the Abhayahastam extended by the Lord to the villagers.

Why only 11 pradakshinas are prescribed for first-timers?

This practice has an interesting background. During 1969-70, borewells were dug up in the temple premises, to meet the temple’s water requirements; but the early trials ended in a failure. When the work began again, the priest Gopalakrishna, and two other devotees, Lakshminarayan Goel and his brother, offered prayers and started performing Pradakshinas. Water gushed out of the borewells, when they completed 11 pradakshinas. Subsequently, they offered 108 pradakshinas as thanks-giving gesture towards the Lord. This practice has been followed since then.

Sri Sundareswara Swamy:
Devotees visiting this temple can find an attractive, beautiful Shivalingam, known as Sri Sundareswara Swamy, on the left side of the temple premises. The Lingam is found behind a Peepal tree, which has sprouted and grown in a place, where a great sage had made penance, 350 years back. Many believe that the sage still lives there in the shape of the tree, which would fulfill the devotees’ desires, when it is touched.

It is said that like Lord Balaji, the lingam of Sri Sundareswara swamy is also a self-manifested one.

The temple also has an Utsavamurthy of Padmavathi Devi, known as Rajyalakshmi Devi, which was installed during the 1962-63 China war. The day the idol was installed, ceasefire took place between India and China and from that day onwards, devotees began calling her ‘Rajyalakshmi Devi’.

Festivals:
The temple celebrates Brahmotsavams for 7 days continuously every year, beginning on the Dasami day, which follows ‘SriRama Navami’. Daily rituals are conducted at 6 am and 6.30 pm; special poojas and Abhishekam are performed on every Friday at 9.30 am. Special poojas are conducted on the occasion of all festivals. If you are planning for travel abroad, do visit this temple.

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