The history of Govinda Raja Swamy temple at Tirupati, engages people fall in love with it.

Located in the heart of the Tirupati-smart city, this temple can make any person feel segregated from the outside modern world soon after one steps into it. This one tops my favourite temples in India even though, like everyone, I visit Tirupati to witness the main deity, Lord Venkateshwara, on Tirumala hills. If you like mythological histories and believe in Vaishnavism, you would love to see this temple again and again like I do.

The history specifies that the ardent Shaiva devotee, a Chola King named Krimikantha, hated Lord Vishnu and destroyed all the Vishnu temples in his kingdom. The idols of Sri Govinda Raja Swamy in recline posture, along with Sridevi and Bhudevi, were immersed in the sea near a sacred place called Chitrakuta (current Chidambaram). Some Srivaishnavas brought those idols to Tirupati without the knowledge of the Chola King and started performing poojas. Knowing this, Bhagavat Ramanujacharya, with the help of the then king and his disciple Yaduvarya, made new deities along with the Utsava murphies brought from Chitrakuta, was consecrated at a sacred place in Tirupati and performed poojas similar to that of Tirumala per the tradition of Vaikhanasaagama.

By the southern side of Govindaraja Swamy, the idol of Andal( Godadevi) was also consecrated to promote Lord Govindaraja Swamy's wealth. Since then, as per the instructions of Ramanujacharya, rituals like Nityotsava, Pakshotsava, Masotsava, Samvatsarotsava, etc, have been systematically performed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

You can find the same information in local languages, Tamil and Telugu, outside the main temple premises. Speaking of the vicinity, inside and outside the temple are two different worlds. Constructed in a typical Sri Rangam temple complex, this place carries Vaishnavism's vibe. This temple is near the Tirupati railway station, and it is feasible to travel around the city in auto-rickshaws and buses. The main bus stand is also within walking distance as it is in the centre of the town.

Soon after you reach the outer complex, you find an Anjaneya Swamy Mandir, the temple of Lord Hanuman. Don't mistake it for being the main temple if you visit it for the first time. If you look opposite that temple, you can find a long path with hustling vendors and stalls with people walking down the street that connects the main temple. The main attraction of this temple is the Pradhana Dwara, the main entrance through which people should enter into the inner premises of the temple.

That entrance is a one-of-a-kind architectural treasure. Sculpted with rocks and stone carvings with two giant brass doors opening on either side, allowing people to enter, one must keenly appreciate the detailing of the sculptured entrance. As I'm into art, I spend ten minutes looking above for a beautiful view of the elevated ceilings every time I visit. Standing in the middle of the entrance, you can view the temple differently. On one side, the whole market scene shows people buying various items; on the other, the temple scene shows people waiting to enter through another entrance.

Once you enter, you can find an open space with counters to secure footwear, luggage and gadgets. There's one more counter that sells entrance tickets for Seegra Darshan, which costs only 20/- rupees per person. After taking the delivery tokens, one must leave footwear and safely submit gadgets at the counter. There's also a free darshan queue that will be merged with special darshan people later at the entrance doors of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

The architecture of the temple must be appreciated. Designed during the reign of Vijayanagara Kings, this temple has blended architectural patterns from all the southern kingdoms and is currently managed by the TTD organisation. On the premises of Sri Govindaraja Swamy temple, the temples of Parthasarathy Swamy, Kalyana Venkateshwara Swamy, Goddess Andal, Garudalwar, Balarama Krishna temple, Mahalakshmi temples and the shrines of Chakratalwar, Ramanuja acharya and Anantalwar are being located. Hence, this temple is famous as the group of temples in Tirupati.

While waiting in the queues, I always observed the carvings on the pillars, and it felt so incredible inside the temple because of the stone architecture, regardless of the outside temperatures.

The darshan of the giant idol of Sri Govindaraja Swamy, sleeping on Adisesha in a reclined position with Sridevi and Bhudevi at his feet, always takes me to a different spiritual trance, and my eyes fill with happy tears.

After his darshan, the queue lines get directed to other temples one after the other. One must have the darshan of Andal Devi without skipping it. Also, Kalyana Venkateshwara Swamy temple is famous because of the rangamandapa in front of it, where pandits perform daily Vedic rituals.

If it is a special auspicious day or Saturday, they also perform poojas and yagnyas here.

After visiting every temple inside the premises, look at the top of the gopuram of sanctum sanctorum. It is called Vimana Govinda Raja Swamy Darshan. After that, one can receive the prasaada and god; it tastes yummy. I love sitting at the Dwajastambham, savouring the prasaada and looking at the architecture from a wide-eyed view. Every time I visit, I won't skip performing any essential worshipping ritual because that gives me happiness and satisfaction.

The entrance and exit are the same way in this temple. Once you come out, you can collect your belongings and explore the temple's other central part. The stalls, stores and shops outside the temple are famous for brass items, decoration items, frames, toys, clothes and various traditional items that depict typical South Indian culture. There are almost a hundred shops on either side, along with all the vendors who sell by sitting on the floors of the temple complex.