Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple

Chinnamuttom main road, Vivekananthapuram, Dist. Kanyakumari.

Kanyakumari Tirupati Venkateswara Temple is a famous Hindu place of worship located near the seashore in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. The temple is managed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and is built in the style of the Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

Construction of the temple began in July 2013. After around five and a half years of construction, the temple was opened to devotees in January 2019 with the Maha Kumbhabhishekam ceremony. The temple was built on 5.5 acres of land given by the Vivekananda Kendra in Kanyakumari. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) established this temple in Kanyakumari to make it easier for devotees from southern states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, who may find it difficult to travel to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh due to the long journey and large crowds, to have darshan of Lord Venkateswara.

Devotees who are unable to visit Tirupati are believed to have a similar darshan experience here. The idol of Lord Venkateswara here is installed in a similar form to the one at Tirupati. The poojas and offerings are also performed at the same times and in the same manner as at Tirupati. The temple is designed in such a way that every year on the first day of the Tamil month of Chithirai (14 April), the early morning sunlight falls directly on the feet of the deity. Facing the sea, this white marble temple also offers beautiful views of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, the Thiruvalluvar Statue and the sea.

The temple complex stands on a large raised platform, built like a small hill near the seashore. A large white marble archway with carvings at the top welcomes devotees from the road. The shining golden-coloured tower above the Sreekovil can be seen from a distance, with the blue sea forming a beautiful backdrop. Wide white marble steps lead from the road to the main temple, with ramps provided on the sides for elderly devotees. On entering, the first thing seen is the spacious Mukha Mandapam, decorated with pillars. Traditional Dravidian-style sculptures and carvings on the pillars can be seen here. A large gold-plated flagstaff and a Bali Peetha are placed in front of the temple.

The Sreekovil is built as a fine example of the traditional Dravidian style of South Indian architecture. The gold-plated tower above the Sreekovil is known as ‘Ananda Nilayam’. Built similar to the one at Tirupati, it shines brightly in the sunlight. The inside of the Sreekovil is made of dark black granite, while the outer walls are decorated with white marble. It is designed to allow only limited natural light inside, so that the idol of the deity can be seen mainly in the light of ghee lamps and camphor. Another special feature is that every year on 14 April, the early morning sunlight enters the Sreekovil and falls directly on the feet of the deity. Lord Venkateswara is installed here as an exact replica of the idol at Tirupati. The stone idol is about eight feet tall and stands in the Sthanaka posture with four arms. The two rear hands hold the conch and discus, while the front right hand is in the Varada Mudra, giving blessings and the left hand rests against the thigh. A large white Thirunamam, made using green camphor and musk, is placed on the forehead and partly covers the eyes. A small scar similar to the one on the Tirupati idol can be seen on the chin, with green camphor placed on it. The presence of Goddess Lakshmi is represented on the chest as the Srivatsa.

In addition to the main deity, the temple complex has separate shrines for Goddess Padmavathi, Goddess Andal, Garuda and Lord Hanuman. The shrine of Goddess Padmavathi, regarded as an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Venkateswara, is located in a separate mandapam on the right side of the main Sreekovil, towards the south. The shrine of Goddess Andal, the Alvar saint known for her devotion to Lord Vishnu and regarded as an incarnation of Goddess Bhudevi, is located on the left side of the main Sreekovil, towards the north. The idol of Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu, is placed directly in front of the main Sreekovil, just behind the flagstaff, facing the deity. A small shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman can also be seen near the main entrance at the front of the temple complex.

The main annual festival of the temple is Brahmotsavam. Usually held in September–October during the Navaratri period, this nine-day festival includes processions of the festival idol of Lord Venkateswara on different vehicles such as Garuda Vahanam, Hamsa Vahanam and elephant Vahanam. The festival ends with Chakrasnanam on the ninth day. Vaikunta Ekadasi, an important day for Vaishnava devotees, is usually observed in December–January. On this day, the Vaikunta Dwaram, or northern entrance, is opened to devotees. It is believed that entering through this doorway and having darshan of the deity brings liberation and large crowds are seen at the temple. The Surya Darshan on Chithirai 1, which falls on 14 April, is another special feature of the temple, when the early morning sunlight enters the Sreekovil and falls directly on the feet of the deity. Other festivals and special days observed here include Sri Rama Navami, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Ratha Saptami and Vasanthotsavam. On Ratha Saptami, the deity is taken in procession on different vehicles, while Vasanthotsavam includes special poojas using flowers and sandalwood. Saturdays are also considered especially auspicious for Lord Venkateswara and large crowds of devotees are usually seen from the morning for darshan.

The famous ‘Srivari Laddu’ from Tirupati is also available here as the main prasadam. Devotees can buy the laddu offered to the deity from the special counters. The temple also has a separate kitchen, known as ‘Potu’, where the laddus are prepared. As at Tirupati, a large Hundi is also provided here, where devotees can offer money, gold and silver jewellery as offerings. The main daily sevas include Suprabhata Seva, performed early in the morning to awaken the deity, Archana, during which the names of the deity are chanted and tulsi leaves and flowers are offered and Aarati performed with camphor and ghee lamps. Kalyanotsavam, the symbolic wedding ceremony of Lord Venkateswara and Goddess Padmavathi, is another important offering. Devotees perform this seva seeking a happy married life and the removal of obstacles. Devotees can also donate money, rice or other items towards the temple’s Annadanam activities.

The daily poojas begin with Suprabhata Seva from 4:00 am to 4:30 am. This is the ceremony of awakening the deity with sacred chants. From 4:45 am to 5:30 am, the idol is decorated with beautiful flower garlands during Thomala Seva. Koluvu and Archana are performed from 5:30 am to 6:30 am, during which the day’s Panchangam is read and flowers are offered while chanting the names of the deity. General Darshan is available free of charge to the public from 6:30 am to 8:00 pm. Darshan hours are longer on Saturdays. The day’s poojas end with Ekanta Seva at 8:00 pm, after which the temple closes. A special Abhishekam is performed every Friday at 6:30 am using milk, rose water and sandalwood. These timings may change on festival days and special occasions such as Vaikunta Ekadasi and Brahmotsavam.

Key highlight :-

• The temple is located in the heart of Kanyakumari town.
• Located 21 km from Nagercoil and 14 km from Suchindram.
• The nearest railway station is Kanyakumari, located 3 km away.
• TNSTC, KSRTC and local bus services are available to the temple.
• Private vehicles can be parked in the temple’s parking area.
• Accommodation and food facilities are available near the temple.
• Contact number 180042531111