“Dwaraka Tirumala” is an ancient holy place and a popular pilgrim center in Andhra Pradesh. Dwaraka Tirumala is nearer to ‘Eluru’, the head quarters of West Godavari District, which is 42 KM away from Eluru.
This pilgrimage centre is called “Dwaraka Tirumala” after the great saint, “Dwaraka” who located the self manifested idol of Lord “Sri Venkateswara” after severe penance in a ‘Valmikam’ (ant hill). The devotees call Sri Venkateswara as Kaliyuga Vaikunta Vasa. This place is also called “Chinna Tirupati” as the rituals and traditions followed here are identical to the Tirumala Tirupati Temple.
Dwaraka Tirumala is a famous temple from the ancient times. According to some Puranas, the temple was popular even in Kruta yuga and is still attracting the devotees. According to Brahma Purana, Aja Maharaja, the Grandfather of Lord Sri Rama also worshiped Lord Venkateswara for his marriage. On his way to the ‘Swayamvaram’ of Indumati, he passed by the temple. He did not offer prayers in the temple. The bride Indumati garlanded him, but he had to face a battle with the kings who came to the Swayamvaram. He realized that the battle was thrust on him for ignoring the temple on the way. After realizing this, Aja Maharaja prayed to the Lord Venkateswara. Suddenly the kings stopped the battle.
It is a great wonder to see two main idols under one Vimana Sikharam. One idol is a full and complete statue. The other is a half statue of the upper portion of the form of the Lord. The upper portion of the form is a self-manifested idol located by Sage “Dwaraka”. The lower portion is imagined to be in the earth and the holy feet are said to be offered to Bali Chakravarthi in “Patala” for his daily worship.
The saints of the yore felt the prayers to the Lord are not complete without worshipping His holy feet. So, the saints joined together and installed a full statue behind the self-manifested idol, to worship the feet of the Lord according to Vaikhanasa Agamam. This full size idol of Lord Sri Venkateswara is said to have been installed by the great social reformer Srimad Ramanuja of the 11th century.
It is believed that the prayers to the smaller statue of the Lord will lead to Moksha, and the big form stands for Dharma, Artha and Kama. The Tiru kalyanotsavam is celebrated twice a year.
Narasimha Sagar is a tank to the west of the village. This is also called Swamyvari Pushkarini and Kumara Thirtha. The bathing ghat to the north of this tank is called Chakrathirtha and that to the west of the tank is called Ramathirtha. The Kumaratirtha is the main bathing ghat for all pilgrims. This is a dependable source of water supply to the whole village. A dip in the holy waters of this tank is considered to be the most essential step to liberation and eternal bliss.
The main temple is a masterpiece of South Indian Architecture with its five-storied main Rajagopuram facing the south and three other gopuras on the other three sides. There are several temples of Alwars attached to the Prakara on all sides. The whole spacious compound has been surfaced with stone and flower trees. There are other shrines in the temple; Lord Anjaneya Swamy, Mount Garuda, image of saint Dwaraka and image of Sri Tallakapaka Annamacharya.
Source:
http://www.yatrastotemples.com/sri-venkateswara-swamy-temple-in-dwaraka-tirumala-chinna-tirupathi/
http://www.dwarakatirumala.org/temple.html
http://templesandtourism.blogspot.in/2012/07/as-people-in-this-region-visit-it.html
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dwaraka_Tirumala_Gopuram_view.jpg
