About CHILUKURU BALAJI TEMPLE....

Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!
Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!
Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vaasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!
CHILUKURU BALAJI
(A rare temple of Lord Sri Venkateshwara)
! Kalyanadbhutha Gatraya Kamithartha Pradayine!
Sri MadhVenkatanathaya Srinivasayathe Namaha!

Above sloka stands as a testimony to the benevolence of Lord Sri Venkateshwara also known as Balaji who is an epitome of auspiciousness (Kalyana), the one who bestows wealth and fulfills all the desires of his devotees who sing his glory. One such place that has come up in the recent times is at Chilukuru near Hyderabad where the temple of Lord Balaji stands as a salutation to the above qualities of the Supreme God Sri Venkateshwara. With its Sthala Mahatyam, sanctified by the manifestation of Lord Sri Venkateshwara, the temple is providing remedy and solution to the multi various desires and sufferings of devotees. The underlying principle is that, if there is sincerity in devotion and prayers, the compassionate Lord responds wherever it may be and that need not be Tirumala alone. We find many such instances in Puranas and we are finding them even in these days of Kali Yuga.
Legend behind the temple

As per Sthala Purana, about 500 years back there lived in Chilukuru village an ardent devotee of Lord Sri Venkateshwara by name Gonnala Madhava Reddy who used to visit Tirumala temple every year without fail to have a darshan of the Lord. In those days people used to visit Tirumala either by foot or by using bullock carts. On one such occasion Mr. Reddy could not visit Tirumala due to his deteriorating health condition and old age. In his heart of hearts he was feeling very guilty for having not visited the Lord at Tirumala and was seekingLord’s pardon.

Pleased with His devotee’s sincerity in devotion and honesty in his inability, Lord Venkateshwara one day, appeared in his dream in his original form and gave darshan to Mr. Madhava Reddy. Further the Lord blessed him and revealed that for the benefit of his devotees, He has manifested Himself in a nearby place and ordered him to excavate His idol in an anthill.
Thrilled with this Divine experience Mr. Reddy with the help of co– villagers
started excavating for the Lord’s idol as per the directions given by the Lord.

Accordingly they found an Anthill in a nearby place and started digging the same. During the course of digging, they found blood started oozing out of the anthill. Enthralled by the incident the villagers suddenly heard a Divine voice asking them to perform abhisheka on the anthill with milk. When the villagers did the same the anthill started melting and there appeared a beautiful idol of Lord Sri Venkateshwara with marks of cut injuries on the left forehead and also on the left part of his chest. These were the marks of injuries caused to the self manifested idol of the Lord during excavation. Rarity of this idol found in the anthill was that the Lord Venkateshwara was accompanied along with his consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi on either side on a single platform. Subsequently the idol was installed at the current place and people started worshipping the Lord known as Chilukuru Balaji.

As per the temple sources it is said that, the temple was visited by Sri Akkanna and Madanna the esteemed ministers in the court of Abul Hasan Thanisha who ruled Golkonda during 17th century and contributed liberally for the construction of the temple. Subsequently the temple was visited by several other dignitaries. During the course of a visit to the temple by a Saint from Ahobilam the pooja rituals were set in order and since then they are being conducted by the hereditary priests as per Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya.

There is also a temple of Lord Shiva known as Sundareswara Swamy to the left of Balaji temple in the same complex. The Shiva linga is said have self manifested behind a Peepal tree where a Saint is said to have performed penance in olden days. Darshan of both the Peepal tree and the Shiva Linga at this place are believed and said to be highly meritorious and effective.
Salient features at the temple

Unlike other temples, there is no Hundi and offering of Dakshina at this temple. No special darshan or VIP darshan, no special sevas by paying money. All are given equal treatment at the temple irrespective of their status and every one has to fall in line to have a darshan of the Lord. No special prasadam is given or sold; only sugar crystals are given as Prasadam free of cost.

Pradakshina (Circumambulation) around the temple is given lot of importance and significance at this temple. Whoever visits the temple for the first time will have to offer eleven rounds of Pradakshinas and pray for the fulfillment of their desires. Once their desires are fulfilled the devotees comes back and offer 108 pradakshinas as a token of gratitude and thanks giving to the Almighty.

Actually Pradakshina is a sort of prayaschittam or penance to beseech God’s grace to get rid of bad karmas that one may be facing in life. The guiding principle behind this is that, if God’s worship is performed with sincere devotion and total surrender it helps in reducing the impact of bad karmas and not by the amount of offerings to the God. This principle we find even in Mantralayam temple where devotees offer Seva to Sri Raghavendra Swamy in the form of Pradakshina around the Brindavana.
Why eleven Pradakshinas are prescribed?

There is an interesting background behind this custom. It seems about 40 years back when there was no water facility at the temple and the excavation of the priests for the bore-well failed, they undertook circumambulation around the temple praying the Lord for success of water. Surprisingly water came out of the bore-well after the priests completed eleven rounds of pradakshinas. Subsequently the priests undertook 108 pradakshinas as a gesture of thanks giving to the Almighty. Since then it
has become a custom at the temple to offer 11 rounds of pradakshinas
initially and thereafter 108 rounds.

The fact that the number of devotees visiting this temple and offering 11/108 rounds of pradakshinas is increasing day by day stands as a testimonial to the merits of this temple and to the guiding principle behind this penance.
Management of the temple

The temple is managed by the hereditary priests and the poojas and rituals are held as per Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya. Endowments department tried to take over the temple but in vain as the hereditary priests succeeded in retaining the temple management through court intervention. Seven day annual festival (Brahmotsavam) is held every year at the temple during Chaitra Masam (March-April) commencing from the next day after Sri Rama Navami festival. The temple is publishing a trilingual monthly journal called VAK and the only contribution or offering that we find at the temple is through purchase of this magazine at a nominal cost of Rs.5/-
How to reach Chilukuru?

Chilukuru is a name of the village in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh, about 30 km away from Hyderabad city on the banks of Osmansagar Lake nearby Golkonda fort. Plenty of bus facilities are available from Mehdipatnam in Hyderabad city, about one hour journey from Chilukuru. Auto rickshaw facilities are also available from Mehdipatnam and on a sharing basis it costs around Rs.20/- per head.
Temple Timings

Balaji temple at Chilukuru is open from morning 5.00 am to night 8.00 pm. Thousands of devotees visit this temple every day and during week ends starting from Friday there will be heavy rush at the temple.
Chilukuru Balaji– The VISA God

Chilukuru Balaji is popularly and affectionately called as the VISA God. This is because the aspirants of VISA could get their VISA clearance after worshipping the GOD at this temple and after performing the circumambulations. Generally VISA is the permit to enter a country granted

by its Government. Whoever it may be have called very appropriately the Lord at this temple who is none other than Lord Sri Venkateshwara as the VISA God. He is none other than Lord Sri ManNarayana the President of the Universe the one who grants VISA (Moksha) for a soul to enter Parama Padam (Sri Vaikuntam) the abode of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu. With the practical experiences of the devotees standing as a testimony to the Mahima of Chilukuru Balaji (Lord Sri Venkateshwara) the temple is gaining prominence as a mini Tirumala.
Vishnum Narayanam Krishnam! Madhavam Madhusudhanam
Harim Naraharim Ramam! Govindam Dadhi Vaamanam!!
Om! Namo! Venkatesaya!
Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
bhargavasarma

OM Namoh Narayana...!!!

With Best Regards,
Sanlovesu