Mahamani Mantapam
‘Mani’ means bell. Mahamani means big bell. Where there are big bells, that place is called Mahamani mantapam. Generally there will be only one bell in any temple. But in Tirumala there are two bells. One is ‘Narayana bell’ and the other is ‘Govinda bell’. Elders say that they were on either side of the Sanctum Sanctorum, but now they are in one place.
The bell is important for any temple. The sound of the bell indicates that pujalu and Nivedanalu are being performed. Inside the Sanctum Sanctorum the bell that is rung is a different one. When the sound of these bells reach gantamantapam, the bells start ringing from here. On hearing the sound of bells the kings of chandragiri used to take their meal. Harapana Halli Bheemavva described in utter delight, “After visiting Srinivasa with open eyes and after seeing the different kinds of vessels of food-offering and after hearing the melodious sound of the bells, I have become sacred.”
‘Annapurneyanode adhika gantiyanada
enna kiviga nanda O! deva’.
History Of Mahamani Mandapam
The large hall between your Garuda temple and the Bangaru vakili inside the Ananda Nilayam is named the Mahamani mantapam or the Ganta mantapam. There are 16 support beams in 4 rows. It had been constructed by Vijayanagara ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Mallana in 1417 and also have pictures of Narasimha, Varaha, Maha vishnu, Varadaraja and Venkateswara. This is actually the location for all main occasions just like Suprabtha pathanam, Koluvu, Panchanga sravanam, adaya-vyaya nivedana. The main occasions like Sahasra Kalashabisekam and Tiruppavadai will be held right here and also entitled as Asthana mantapam, because several classic temple tennis courts during Ugadi, Deepavali, Gajo Navami, Sri Krishnasthami, Anivara Asthanam and so forth are made here.
There have been two alarms about the southern part of the bangaru vakili that are struck in the hour of nivedana. Therefore it is also known as Ganta Mandapam and in addition Tirumamani mandapam.
Read More about – Mandapams in Tirumala Temple
