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Sri Pattabhirama Swamy Temple –Â Â Vayalpadu (Valmikipuram)
Vayalpadu is located at a distance of about hundred kilometers from Tirupati. Madanapalli is close to this place. It is a junction and at one time it was, taluq headquarters in Kadapa district. Now it is the mandal headquarters.
Vayalpadu was called Boyalapadu because it had a large boya population. Boyalapadu became Vayalpadu later. According to one interpretation called Vavilpadu due to the abundance of vavili trees which grow here. Vavilpadu later on became Vayalpadu. Another generally accepted story is that Sage Valmiki did penance here and found the idols of Sita Rama, Lakshman, Bharata and Satrughna. These were consecrated by Jambavanta. At one time the district Collector of Kadapa -an English man named Hardings prayed to the God to relieve him of his stomach ache. He had a beautiful four pillared pavilion built before the temple. On the sixth of April in 2006 the image of Sage Valmiki was installed here. T.T.D. took the temple under its wing in 1997. Here is a sasana which says that Mahanayamkaracharya Kambam Timmanayani Venkatadri Nayanim had given Vavilpadu lands in the Kandanavolu region to this temple of Raghunadha for which Achyuta Devaraya gave his consent in 1534 A.D. A village called Vithalam stands near this place close to the Tirupati road. The village got its name also due to the presence of the temple of Vithaleswara built by Venkatadri Nayaka during the reign of Achyutadeva Maharaya in 1535A.D. Venkatadri Nayaka had also given lands which were exempted from tax to the temple. He was the son of Kambam Timmanayaka mentioned earlier. A sasana of Saluva Narasimharaya was found here earlier. This sasana found in Devulapalli of this taluq is like a kalpavriksha to historians. It traces the dynastic tree of Saluva kings. This sasana was given in 1505 A.D. by the emperor of Vijayanagara -Immadi Narasimha the son of Saluva Narasimharaya who gave Devulapalli in Marjavada region (in the Penugonda kingdom) to a man called Machana Battu.
“A man called Gunda was born in the Moon clan. He had six sons. Their names are Gunda, Bomma, Madiraja, Gantaya, Virahobala, Savitri, Mangi Saluva Mangi (perhaps Savitri and Mangi are daughters? two more, are here) Saluva Mangi took a kathari from a soldier. He begot a son named Gauta. His son is Gunda. He married Mallambika. By the grace of Ahobila Narasimha Swami they gave birth to a son named Narasimharaya. He was given titles like Meesaraganda, Kathari Saluva, Dharanivaraha, Panta ghanta ninada, Ivaraganda, etc. He defeated the kings of Chera, Chola, Pandya kingdoms and took the title of Mururayara Ganda. He married Sri Rangamba Devi. To them was born this donor by name Immadi Narasimha .. ” It is followed by the recipient Machana Battu’s antecedents which are not mentioned here because it is considered unnecessary. Since Saluva Narasimharaya did great service to the God of Tirumala only his ancestry is mentioned for the sake of posterity.
There used to be a sasana of 1833A.D. in this temple of Pattabhirama Swami. It is not known if it is preserved still. Polepalli Venkatramayya Setty (in the year of Salivahana Saka named Vijaya, in the month of Asvivuja, on tenth day of first fortnight i.e., in the year 175SA.D.) built a choultry for this temple.
Polepalli Venkatramayya Setty was a generous man who did much service to Vayalpadu. He started an upper primary school in the village in 1895 and entrusted its management to the Theosophical Trust. In 1915 the Chittoor Disrict Board took over the school and upgraded it to Middle School. With permission from the Madras government it was renamed as Р.V.С.Middle School. It became a College which is also named after its benefactor. Sri Venkatramayya Chetty received commendation letters from the emperors Edward VII on the first of January in 1903 and from George V on the twelveth of December in 1911.His portrait was unveiled in the school on the twentyfourth of August in 1937. All great men work for the welfare of many.
Pattabhirama Swami temple is located at the heart of the village. It is surrounded by Nooru Koppula Kondalu called Sata Sringa hills where Sage Valmiki’s hermitage was said to be situated. The river Bahuda encircles the village. This region was ruled by Pallava, Chola, Bana, Vaidumba, Hoyasala and Vijayanagara emperors. It was followed by the reign of Kadapa, Gurramkonda, and Mysore Nawabs.
There is no place left for the God Anjaneya beside the main idols in the temple. He remained outside. Goddess Sita is onto the right of Rama. There is a four storeyed Rajagopuram. Sudarshana chakra the disc stands on the top of the main temple in place of the customary kalasa. There are three unjali pavilions. A high wall surrounds the temple. Nine day Brahmotsavas, three day coronation and four day Pavitrotsavas are celebrated every year. It is a place worth visiting.
Temple Timings :
5:30 AM to 8 PM
How To Reach
- Trains are Available from Tirupati To Vayalpadu.
- Buses: Tirupati – Piler – Vayalpadu
