Please Download Our Android App to Continue Editing

Lord Govindaraja Swamy is the elder brother of Lord Venkateswara. He is credited for carrying out the marriage that the entire universe was eagerly waiting – between Lord  Venkateswara Swamy and Goddess Padmavathi Thaayar. Lord Govindaraja Swamy met the expenses by accepting credit from Kubera, the king of wealth. 

After receiving the huge credit, Lord Govindaraja Swamy conducted one of the magnificent marriages the world has ever seen.

When South India was invaded by muslims, the presiding Perumal of Chidambaram, Sri Govindaraja Swamy was brought and kept safely in Tirupati. After the situation at Chidambaram returned to normalcy, the vigraham of Lord Govindaraja Swamy was taken back from Tirupati.

One day, Sri Ramanuja in his dream had a vision of Lord Govindaraja Swamy, He was advised by Lord to make arrangements for Him to reside in Tirupati. Sri Ramanuja who was already aware about Sri Govindaraja Swamy’s stay in Tirupati during Muslim invasion took the help of the king and went to the place which he saw in his dream. To everyone’s astonishment, they found the vigraham.

Sri Ramanuja advised the king to construct a temple for Lord and construct houses for the people doing kainkaryam in the Govindaraja Swamy temple.

This temple is a remarkable achievement of the ancient south Indian architecture. It's tall and remarkable seven storied outer Gopuram with 11 kalasas was dated to be constructed around 14-15th century. 

This Gopuram is enriched with the handwork depicting the scenes from Baghavata, Ramayana and Sri Venketeswara swami's life.

Lord Govindarajar was given the duty of counting the donations at the hill temple, and was so tired that He lay down to sleep with His head on the measure He used to count the earnings! This is the posture in which we see Him in the sannidhi. 

Interestingly, the temple is one of the few where we see the Lord in more than one posture. In an adjoining sannidhi, He is as Lord Parthasarathy – the divine charioteer, in seated position with His wives by His side. Further along in a smaller sannidhi, He is as  Lord Kalyana Venkatramana Swamy in standing posture. So, this temple has idols of the Lord in all the 3 postures!