31st December 2010, it was my birthday. The day started very well and my husband, my parents, my parent’s-in-law, brother’s-in-law, sister-in-law, my nieces, my co-sisters and all my friends wishing me(except my 3 year old son, who was wishing me till the end of last week and was not ready to wish that day…LOL). My husband took me for a nice lunch at Chowka’s,a Rajasthani restaurant in new Thippasndara. The food was amazingly good with dal bahatti and many more mouth watering dishes. As we were having lunch, I suggested that we should visit this place called Chikk thirupathi. I have heard about many a times, but not visited it. We stay by Malleshpalya and my parent’s-in-law stay by Ramamurthy nagar and so we planned to pick up my mum-in-law too. We want to have a good start of the new year too.
My husband was little confused about the route as I told we should take Sarjapura road and he had enquired through his friend that we should take the road through Kolar. So anyhow we enquired a person near my in-law’s place who is well known about the routes. He suggested that we should take the route through Whitefield-ITPL- Hope Farm Circle- straight and down the road about 30 kms is Chikk Thirupati which is actually the shortest route. The roads are very good except for a few pot holes. Actually, it is situated in Mallur Thaluk. But this route would be pretty easy for people living around KR pura.
Another route suggestd may be through St. John’s Hospital- Sarjapura road- Sarjapura town and at about 30 kms is Chikka Thirupati. The total distance may be about 60 kms.
We started about 2.30pm in the afternoon through the Whitefield- ITPL and Hope Farm. There are sign boards, but you need to keep an eye for it. You may ask people around. They may help you out. You can enjoy the country side throughout the ride. If you close your eyes you may lose the vicinity of the temple. There is a small white mantapa just on the main road with a 'Tilak' (the trade mark of Lord Venkateshwara)t and in the road just opposite is the temple.
We reached the temple premises by 3.15pm. The Gopuram was very colourful yet small. You can park your two or four wheelers just outside the temple and you can leave your shoes, sandals just outside the temple in the counter built for just Re.1 a pair. There are vendors who sell flowers and thulsi outside the temple premises. We picked up some Thulsi for just Rs.10. The temple was not crowded and we had a very peaceful and amazing dharshan. If you want you can do pooja over there. It is said that if you are unable to do dharshan in Thirupati, you can come here and do dharshan.
It is said that Agni, the God of fire while in the process of incineration of burning the Khandava vana hurts the God of Serpents, Takshaka. Takshaka gets angry and curses Agni to lose his powers. Agni in turn goes to Lord Krishna who tells him to pray to lord Venkateshwara. So Agni prays to lord Venkateshawara and gets Shapa-vimochana. Becoming happy, he builds this temple. The Lord in this temple is named as Prasanna Venkateshawara and is seen with is two wives Bhoo devi and Sridevi. Another speciality of this temple is that like any other south Indian temples, the jajasthamba is made of brass and you can have dharshan of lord Gaurda near it. To our amazement we were out on the road from the temple at about 4.00pm. If you visit on Saturday afternoons, you can have a meal free in the temple premises as Prashad. We didn’t get that opportunity as we went on a Friday. Any how we had a good dharshan and had a good peace of mind. If you want to eat something, better pack it, as there are no eatouts or hotels close by. You have BMTC buses also available to Chikk Thirupati. Happy Darshan and have a great picnic!!
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