Ananda Nilayam

The glittering gold plated gopuram of the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is called Ananda Nilayam (abode of Happiness). According to Vaishnava philosophy, gopurams of the sanctum sanctorum are named:
* Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala: Ananda Nilayam
* Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam), Srirangam: "Pranavaakaara Vimanam" (after its shape like "pranava" - The Sacred "OM")
* Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram: "Punyakoti Vimanam"

Architecture

"Vimana" is the Style of Archealogy that Hindu Temples followed, just like Gothic style followed for Church Spires and distinctly egg shaped domes of Mosques. The Ananda Nilaya Vimanam is a three tiered canopy.cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/09/24/stories/2004092407630400.htm | title=Gold sheets for Ananda Nilayam | publisher=The Hindu | date=2004-09-24 | accessdate=2007-05-01]

Construction

Initial construction

The first mention of "Vimana" is during the renovation work of the temple between the 12^th and 13^th century A.D. when a second wall was constructed around the sanctum sanctorum enclosing the first wall to support the weight of the vimana. The Pallava king Sundara Pandya gifted the gold gilted "Kalasam". Viranarasingaraya, a Pallava allied king performed "thulabhara" (weighing oneself) against gold and the same was used for making the gold plated copper sheets to cover the Vimana.cite book |first=Dr N Ramesan|title=The Tirumala Temple |year=1981 |publisher=Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams|location=Tirumala] This phase of construction is usually agreed as the fourth phase of Tirumala temple construction out of seven.

1950s and '60s renovotion

In the 1950s, it was discovered that the Gold was getting old and besides, parts of the roof inside was caving into the Sanctum Sanctorum. The TTD decided to replace the aging metal and fix the roof also. All the gold was removed and painstakingly, the damaged levels of the roof below were fixed with cement and extra strength metal grouting reinforcement. During this period in mid-1960s, no worship could be performed in the Sanctum Sanctorum and so the "power" of the chief deity was shifted into a temporary idol carved and placed elsewhere in the temple. All the worship was performed in this new "Bala Aalaya" (Child Temple). It took 5 years for the carpenters and builders to get dies of the nooks and crannies of the Roof and finally copper plates were cast into those shapes. Long nails of the 900s AD were removed and replaced with solid cement and metal grouting using 20th century construction techniques. The copper plates were then installed and fixed in place. Fine "Aparanji" (the best quality) gold was chiseled into plates and riveted onto the copper plates.

A grand ceremony of sanctifying the new grand, golden Ananda Nilaya Vimanam took place in 1964 with "Ashta Bandhana Maha Samprokshanam". The ceremony has been repeated ever since once every 12 years to undertake repairs in the temple.cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/25/stories/2006082504210200.htm | title=Tirumala glistens with a `touch' of gold | publisher=The Hindu | date=2006-08-25 | accessdate=2007-05-01]

Recent activities

In 2004, there were discussions of replacing the gold plated copper sheets with sheets of gold itself. No work is known to have started on the reconstruction. In 2006, the sheets were given new polish as part of the "Ashta Bandhana Maha Samprokshanam" ceremony along with repairs to other sub-temples in the complex.

Vimana Venkateswara

Saint Vyasa Teertha, who lived here in 16th century, was said to have attained moksha by steadfastly worshipping and meditating on the little image of Lord Venkateswara on the North-Eastern corner of the Ananda Nilaya Vimanam. That is why special significance is given to the "Vimana Venkateswara". The Vimana Venkateswara now is bedecked in special silver and Gold over the Vimanam. Hundreds of Devotees are always seen praying to the Vimana Venkateswara daily inside the Temple.

References