Purva
Tirupati Sri Balaji Temple, located in Betkuchi, Guwahati, spreads this divine
message to all. The Complex, located on two acres of prime land, has a clean
environment. A gentle breeze wafts across the lawns surrounded by blooming
coconut and Ashoka trees, flowers, plantains & bougainvilleas.
The
door of the entrance to the Complex is decorated in ancient style. Ganeshji,
the acclaimed remover of obstacles, graces the entrance of the temple complex.
The Temple of Lord Balaji has a Rajagopuram (70 ft. in height), a Maha
Mandapam, an Ardha Mandapam, and the Sanctorum. Between the main entrance and
the Temple is the Dhwajastambham (Flag pole), which is 60 ft. in height and is
made of a single Sal tree and covered by copper plate with brass coating. As
per tradition, it was installed within a month’s time from the
Kumbhabhishekham.
The
main deity is of Lord Balaji. It is carved out of a single stone weighing 4
tonnes and the features, the smiling face, ornaments carved on the stone with
Sankha (conch) Chakra and Four arms (one Abhya Hastam showering blessings, and
the other on the hip) all add to the solemnity and serenity of the Temple. The
Utsava Murthy comprises of Lord Balaji, his consort, Ubhayee. Nachiars and
Chakrathalwar are carved out of metal. As in Tirupati, Goddess Padmavathi
(Avatar of Mahalakshmi) blesses from an adjacent temple. On the directive of
His Holiness Sri Sankaracharyya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Guwahati being the
seat of Goddess Kamakhya, a temple has been built for Goddess Durga. She has 8
arms, bearing the Sankha, Chakra, knives, bows and arrows. The bow is made of
stone which, when tapped produces a metallic sound. Garuda, the Vahana of Lord
Balaji, has a separate temple. A Yangasala has been built in traditional style
to enable devotees to perform Yagnas of their choice. The Gopurams are
constructed as per the shilpa shastras and are in the South Indian
architectural style. These magnificent Gopurams range from eight feet in the
Ganesh Temple to 70 feet in the Rajagopuram. They are painted white and glisten
when sunlight falls on them. The exquisite wooden doors have been handcrafted
in Chennai. The temple is well illuminated at night.
