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| Jama Masjid |
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Significance: This is
a modern temple (consecrated in 1976) built of white
marble on top of a hill, dominating the skyline
of Hyderabad. The Birlas (industrialists who have
also built several temples in India in this century)
built this temple. The presiding deity here is Venkateswara
(Vishnu). Architecture: This temple displays a mixture
of architectural styles. |
A Rajagopuram built in the South Indian style greets
the visitors. The tower over the main shrine of Venkateswara
called the Jagadananda vimanam is built in the Orissan
style while the towers over the shrines of the consorts
are built in the South Indian style. The brass flagstaff
rises to a height of 42 feet.
The granite image of the presiding deity is about 11
feet tall and a carved lotus forms an umbrella for this
image. There are several carvings in marble, in the
adjoining mukha mandapam - depicting scenes from Indian
mythology. The temple is floodlit at nights.
Other shrines in the temple:The consorts of Venkateswara
Padmavathi and Andal are housed in separate shrines.
Worship and festivals: Although modern in construction
worship is carried out as per the traditional Agama
rules, the Pancharatra Agama in particular.
The temple was built in 1622 by Vir Singh Deo, and renovated
by Prithvi Singh in 1793. Since 1938, funds for further
renovations and support have come from the Birla family.
The Birla family is one of the foremost business houses
in India. Their businesses vary from petrochemicals and
textiles to automobiles and Infocomm. The founder of the
Birla Group was Baldeo Das Birla, a member of the successful
Marwari community from the westerly state of Rajasthan.
He moved to Calcutta to set up the family business during
the late nineteenth century, and with it established close
ties to the freedom movement of the time. The Birla's
are known for their work and support of the nation during
the freedom struggle, and the family were close friends
of Mahatma Gandhi. Even today, the Birla name is synonymous
with wealth, dignity and power in India, just as it was
a hundred years ago.
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