Krishna Deva Raya Mandapam is seen after entering through the
Padi Kavali Maha Dvara at
Sri Venkateswara Temple in
Tirupati. It is an open mandapam also called the Pratima Mandapam.
It is named so because of the pratimas or bronze portrait icons of the Vijayanagar emperor, Krishna Deva Raya, and his two consorts, Tirumaladevi to his left, and Chinnadevi to his right. The three icons overlook the main shrine, with their hands joined in a prayer form. Built in later Vijayanagar times (early half of the 16th century), this Mandapam has beautiful pictures of the Vijayanagar period such as Lord Ram breaking the bow, Rama Pattabhishekam (the coronation of Lord Ram) and Krishna Leela. The mandapam also has the statues of other rulers, namely, Venkatapathi Raya, who ruled over Chandragiri around 1570 and of Achyutha Raya, who ascended the throne after Krishna Deva Raya. The top of the two main pillars at the mandapam are carved with Sri Vaishnava symbols or the Urdhvapundras, bordered by a conch and disc.
