Sri Padmavathi Devi Temple is located at
Tiruchanoor, which is also known as Alamelumangapuram, in
Chittoor District. It is about 5 km from
Tirupati. Sri Padmavathi Devi is the consort of Lord Sri Venkateshwara (
Lord Vishnu). People believe that a visit to Tirupati is fruitful only after visiting the Sri Padmavathi Devi temple.
Legend says that, once, Bhrigu Maharishi insulted Lord Vishnu by kicking him on the chest. Although the Lord Vishnu was not agitated, Sri Maha Lakshmi (the Lord's consort) was angered and walked out. She reached Patala Loka and heard a heavenly voice, which uttered that a pushkarini (sacred water tank) was dug on the banks of the
Swarnamukhi River. There she sank herself in penance for 12 years and in the 13th year Goddess Maha Lakshmi emerged from a golden lotus as Sri Padmavathi.
The temple organizes the marriage festival of Lord Venkateshwara with Padmavathi Devi once in a year. Another main festival is the Brahmotsavam, which is celebrated in November/December. The temple premises also have some sub-temples such as Sri Krishnaswamy Temple, Sri Sundara Rajaswamivari Temple and Sri Suryanarayana Swamivari Temple.
