Shri Venkataramana Swamy Temple, also known as Bangaru Tirupati, is located at Guttahalli, Karnataka. This sacred temple, dedicated to Lord Balaji (Lord Venkateswara and, is revered as one of the 108 Tirupathis in India.
Here, Lord Venkateshwara is believed to have
manifested as a self-manifested deity (Swayambhu or Udbhava Murti) to
grant liberation (moksha) to Sage Bhrigu. According to the Venkatachala
Mahatme, Sage Bhrigu once set out to test the Trimurtis (Brahma, Vishnu,
and Shiva):
- First,
he went to Brahma Loka, where he saw Brahma absorbed in
conversation with Saraswati and, feeling ignored, cursed Brahma saying he
would not be worshipped in the world.
- Then
he proceeded to Kailasa, where he saw Lord Shiva with
Parvati, and cursed him to be worshipped only in the Lingam form.
- Finally,
he went to Vaikuntha, where he found Lord Vishnu resting in yoga-nidra
on Adishesha, with Lakshmi Devi by his side. Enraged, Sage
Bhrigu kicked the Lord’s chest (the abode of Lakshmi).
Despite this, Lord Vishnu, with immense patience,
gently seated the sage on Adishesha, served his feet, and removed the eye of
ego from Bhrigu's foot. Realizing his grave mistake, Bhrigu repented and prayed
for forgiveness and salvation.
Lord Vishnu, in turn, instructed Bhrigu to perform penance
on Earth and suggested the Sheshachala hill (now Bangaru Giri) as the
location. He assured him that in Kali Yuga, He would appear as Srinivasa
and grant him salvation through the divine eye of knowledge.
Thus, Sage Bhrigu did penance at this hill, and in Kali Yuga, Lord Srinivasa appeared and granted him moksha. This is why this temple is still popularly known for "Bhrigu Netra Darshana" — the special way in which the sage saw the Lord, and likewise, devotees too experience the same vision.
Why It's Called Bangaru Tirupati:
As this temple is located in the gold-rich region of Kolar, it earned the name Bangaru Tirupati or Bangaru Giri Nivasa (Golden Tirupati or Golden Hill Abode).
Additional Temples Nearby:
-
Padmavati Temple: Since Lord Venkateshwara manifested here alone, Goddess Padmavati has been enshrined separately on another nearby hill.
-
Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple: At the foot of the hill, near the sacred pond (Pushkarini/Kalyani), Lord Varaha (Vishnu's boar incarnation) with Bhudevi gives the first darshan to devotees.
There are also temples for:
-
Veeranjaneya (temple guardian),
-
Ganapati, Navagrahas (nine planets), Nagadevatas (serpent deities), Garuda, and Vishwaksena.