Govindaraja Swamy is supposed to be the elder brother of Lord Venkateswara (Tirupati Balaji Perumal), a form of Lord Vishnu. He is also the deity in a temple at Tirupati, Sri Govindaraja Swamy Temple, where the Lord appears in a cheerful sleeping posture.
According to legend, it is believed that he only maintained the huge wealth from Kubera to fund the wedding of Sri Venkateswara Swamy and Padmavathi Ammavaru. The temple is sanctified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, a sacred Vaishnavite Text, and it is one of the 108 Divya Desam dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is worshipped as Govindaraja Perumal and his beautiful consort is worshipped as Ma Pundarikavalli Thayar.
It is also believed that Lord Govindaraja Swamy is a form of Lord Krishna, who has taken the avatar even before the avatar of Lord Venkateswara, and hence Lord Krishna is to be considered as the elder brother of Lord Venkateswara. Lord Krishna is also called as Govinda, and our Govindaraja Swamy is also fondly called as Govinda. Devotees in the Tirumala Temple used to raise their high pitch voice by the reciting the word, GOVINDA, GOVINDA.
Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Govindaraja, who is considered to be the elder brother of Lord Venkateswara, and he is worshipped similar to Lord Ventakeswara by the devotees, and this marvellous temple is situated in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. The temple was built during 11th century AD and it was consecrated by the great Vaishnavite Saint Sri Ramanujacharya.
The temple is one of the biggest Temple in Tirupati, and it is considered as the most popular temple similar to Sri Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala. At present this wonderful Govindaraja Temple is being administered by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
As per customary practice, whoever intends to visit Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala, must have to visit and worship Lord Govindaraja also at his temple. While Lord Venkateswara is worshipped as the divine father by his devotees, Lord Govindaraja is worshipped as the divine mother, since he carefully listens to the problems of his devotees and sort out it instantly. He is also fondly called by his devotees as M.G.R, which means Mother Govinda Raja.
“JAI SRI GOVINDARAJA MAHAPRABHU KI JAI”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR