Sri Venugopalaswami Temple is situated in Karvetinagaram (near Puttur), 48 km from Tirupati.
The main deity of the temple is Sri Venugopalaswami with His consorts – Sri Rukmini Ammavaru and Sri Satyabhama Ammavaru. The temple timings are 0600 to 1100 hrs and 1600 to 2000 hrs every day.
There is a sub-temple with the idol Sri Sita Ramula Pattabhishekam.
The important festivals conducted in the temple every year are:
Annual Brahmotsavam
Utlotsavam
Vaikuntha Ekadasi (Mukkoti Ekadasi)
Ugadi Asthanam
Gokulashtami
Teppotsavam (Float Festival)
Sankranti Utsavam
Sri Venu Gopalaswamy Vari Temple is a historic and highly revered Hindu temple located in Karvetinagaram in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, approximately 58 km from Tirupati. It is the only notable temple in the Tirupati vicinity dedicated primarily to the childhood form of Lord Krishna.
Here are the key details about the temple’s history, architecture, and significance:
The Deities
The main shrine features a beautifully sculpted monolithic idol of Lord Krishna as Venugopala Swamy. He is depicted in a charming, eternally youthful form, holding a flute and standing in front of a cow, with his favorite pot of butter resting at his feet. Uniquely, he is flanked by his two divine consorts, Goddess Rukmini and Goddess Satyabhama.
The temple complex also houses several important sub-shrines dedicated to Lord Rama (with Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman), Parthasarathy, Renuka Parameshwari, and Avanakshamma.
History and Administration
The temple was constructed in the 14th/15th century by King Venkataperumal of the Venkataraja dynasty, reflecting classic South Indian Dravidian architecture with beautifully sculpted gopurams and pillared mandapams. While it was historically maintained by the local Narayanavanam rulers, the temple was taken over by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) in 2007, meaning it shares the same high administrative and ritual standards as the main Tirumala temples.
Cultural Significance
The temple holds a special place in regional arts and literature. In the early 18th century, the renowned Telugu poet and singer Sarangapani dedicated his life to the deity here. He composed over 200 padams (traditional devotional songs) in praise of Karvetinagaram’s Sri Venugopala Swamy, many of which survive in print today and are still revered in traditional South Indian music.
Features & Festivals
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Temple Tank: The sacred pond adjacent to the temple is known as the Skanda Pushkarini.
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Festivals: Because it is a Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Krishna, it grandly celebrates Krishna Janmashtami (Gokulashtami) and Utlotsavam. It also hosts an Annual Brahmotsavam (typically in May/June), Vaikuntha Ekadasi, Ugadi, and a Teppotsavam (float festival).
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Timings: Like many TTD-run temples, it follows a strict ritual schedule based on the Vaikanasa Agama, generally opening from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and again from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.