Chilkur Balaji Temple

One of the most important pilgrimage in hyderbad is Chilkur Balaji Temple popularly known as visa Balaji

Chilkur Balaji Temple is located at Chilkur in Moinabad mandal in the Rangareddy district, just 30 km off Hyderabad on the Old Bombay Highway(Vikarabad Highway).

This temple is also popularly known as Visa Temple because many devotees come here with the wish of going abroad and get their wishes fructify.

It’s customary to go around the temple (known as Pradakshina) eleven times and pray to god for a specific wish. Once this wish comes true, the recipient has to go again and take 108 Pradakshinas.

This is one of the few temples in India which does not accept monetary donations.

Chilkur Balaji temple is one of the most famous temples in Hyderabad area. The nice concept that is implemented in darshan of the Lord Balaji, is that all the devotees must stand in queue with utmost discipline. When people ask for wish from the god here, they have to do 11 pradakshinas and ask their wish with the witness of Lord Anjaneya. When the wish gets fulfilled, they need to do 108 pradakshinas. The 11 pradakshinas have a significant meaning according to the temple priests. When people wish anything from god, mind has to think about only god and one’s self i.e 11(1-1) signifies that god takes care of everybody and everybody should understand that.

HISTORY

Set in sylvan surroundings, the temple attracts thousands of pilgrims every year and is an ideal place for sequestered retreat and meditation. It enjoyed in the past, great days of pomp and glory.

The temple is one of the oldest in Telangana, having been built during the time of Akkanna and Madanna, the uncles of Bhakta Ramdas. According to tradition, a devotee , Madhav Reddy who used to visit Tirupati every year could not do so on one occasion owing to serious ill-health. Lord Venkateshwara appeared in his dream and said, “I am right here in the jungle nearby. You don’t have to worry.” The devotee at once moved to the place indicated by the Lord in the dream and saw a mole- hill there, which he dug up. Accidentally, the axe struck Lord Balaji’s idol covered by the mole-hill below the chin and on the chest, and surprisingly blood started flowing profusely from the “wounds”, flooding the ground and turning it scarlet. The devotee could not believe his eyes when he saw this. Suddenly he could not believe his ears also when he heard a voice from the air which said,”Flood the mole-hill with cow’s milk. “When the devotee did so, a Swayambhu idol of Lord Balaji accompanied by Sridevi and Bhoodevi(a rare combination) was found, and this idol was installed with the due rites and this temple built for it.

Sri Balaji venkateshwara, the Pratyaksha Daiva in Kaliyuga, is thus available at Chilkur to shower blessings on His devotees who for any reason are unable to go to Tirupati. Many devout worshippers flock to the temple, to receive the blessings of the Lord and his consorts throughout the year particularly during the Poolangi, Annakota and Brahmothsavams

With the earnest desire to revive the former glory and importance of the temple, the idol of Ammavaru was installed in 1963 the year following the Chinese aggression, and when the aggression was unilaterally vacated, Ammavaru was given the name of Rajya Lakshmi, signifying this welcome event. The unique feature of this idol is that lotus flowers are held in three hands and the fourth hand is in such a position towards the lotus feet which signifies the doctrine of Saranagathi.

How to reach

From Mehdipatnum, follow the road to Langar house. At Langar house crossroads, follow straight towards Artillery Center (Towards CBIT / Ocean Park). As you pass Artillery Center (towards your right), fork left and continue ahead on the main road until you pass SHAAZ Engineering College . After passing Shaaz Engineering College, as you go ahead, the road Forks ( Y junction), main road continuing on the left and a road leading right. At this Y – junction, follow the road leading right. Continue on this road, passing the houses, until you come across another fork ( Y – Junction), here take the road forking right and this road will take you to the temple.