Birla Mandir: God’s Marble Home

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The approach to the temple is through a lane opposite the Reserve Bank, and once you trek this small patch, you reach the foot and both sides of a meandering stairway flanked by ornate banisters. On the way are several marble statues representing the Hindu pantheon. The temple manifests a blend of South Indian, Rajasthani and Utkal temple architectures. Before you reach the sanctum, several structures beginning with the baroque canopies at the foot of the stairway, greet you. The main temple is entered through the four-tiered rajagopuram built in the garudalaya style of South Indian temples. Beyond the rajagopuram swings into presence the great Dilwara temple-style gallery dwarfing nearly every other structure by its intricately carved detail.

The 11-feet tall statue of Lord Venkateswara in the sanctum sanctorum is sculpted from black granite, specially mined and brought from Phirangipuram in Guntur district. This is very different from the white marble statues that one sees in other temples built by the Birlas. Over the statue is a lotus-shaped canopy done in marble again. The tower of the main temple called the Jagadananda vimanam has a close resemblance to the architecture of the Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneswar. Overlooking the presiding deity is the brass dhwaja stambham soaring to a height of 42 feet. In the adjoining mukhamandapam are several sculptures in marble depicting scenes from the Hindu mythology, the Ramayana and Mahabharatha in particular. The temple towers for the Lord’s two consorts Padmavathi and Andal are built in South Indian style, unlike the Utkal architecture marking the main temple.