Sri Venkaiah Swamy, Golagamudi : Complete Details

Om Narayana, Adi Narayana

The mantra above was frequently recited by Bhagavan Sri Venkaiah Swamy, who plays a similar role to Sai Baba in the lives of various devotees in Andhra Pradesh. The sacred land of Golagamudi where the 11 acres of Sri Venkaiah Swamy temple is equal to 5 acres land of Kashi. This great spiritual saint has transformed the lives of the spiritually lost, needy, people treated inferior by society, and folks struggling with life problems. Read about the sacred journey of this miraculous temple of Bhagavan Sri Venkaiah Swamy in Golagamudi, Nellore.

Who is Sri Venkaiah Swamy? Miracles, Teachings & Life

Sri Venkaiah Swamy is a hermit form of Sri Dattatreya Swamy (God with embodiment of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) in Kaliyuga. Born as Avadhuta or Sadhguru, Sri Venkaiah Swamy has relieved people from problems, and world possessions, cured ailments and taught the importance of devotion to the Supreme Lord. Like Shirdi Ke Sai Baba, Venkaiah Swamy has similarly transformed the life of his believers and resided in Golagamudi in the Venkatachalam Mandal of Nellore district(7 km), Andhra Pradesh as his place of abode. He had rescued and saved many humans including other living creatures like cattle, birds, etc. who came to his shelter for help. Since childhood, Venkaiah Swamy was a lonely wanderlust, indulging in Sadhanas, and making accurate predictions. However, at an early age people considered him a lunatic but the series of miracles changed the mindsets of the people who are now his worshippers. 

His Teachings

• Feed the hungry, not blenching.
• To fulfil your desire, come here(Golagamudi) with full faith.
• Take for granted that Venkaiah is in every creature.
• If you leave him, he will not leave you.
• He will respond as per one’s faith.
• He will pick his sheep, even in the herd of thousands.
• Equal love for all will bring you close to God. (no discrimination in caste, religion, race, rich or poor)
• I am responsible for all who give a small portion of food in my name.
• There is no Tantra or Mantra, go ahead with Vichara.
• There is no great if monk sticks to dharma but great if householders do.
• Stick to dharma even if lending money for interest.
• Practice nobility, simplicity and service to Sadguru.
• Stealing a quarter incurs a loss of 10 rupees.z
• If you crave a profit share, we should also share the sin.
• It is better to leave rather than ask others to leave.

Birth of Venkaiah Swamy and Early Life

Venkaiah Swamy was born around 1880 to 1890 in the small village of Negulavellatur, Nellore district, in Andhra Pradesh. Born to devout couple, Sri Penchalaiah and Smt. Sompalli Pitchamma has 2 younger brothers and a sister in his family (presently no one is alive). During childhood, Venkaiah faced criticism and was called a lunatic for his strange behaviour. However, people were surprised by his predictions, which used to be true. He used to stand for truth and oppose the wrong acts. Once a beggar came for alms; however, her mother lied that there was no grain in the house. Venkaiah, on seeing this, asked the beggar to come after some time for alms. At the age of five, he was fond of loneliness and used to stay away from his friends by telling them that he had committed theft and the police would arrest him along with them. He would often run from home to the forest for meditation, spending time alone collecting fruits, admiring nature, etc. The omnipresent Venkaiah used to visit her sister Mangamma and have meals. One day, when he was 16, he came to take his sister to her native home, Rajapadmapuram; she thought this mad boy would leave him alone. Briskly, Venkaiah replied, “Oh sister! I am not mad to leave you in the middle of the way.” When Mangamma’s son was very ill, he put his hand on the head of the boy, saying the boy was alright. The boy fully recovered without medicine. Mangamma died in the year 1989.

Some people call him mad when Venkaiah says random wordings. When Venkaiah was suffering from a high fever at the age of 20, after a few days he behaved like a hallucinated person. Fasting was the only solution to the fever, so he ate groundnut peas and lay on the bed. One day he abruptly said to his parents,” Where will you live when our house is auctioned?” They thought they were not in debt; how could the house be auctioned and by whom? They thought it might be because of fever and went to a tantric and practised vague treatments. After a few weeks, he ran on the streets of the village all day, saying Chakli Yogam (Chakli: Washerman or Dhobi and Yogam: Unification), Mangala Yogam (Mangala: Barber), and Zakkala Yogam (Zakkala: Harijans), Dubuduck! Dubuduck!. These were considered lower caste and untouchable; however, Swamy used to take feeds from them, displaying his mindset of equality. Swamy was a godsent guardian who showed mercy on every being around him. One day he saw a cow eating waste paper. His heart melted, and he gave the grass he was carrying for home.

He ran from home without food and water for 3 days in isolation. He practised yog sadhanas and sometimes hung his head downwards, legs on the branches over a well. If he fell into a well, he swam, came out, and practised the same yog sadhana. His mother would send food through a coolie; however, he followed him to the home where his mother kept new clothes ready, but he again ran to the woods. One day he didn’t return, and his parents searched for him everywhere. After a few years he returned home, but this time not as mad as Venkaiah, but as Sri Venkaiah Swamy, the messiah. 

Miracles of Venkaiah Swamy

• When Venkaiah returned home as the Avadhuta Sri Venkaiah Swamy, he used to treat diseases that can’t be cured even cancer. 
• His miracles and mysterious wordings have saved the lives of many devotees and put them on the path of Dharma.
• He used to give cryptic messages that held solutions for his followers who were in trouble or needed guidance.
• Sri Venkaiah Swamy used to warn about calamities and mishappenings.
• In the epidemic of Cholera and Smallpox, Sri Venkaiah Swamy’s wordings and auspicious incense thread protected the villagers of Golagamudi.
• Swamy built a Sand Dam across Pennar River and made a canal with twigs to make the water flow in the opposite direction for the needy, impossible for any human. In this mission, he asked his devotees to come and assist in the name of Divine work. He fed them food in return.
• At the age of 80, his legs got paralysed devotees forced him to take medicine but he abruptly refused saying ‘if he took the medicine, he had to incarnate again.’

Life of Venkaiah Swamy as Hermit and Dhuni

Venkaiah Swamy once said, “ He was not born as a child to Pichamma and Penchalaiah as like other humans but for a divine purpose.” He used to stay in a small hut on the pinnacles of Ankalammabotu(Rajapalem). Venkaiah lived a simple life with torn, dusty clothes, rope bits on his head, a small pot in one and fire on a rope. Venkaiah Swamy used to carry fire along with him. He lived on the Bhiksha from the houses he had chosen from alms. He used to give his thumb impression as a mark of grace to his followers. Sri Venkaiah Swamy used to burn an eternal holy Gundam or dhuni whose ashes were equally auspicious. He used to wander in the jungles of Somasila and the banks of River Pennar where he built a Sand Dam. Swamy used to wander from village to village and take shelter in abandoned temples or places. He drank water from his hands, not from a mug or glass. Venkaiah used to burn an oil lamp and kept a Yekatara, a string instrument, which he played all night. Then he stayed in Sivalayam at Koti Theertham where he chanted in the rhythm of “OM Narayana, Adi Narayana”.

Mahasamadhi 

Sri Venkaiah Swamy predicted his date of Mahasamadhi in advance, on 24 August 1982. During the Telugu year, DATU, Venkaiah was 13 years, old this estimates his age from his year of Mahasamadhi was more than 100 years old. 

Resemblance with Shirdi’s Sai

• Sri Venkaiah Swamy is similar to Shirdi Ke Sai Baba as both were hermits and followed the tradition of Bhiksha.
• Through Bhiksha they took the pains and sufferings of their devotees. 
• They used to talk in some puzzling way holding the mystics of people’s lives around them.
•  Venkaiah Swamy used to say he had a brother in the North who used to burn Dhuni like him. This auspicious fire is still burning in their main temples. 
• They used to cure diseases of the people as medical facilities were not that advanced and resolved people’s problems through miraculous ways.
• Both Sai Baba and Venkaiah Swamy have predicted their date of Mahasamadhi and ordered the construction of the temples before abode.
• The Shirdi Samadhi Mandir and Sri Venkaiah Swamy Temple give cotton thread and dhuni as Prasad to devotees for protection.

How to Reach Sri Venkaiah Swamy Temple, The Ideal Time to Visit, Timings and Rituals

Reach By Road

Reach the Nellore city of Andhra Pradesh which is well-connected with major cities of India. APSRTC buses and local buses are available from Nellore to Golagamudi(Nellore district). Cabs and rental vehicles for a road trip to the Temple.

Reach By Train

The Nellore Railway Station and Vedayapalem Railhead are nearest to major cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, etc.   

From the nearby locations in Andhra Pradesh, Venkatachalam Railway Station (8.3 km) is accessible.

Reach By Flight

Tirupati Airport(112.0 km) and Madras Airport(177.9 km) are Nearest to Venkaiah Swamy Temple.

When to Visit Sri Venkaiah Swamy

You can visit Sri Venkaiah Swamy Temple. The weather is cool, humid and calm, even in winter. Climate conditions are normal and comfortable to seek the darshan of Avadhuta or Sadguru. 

From 22 August to 24 August, every year, Venkaiah Swamy Aradhana is celebrated by the devotees and many people visit to seek blessings from Bhagavan Sri Venkaiah Swamy.

Temple Timings and Rituals of Sri Venkaiah Swamy Temple

Rituals/Event	Timings
Temple Opening from Monday to Friday, including Sunday	6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Temple Opening on Saturday	5 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Kakad Aarti	8.30 a.m.
Vuyyula Sewa on Saturday (placing Venkaiah Swamy on swing)	7.30 p.m.
Pallavi Sewa on Saturday(Carrying Venkaiah Swamy on a doli around the Samadhi)	8.30 p.m.
Gho Pooja	3.30 a.m.
Suprabhatha Sewa	4.00 a.m.
Abhishekam	4.30 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Alankaram	5 a.m.
Morning Puja	5.30 a.m. to 6.30 a.m.
Saswatha Puja	11 a.m. – 12 noon
Evening Puja	6.30 p.m. – 7.30 p.m.
Ekantha Sewa (except Thursday and Saturday)	8.30 p.m. – 9.00 p.m.
Temple Closing Time	10 p.m. on all days except Saturday 11 p.m.

 

Participate in: 

• Pallavi Sewa of Bhagwan Venkaiah Swamy in ethnic dresses. Men have to wear a Pancha while women in Sarees.
• Only two people are allowed in the ritual.
• Cost of Participation: Rs. 250/- per person
• Held on Thursdays and Saturdays.
• Temple will give: 2 swamy vari ladoos, one pulihora, Swami vari raksha, Prasadam, veebhudi, coconut pieces, and flowers as a blessing from Venkaiah Swamy.

There are no fees for regular darshan in Sri Venkaiah Temple, however, there are paid services for special pujas, rituals and special offerings by devotees.

Puja or Ritual	Cost
Pallavi Sewa(Thursday and Saturday only)	Rs. 250/-
Abhishekam (except Saturday)	Rs. 250/-
Dhuni Pooja	Rs. 500/-
Archana (except Thursday and Saturday)	Rs. 10/-
Uyyalla Sewa(Thursday and Saturday only)	Rs. 250/-
Aksharabhyasam Pooja	Rs. 500/-
Vahana Puja (2 & 3 wheelers)	Rs. 50 & more
Vahana Puja (4 wheelers)	Rs. 100 & more
Saswatha Puja	Rs. 1116/-
Samuhik Satyanarayana Vratam	Rs. 101/-
Lakshmi Pujan	Rs. 111 to 201
Annaprasana	Rs. 101 to 151
Namkaran Mahotsavam	Rs. 101 to 151

 

However, during festivals the special puja tickets are cancelled; only regular Darshan is allowed.

Hotels and Attractions Near Sri Venkaiah Swamy Temple

Accommodations 

Accommodations	Features	Price
VR Grand Inn	Well-maintained rooms, room options, best in service	Rs. 1600-2000
Bhagavan Sri Venkaiah Swamy Ashram	Room options AC/Non-AC, clean rooms, 24-hour front desk	Rs. 150-600
OVS Nivasam	Close to Temple, comfortable stay, food and self-cooking facilities	Rs. 900-1200
Nandas Grand Nellore	Clean rooms, good services, free breakfast	Rs. 2000
Bhanu Guest Inn	Good service, Friendly Staff, all amenities	Rs. 1500-1800

 

Places to Visit Nearby

• Visit Dhuni and Samadhi Mandir of Sri Venkaiah Swamy 
• Vinayaka Swamy Temple 
• Sri Siva Datta Dhyan Kutir
• Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple 
• Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple 
• Chenchamma Temple 
• Sri Rama Devalayam
• Sri Veera Anjaneya Swami Temple
• Srivari Padalu
• Thumburu Theertham
• Sri Vontimitta Kodanda Ramanilayam 
• Penchalakona
• Nandalur
• Pulicat Lake
• Natural Arch(Shilathoraman)
• Venkatagiri
• Tirupati

Points to Remember 

• Wear decent clothes like traditional attire or simple clothes while visiting the temple. 
• Be humble and polite when speaking to locals.
• Follow traditions and respect the local culture.
• Don’t click photos in the temple sanctum, if not allowed and follow temple rules.
• Keep some cash in case epay modes might not be available.
• Don’t litter the surroundings.

FAQs

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