What to Do at Sri Venakteswara Temple of Austin
This Temple was opened in June, 2014, with the final kumbhabhishekam (opening ceremony) of the
Rajagopuram and Dwajastambham in May, 2017.
Non-Hindus are welcome to visit the Temple when it is open. Please dress appropriately, meaning no
shorts, t-shirts, revealing wear, etc. Please act with respect in the Temple, and if you have questions
about the religion, please ask a priest or at the office.
The Rajagopuram is the 54 foot tower at the east entrance to the Temple. Many devotees will like to
use this entrance. Religious artists from India (shilpis) spent tens of thousands of hours ornamenting
this grand entrance built in traditional South Indian style. The Rajagopuram was constructed of hollow
tile and brick, covered with carefully sculpted concrete. On the Rajagopuram are 64 different sculptures
of various gods and goddesses. At the top are seven gold plated kalasas.
The gold plated Dwajastambham (flagpole) sits directly in front of the entrance to Sri Venkateswara
Temple. It is beautifully ornamented. Garuda stands facing Lord Venkateswara.
Footwash. On the west side of the Navagraha Building, to the right as you enter the courtyard through
the Rajagopuram, there is a footwash for those who like to wash their hands and feet before entering
the temple. Restrooms are out through the nearby north gate, adjacent to the Cart Barn, which houses
the Temple chariot.
The Navagraha Building sits in the courtyard outside the Sri Venkateswara Temple. Many devotees go
to this building first. They pay respect to the idol of Ganapati with Siddhi and Buddhi, before entering
the Sri Venkateswara Temple. They may also visit the Navagraha building last, to pay respects to the
Navagrahas here.
Also in this building are idols of Subramanya with Valli and Devasena, and Lord Ayyappa. Both idols are
worshipped regularly by many devotees, with abhishekam every week, and on special occasions.
The Sri Venkateswara Temple holds idols of Durga Devi, Hanuman, Padmavati, Lord Venkateswara, Sri
Lingeswara Swamy, Parvati, Ram Pariwar, and Radha-Krishna. Many utsa vigrahas are here also. The
main idols are carefully housed in elaborately decorated shrines, all designed in accordance with the
Agama Sastras by ninth generation staphatis Silpakala Nilayam in Chennai. The shrines were
constructed over many months by shilpis from Chennai. The granite idols were carved near Chennai,
Tamil Nadu in Mahaballipuram, and the marble idols in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
The main shrine for Lord Venkateswara was carved in Mahaballipuram, cut into 1-3 ton pieces, and
shipped in containers to Austin, where a team of four shilpis reconstructed it over a four month period
in 2014. Its shipping weight was 250 tons. It is felt that a stone temple is most auspicious, so extra
funds were spent on the main shrine.
DESCRIPTION OF EACH IDOL????
Visitors to the Temple often perform archana to Lord Venkateswara. The priest will offer fruit and
coconut while chanting the 108 names of Lord Venkateswara. The priest will take the family names of
those sponsoring the archana first. Archana can also be performed for any of the other gods in the
Temple. After purchasing an archana basket at the main desk, take the coconut in the basket and break
it after exiting at the side door on the North side of the building near the Shiva fountain. Break the
coconut on the stone outside this north door.
There are many regular as well as special events happening at the Sri Venkateswara Temple each week
and month. The Temple has a weekly e-newsletter to inform devotees of special events. Devotees and
visitors will often try and time their visits with regular weekly and monthly events:
Maha Mangala Aarati each evening in SVT (Sri Venkateswara Temple) at 7:30 pm.
ABHISHEKAMS – WEEKLY SCHEDULE:
Friday: Padmavati (Mahalakshmi) at 7:00 pm, Parvati at 7:30 pm.
Saturday: Lord Venkateswara, 9:00 am. Hanuman on 1st and 3rd Saturdays, at 7:00 pm. Suprabhatam
at 8:45 am. Shani Puja at 1 p.m. at Baba Temple.
Sunday: Ganapati, 10:30 am in front of Baba Temple, 7:00 pm in Navagraha Building-SVT;
Ganesha/Ayyappa 7:00 pm in Navagraha Building
Monday: Lord Shiva at 7:00 pm
Tuesday: Lord Subramanya at 7:00 pm
Wednesday: 1st and 3rd Wednesday, Ram Pariwar
Wednesday: 2nd and 4th Wednesday, Radha Krishna
Thursday: Sai Baba and Dattatreya: 8:30 am
Thursday: Navagraha Puja and abhishekam: 11:00 am in the Navagraha Building
Hanuman Chalisa Parayana: Hanuman Chalisa chanting every Tuesday at 6:45 pm; on third Saturday of
each month 108 Hanuman Chalisa parayana from 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm.
Sahasra Deepa Kala Archana: Performed on the fourth Saturday night each month, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm,
with music and/or dance. Devotees light 1000 oil lamps for Lord Venkateswara. All are welcome to
participate, including families.
Major festivals at the Sri Venkateswara Temple include Mahashivaratri, Ram Navami, Brahmotsavam,
Krishna Janmastami, Ganapati Navaratri, and Fall Navaratri. Many other smaller festivals are also held
each year.A special Ganesh abhishekam for Sankata Hara Chaturthi is held monthly, special Rudra abhishekam is performed twice a month on pradosham. Samuhika (group) Satyanarayana Puja is held monthly, and Sri Chakra Navavarna Archana is performed on the 16 inch rose quartz MERU in the Durga shrine on the full moon each month. Sign up for the e-newsletter at the Temple office to be notified of upcoming events.