At Dwaraka Tirumala in the West Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh stands the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, lovingly known as Chinna Tirupati, the little Tirupati — one of the most beloved Vishnu shrines of the Andhra country. Here the Lord Venkateswara is worshipped in a self-manifested form, and the temple is named for the sage Dwaraka, who, tradition holds, discovered the deity after long penance.
Uniquely, the shrine holds both a half-body image, revered as the swayambhu form found by the sage, and a full image installed later, so that devotees may worship the Lord in both. Set on a hill and drawing great crowds, especially at its Brahmotsavams, Dwaraka Tirumala is a cherished seat of Venkateswara in the Godavari delta.
