After
passing through the Padi Kavali Maha Dvara, you will find
yourself in an open mandapam called the Krishna
Deva Raya Mandapam or Pratima Mandapam.
This mandapam gets its
name from the pratimas or bronze portrait icons
of the Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya and his
two consorts, Tirumaladevi to his left, and Chinnadevi
to his right. All three icons face the main shrine,
with their hands joined in supplication.
In the southern wing of the Mandapam,
is a statue of Venkatapathi Raya of the Aravidu dynasty,
who ruled over Chandragiri around 1570 AD. To its side
are stone statues of Achyutha Raya, who succeeded Krishna
Deva Raya to the throne, and his wife Varadajiamma.
This Mandapam is believed to be
built in later Vijayanagara times (early half of the
16th century). This Mandapam is full of exquisitely
beautiful pictures of the Vijayanagara period like,
Rama breaking the bow, Rama Pattabhishekamand
Krishna Leela.
Sri Vaishnava symbols or the Urdhvapundras
flanked by a conch and disc are carved at the top of
the two main pillars of the Mandapam.
