Adjoining
the Ranga Mandapam on the western side, and facing the
Dhvajasthambha Mandapam is a spacious complex of pavilions
known as the Tirumala Raya Mandapam or Anna Unjal Mandapam.
It consists of two different levels,
the front at a lower level and the rear at a higher.
The southern or inner portion of this Mandapam was constructed
by Saluva Narasimha in 1473 AD to celebrate a festival
for Sri Venkateswara called Anna Unjal Tirunal. This
structure was extended to its present size by Araviti
Bukkaraya Ramaraja, Sriranga Raja and Tirumala Raja.
It is in this Mandapam, that the
utsava murthi Malayappan, holds His annual
darbar or Asthanam during the hoisting of the
Garudadhwaja on Dhwajastambham to mark the commencement
of Brahmotsavam. Incidentally, the prasadam
distributed on this occasion is still called Tirumalarayan
Pongal.
The Mandapam has a typical complex
of pillars in the Vijayanagara style, with a central
pillar surrounded by smaller pillars, some of which
emit musical notes when struck with a stone. The main
pillars have rearing horses with warriors mounted on
them. Some of the best sculptures of the temple are
found in bold relief in the Mandapam. The bronze statues
of Todermallu, his mother Matha Mohana Devi and wife
Pitha Bibi, are kept in a corner of the Mandapam.
