Bangaru Vakili / Dwarapalas : Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple at Tirumala is an architectural masterpiece with seven Avaranas (enclosures) and as per the Vaikhanasa Agama along the aspect of the Dhruva Murthu another devas must be and have been installed. Each Avarana is being guarded by a couple of guards. By innate nature some are thought of good, some middling and a few bad. However Hindus believe that all these spirits play their part within the universe as much we do and that due to this fact they shouldn’t be ignored.
As Lord Venkateswara is the almighty of whole cosmos, all of the creatures within the universe shares equal significance.
Pradhamavarna: The dwarapalas for this Avarana are Kishkinda and Teertha. The devas situated in the cardinal points of (East – South – West – North) are Vyuha Avataras, Purusha Satya, Achyuta, Aniruddha, Kapila, Yagna, Narayana and Punyamurthi.
Dvitiyavarna: The divine guards for this enclosure are Vakratunda and Nagaraja. The devas included in this avara are Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Trivikrama, Subhadra, Epsitatma, Sarvodwaha, Sarvavidyeshwara, Hayatmaka, Ramadeva, Sarva, Subhavaha, Samvaha, Suvaha, Mitra, Atri, Siva, Sanakasanandanadulu, Navagrahas, Surya-Chandra.
Tritiyavarana: Dwarapalakas of this avarana are Shankanidhi and Padmanidhi. The deities installed in this avarana as per agamas are Astadikpalakas, Durga Devi, Ganga, Saraswathi, Yamuna, Sindhu, Narmada, Sri, Jyesta, Sura, Sundari, Swaha, Swadha, Samhladini, Sinivali and Raka. Most of the deities present in the Avarana are female deities.
Chaturdavarana: The guards for this enclosure are Tuhina and Balindu. Chaturvedas are located in the four cardinal points. Apart from this avarana devas including Hirini, Agni, Toya, Vayu, Ganishta, Vishnuvu, Kasyapa, Guha, Panktisa, Pavitra, Pavana, Takshaka, Siva Murthis occupy the palce.
Panchamavarana: The Dwarapalas are Khadga and Sharanaga. Kuhu, Anumati, Saptamatrikas, Apasarasas, Saptarohinis, Vatsaras, Panchapranas, Marut, Saradrutu, Ekadasarudras, Dwadasdityas, Gandharvas, Munis, Aswinis, Vasuvus, Vidyadharas take position here.
Sastamavarana: The Dwarapalas are Sankhachuli and Chakrachuli. Tumburu, Narada, Sadrutus, Mudgala, Havisa, Jambavan, Asura, Kinnera, Midhuna, Prahadlada, Madana, Vipa, Vyajini, Kamini, Chandrabha, Sundara, Mayadeva reside here.
Sapthamavarana: The Dwarapalakas of Seventh Enclosure are Chanda and Prachanda. The deities of this avarana are Brahma, Aryama, Dandadhara, Pasabritha, Kubera, Savitara, Savitru, Indra, Indraaja, Rudra, Rudraaja, Aapa, Aapatsa and more deities in the four cardinal points of Avarana.
Ganas: The devas who face inwards and located in 2nd, 3rd and 4th Avaranas will have a definite status while those located in 5th to 7th avaranas are of a mixed composition collectively known as Ganas or congregation of Spirits. They are further classified as Uttama, Madhyama and Adhama Ganas as per their nature.
Uttama Ganas: Adityas, Vasudevas, Rudras, Sadhyas, Maruts, Visvedevas, Pitris, Matris, Grihadevatas, Angiras, Asvini Devas, Stree Devas, Lokesas, Vastudevas, Nakshatras, Parshadas, Tatvapatis.
Madhyama Ganas: Siddhas, Rishis, Nagas, Asuras, Rakshasas, Yakshas, Vidyadharas, Surabheyas, Guhyakas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, Prajapatis, Martyas and Rohinis.
Adhama Ganas: Bhutas, Pretas, Psachas, Kushmandas, Pramathas, Skandas, Balagrahas, Taitalas, Bhairavas Kinneras, Vetalas, Apasmaras, Yoginis, Dhakinis, Shakinis, Chankas, Mohinis and Jhaganis.
Outside the Prakaram walls and in front of Mukhadwaram, Bali offerings for all the unnamed spirits those of including under world will be offered on the Mahat Peetham as everything and every creature is equal in Lord’s creation. “Sarvan Devan Samarchayet”.
