Ilamkoil: There are lot of mentions on the Ilamkoil. This place is actually a temple, where in olden days, worship is offered to Lord of Tirumala here and utsavamas were held. It is said to have inscriptions Dantivarman onwards. It is mentioned in some articles as inside Padmavati temple. I mistakenly thought that it is some time of a room or palliyarai. While searching in Tiruchanur many people. Archagas/Locals do not know this place. One Man showed me this temple saying that this is the temple, where pujas are held only one day in the year, The temple entrance is covered by a school ground. Since the school was clsoed on 3 days leave, i could not enter the compound. ( could not scale like the playing children)Is this the Ilankovil? I have attched some photographs.
They say ilam koil is the translation of Balalayam.
Bala - ilam, Alayam -Koil. Before Kumbabishegam, the power of idols will be transfered to a picture or a smaller idol. or to a kalasam. This practiseis called Balalayam.
In Tiruchanur, for utsavams, the tirumala lord was worshipped at Balalayam. It seems because of the hardship in going to Tirumala,
Sri Ramanjucharya made arrangements for daily worship at Tirumala, by sending Tirumalai Nambi to tirumala. Hence worship at Balalayam stopped and daily worship started at Tirumala.
In Thirumiyachur, there is another versions that. Appar sang the when the lord was in ilamkoil and hence the worship continued.