Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy
Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy is one of the wealthiest temples in the world. Tirumala is a hilltop at Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. The town is situated atop seven hills, called Yedu Kondalu in Telugu and are considered to represent seven different Hindu gods: Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabhadri, Narayanadri, and Venkatadri. The town of Tirupati is described as Venkateswara Swamy’s residence and is referred to as Kaliyuga Vaikunta. People from various countries come to this place to take lords blessings. More than 100,000 devotees visit this temple. On special days devotees may even wait for 3 days to take lords darshan.
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Legend of Tirumala Temple:
According to the Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy temple scripture, Sage Bhrugu visited Satya Loka which is the abode of Lord Brahma, he was busy praising Lord Vishnu and didn’t recognize the visit of Sage Bhrugu, he felt Lord Brahma was unfit to worship. Later he reached Kailasa which is the abode of Lord Shiva, even though he was busy and didn’t notice his presence.
At last, he visited Vaikunta which is the abode of Lord Vishnu, even though he was busy with Goddess Mahalakshmi. Sage Bhrugu got angry and kicked the chest, which is said to be the place of Mahalakshmi. In the process of cooling the anger of Sage Bhrugu, Lord Vishnu tried to pierce the extra eye which is present in the sole of his foot. This extra eye is believed to represent the sage’s egotism.
With the act of sage, Sri Mahalakshmi was angry with Lord Vishnu and left Vaikunta. Unable to stay in lonely Vaikuntha, the lord came down to earth and was meditating without food and sleep. Unable to his situation, Lord Brahma and Shiva took the form of a cow and its calf to serve. The cow reached the cattle of Chola country.
One day Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy who went to the forest to hunt, chased a wild elephant. At the sight of the elephant, Princess Padmavati and her maids were afraid and started pelting stones. Injured Srinivasa reached Vakula Devi and narrated the whole story. Vakuladevi learned from the maids of Padmavati Devi that even she was pinning for Srinivasa. Both Lord Srinivasa and Padamavathi were ready to get married with the acceptance of their elders. In order to overcome marriage expenses, Lord Srinivasa sought a loan of 11,400,000 gold coins from Lord Kubera. Understanding the commitment of Lord Vishnu towards Goddess Mahalakshmi, she chose to live in his heart forever.
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Famous Temple Activities:
In remembrance of the act, devotees offer donations so that the lord can pay back the whole money along with interest to Lord Kubera. People also offer head tonsures, as when Lord Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy got hurt on his head, a small portion was bald. Unable to see such an attractive face having a mark, Princess Neela Devi offered some of her hair and covered the part.
Unknown facts about lord Venkateswara in Tirumala:
- This is a lock of hair on the head of the idol of Lord Venkateswara. Another myth says that the hair grows nearly by one centimeter each year.
- The idol of the gods is black stone, and it stands said to be always increasing.
- The idol sweats profusely, especially on Thursdays. The sweat is wiped off with silk cloth, which is sacrosanct. The idol is also said to be swayambhu, which means it did not emanate from any human interference. It is said to be self-manifested.
- In this context, the idol is said to be so mighty that it would grant the wishes of the worshippers.
Here are some other interesting facts about Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy:
- Three names under which Tirumala Venkanna swamy is known are Srinivasa, Balaji, and Tirumala.
- He is considered the supreme god of Kali Yuga, or this world age.
- Actually, the lord can be taken as one god of money, success, and luck. It is the richest in the world and the most famous of this category. Millions of people all around this world visit this temple every year to receive some sort of blessing from Lord Venkateswara.
Places to visit in and around the Tirumala Temple:
Tiruchanur Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple is one of the most sacred temples and situated at a distance of 5 kilometers from the famous town of Tirupati. This place is specifically meant for Goddess Padmavathi, who is hugely glorified as the consort of Lord Venkateswara. The temple is famous not only for its religious importance but also for the extensive minute refined carvings, making it a picturesque place. This center of pilgrimage draws devoted people and visitors with its sacred atmosphere and rich heritage.
Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy Temple, situated in a tranquil locality of Srinivasa Mangapuram is, in fact a heavenly abode of peace and tranquility. This holy temple is at an approximate distance of nearly 12 kilometers from the renowned and world-famed city of Tirupati. The other is the temple in which hundreds of thousands of the devoted ones are coming to pay their utmost respect and reverence while paying obeisance to the great Lord Venkateswara, whom many hold in extremely high regard for its profound significance, intricately connected to the divine and sacred marriage between the revered Lord Venkateswara and the stunningly beautiful Goddess Padmavathi. This temple is really thronged with devotees as people come here to seek spiritual relief and also to receive blessings, mainly due to architectural grandeur that is nothing short of perfect besides offering a serene and scintillatingly panoramic view about it.
Sri Govindaraja Swamy Temple is in the very center of Tirupati and was surrounded on all sides by an atmosphere always filled with constant and lively activity. Such a magnificent temple is so believed to be one of the oldest places of worship in this world, attracting thousands of devoted worshippers and dozens of tourists belonging to hundreds of different backgrounds who came here with a zeal to experience its spiritual significance and cultural heritage. The architectural designing of the temple does serve like an outstanding and superb expression of the brilliant and complicated features characterizing the ‘Dravidian’ style of architecture that goes well-known and has also been glorified for grandeur and peculiar artistic expressions. The temple is a confluence of vivid and colourful festivals throughout the year, which creates large crowds around it while making the scintillating and enriching benevolent and uplifting air that surrounds this holy shrine.
Chandragiri Fort is one of the oldest fortifications along with some of the most revered as well as sacredly scenic locations about 15 kilometers from the Lordly city of Tirupati. Dating back to the 11th century, this stunning monument was incredibly important in history; it was the capital of the very highly reputed Vijayanagara Empire, which thrived on immense contributions to art, architecture, and culture. This glorious architectural diversity is so eloquently speaking and expression of the rich fragrance of its diverse cultural influence combined with the breathtaking panoramas scenery of the enchanted surroundings of the location, thus contributed to the entire building being exceptionally special and unique. Its profound historical importance along with remarkable architectural value has rendered it as one of the most sought-after and frequently visited destinations by history enthusiasts as well as by all sorts of travelers from all corners of this earth.
Silathoranam: This Silathoranam is an odd kind of rock formation where one can view the beauty of Tirumala Hills. The abnormal shape takes the form of a natural arch that was thought to be of high geologic and religious importance. Besides this, Silathoranam is a great tourism attraction which grabs many nature and photography enthusiasts who get clicked with its beauty and essence.
Along with temples, there are many magnificent nature-rich places to visit like Akasa Ganga, Kalipaka Thirtham, etc..
You may also like to check other temples:
Srisailam Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple,
Bhadrachalam Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple,
Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy Temple Timing:
Morning Timings:
Sarva Darshan (Free Darshan): 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM
VIP Break Darshan: 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM
Divya Darshan (Footpath Darshan): 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Afternoon Timings:
Sarva Darshan (Free Darshan): 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Evening Timings:
Ekantha Seva: 1:30 AM (Next Day)
Tirupati Balaji Online Booking:
For more details on Advanced Booking, Accommodation, Donations and Pujas visit Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (Official Website)
FAQ:
What is the address of Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy Temple?
The location of Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy Temple is in Tirumala town, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Which god or goddess is said to be the presiding deity of the temple?
It is said that Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy is presided by Lord Venkateswara, which is the form of Lord Vishnu. He is also called Balaji or Srinivasa.
What is the importance of the temple?
This is a very popular destination due to the fact that it is ascribed to Lord Venkateswara. He is said to be the “Lord of the Seven Hills.” The temple remains one of the sacred places that must visit by a Hindu pilgrimage, considering the fact that the devotees believe their wishes are going to be fulfilled when they visit.
What are the important festivals of the temple?
As said above, there are innumerable festivals celebrated here. The most important one, of course is Brahmotsavam. This is a nine day festival held with great pomp and grandeur. Other important festivals here include Vaikunta Ekadashi, Rathasapthami, and Deepavali.
Can I book online for darshan tickets?
You can now book online to have darshan and other sevas offered under the umbrella of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. Pre-booking can be had so that darshan can be had at a specified time.
What is the dress code for coming to the temple?
There are some customs and expectations while going to the Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy Temple. People are supposed to wear traditional clothes and clothes that reflect or have devotion on them. Traditionally people would look at the dressing with men in dhotis and women in sarees or some other sort of traditional clothes.
Are there lodging facilities near the temple?
Yes. There are all kinds of lodging facilities around the temple for pilgrims and tourists in the form of guesthouses, hotels, choultries etc .
Can I take a picture inside the temple?
Photography inside the temple not allowed. Generally, photography of the inner sanctum of the temple is not allowed. Always remember that there are certain rules and regulations in temples regarding photography and mobiles.
What is this tonsuring ceremony or haircutting ritual, as it would often be called, all about in significance?
This is practiced widely among the devotees as it is said that the whole process is offered to Lord Venkateswara. This hair collected as a result of this tonsuring is auctioned and used for the temple operations as well as for all the welfare activities.
Who is the traditional Venkateswara Swamy at Tirupati?
Venkateswara Swamy is also known as Balaji or Lord Venkateswara. It is one among the forms of the Hindu god Vishnu. He is the presiding deity of the ancient famous temple in Tirumala, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. The devotees believe that the idol of Lord Venkateswara within the Tirumala temple is Swayambhu, that is, the original form of the deity. He is one of those places in the list that is counted as the most visited religious destination in the world and also is famous for his ancient history, architecture, and spirituality.
How to reach Tirumala:
By Air:
The nearest airport: Tirupati Airport (TIR).
Distance: approximately 15 kilometers.
By Train:
Nearest Railway station: Tirupati Railway Station (TPTY)
Distance: around 26 kilometers.
By Road:
From Chennai: approx. 140 kilometers
From Bangalore: approx. 250 kilometers
From Hyderabad: approx. 550 kilometers.