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Facts
& Figures
| Area |
: |
10.33
sq. miles |
| Population |
: |
1,91,000 |
| Languages |
: |
Telegu,
English |
| Best
time to visit |
: |
September
to February |
| STD
Code |
: |
08574 |
|
The Abode Of Lord
Venkateswara
The town of Tirupati is one of the most
ancient and sacred pilgrimage spots in India.
The name |
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‘Tirupati’
means the “Lord of Lakshmi,” and should
have been applied to the village on the Venkat
hill, the dwelling of Lord Venkateswara.
However, Tirupati is the town and transport
hub at the bottom of the hill. The hill near
the temple is called ‘Tirumala’ or the
“sacred hill.” The temple here is said to
be the busiest in the world, eclipsing even
Rome, Jerusalem and Mecca in the number of
pilgrims visiting it. |
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Location
Tirumala is in the extreme southeast of the
southern state of Andhra Pradesh. It is
situated in the Chittoor district of the
state. The Tirumala Hill is 3200 ft above
sea level, and is about 10.33 sq miles in
area. It comprises seven peaks, representing
the seven hoods of Adisesha, thus earning
the name Seshachalam. The seven peaks are
called Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri,
Anjanadri, Vrishabhadri, Narayanadri and
Venkatadri. Tirupati is 137 km from Chennai,
258 km from Bangalore, and 562 km from
Hyderabad (via Kurnool and Cuddapah).The
Past
All the great dynasties of rulers of the
southern peninsula have paid homage to Lord
Sri Venkateswara in this ancient shrine. The
Pallavas of Kancheepuram (9th century ad),
the Cholas of Thanjavur (a century later),
the Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings and
chieftains of Vijaynagar (14th–15th
century ad) were devotees of this shrine.
It was during the rule of the Vijaynagar
dynasty that the contributions to the temple
increased. Krishnadevaraya had statues of
himself and his consorts installed at the
portals of the temple, and these statues can
be seen to this day. There is also a statue
of Venkatapati Raya in the main temple. The
Maratha general, Raghoji Bhonsle visited the
temple and set up a permanent endowment for
the conduct of worship in the temple. He
also presented valuable jewels to the Lord,
including a large emerald that is still
preserved in a box named after the general.
Among the later rulers who have endowed
large amounts are the rulers of Mysore and
Gadwal.
In ad 1843, the administration of the shrine
of Sri Venkateswara and a number of estates
were entrusted to Sri Seva Dossji of the
Hatiramji Mutt at Tirumala, and the temple
remained under the administration of the
Mahants for nearly a century, until ad 1933.
In 1933, the Madras Legislature passed a
special act, which empowered the Tirumala
Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Committee to
control and administer a fixed group of
temples in the Tirumala-Tirupati area,
through a Commissioner appointed by the
Government of Madras. In 1951, the Act of
1933 was replaced by an enactment whereby
the administration of TTD was entrusted to a
Board of Trustees, and the Government
appointed an Executive Officer.Sites
To Visit
The ancient and sacred temple of Sri
Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak,
Venkatachala of the Tirupati Hills, and lies
on the southern banks of Sri Swami
Pushkarini. Lord Venkateswara is also called
the Lord of the Seven Hills. The benefits
acquired by a pilgrimage to Venkatachala are
mentioned in Rig Veda and Asthadasa Puranas.
Here, Sri Venkateswara is described as the
great bestower of boons. There are several
legends associated with the manifestation of
the Lord at Tirumala. The temple has its
origins in Vaishnavism. The sanctum
sanctorum, which houses the awe-inspiring
idol of the Lord of the Seven Hills, is
situated in the main temple complex of
Tirumala.
Sri Varahaswami Temple in Tirumala is
to the north of the Sri Venkateswara temple,
on the banks of Swami Pushkarini. According
to legend, Tirumala was originally the Adi
Varaha Kshetra or the place belonging to Sri
Adi Varahaswami. Lord Sri Venkateswara took
up residence here, with the permission of
Sri Varahaswami. According to Brahma Purana,
naivedyam (food offered to God) should first
be offered to Sri Varahaswami. Pilgrims
should visit Sri Varahaswami temple before
Sri Venkateswara temple. The idol of Sri
Varahaswami in Tirumala is that of Adi
Varaha.
Sri Anjaneyaswami Temple is located
opposite the Sri Varahaswami temple on the
northeastern banks of the Swami Pushkarini.
It was constructed during the Mahant's
period. The idol's hands are joined in
supplication (in the Anjali posture). Sri
Anjaneyaswami is believed to be a bestower
of boons and a protector from all evils.
Swami Pushkarini, believed to be a
pleasure tank of Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntham,
is adjacent to the Sri Venkateswara temple.
A bath in the Swami Pushkarini is believed
to cleanse pilgrims of their sins and bestow
temporal prosperity. Pilgrims bathe here
before entering the main temple. Other
teerthams include Akasaganga Teertham,
Papavinasanam Teertham, Pandava Teertham,
Kumaradhara Teertham, Tumbhuru Teertham,
Ramakrishna Teertham, Chakra Teertham,
Vaikuntha Teertham, Sesha Teertham, Sitamma
Teertham, Pasupu Teertham, Japali Teertham,
and Sanaka Sanandana Teertham.
Sri Govindarajaswami Temple is an
important temple in Tirupati. It has an
imposing gopuram that can be seen from a
distance. Saint Ramanujacharya consecrated
the temple in ad 1130. The sub-temples in
its premises include Sri Parthasarathiswami
Temple, Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami
Temple, Sri Andal Temple, Sri Salai Nachiyar
Ammavari Temple, Sri Ramanuja Temple, Sri
Vyasaraya Anjaneyaswami Temple, Sri
Tirumangai Alwar Temple, Sri Kurath Alwar
Temple, Sri Madhurakavi Alwar Temple, Sri
Chakrathalwar Temple, Sri Mudal Alwar
Temple, Sri Manavala Mahamuni Temple, Sri
Vedantha Desikar Temple and many others.
Sri Kodandaramaswami Temple is
situated in the heart of Tirupati town. The
presiding deities are Sita, Rama and
Lakshmana. A Chola king built this temple
during the tenth century ad. The temple of
Anjaneyaswami, which is directly opposite,
is a sub-shrine of this temple. According to
legend, this temple commemorates the visit
of Sri Rama to Tirupati.
Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple is the
only temple dedicated to Lord Siva, in the
pantheon of Vaishnava temples in Tirupati.
It is situated about 3 km to the north of
Tirupati, at the foot of the Tirumala Hills.
The sacred waterfall called Kapila Teertham
or Alwar Teertham is located here.
Sri Prasanna Venkateswaraswami Temple
is located in Appalayagunta, 14 km from
Tirupati. Legend has it that Sri
Venkateswaraswami, after marrying Sri
Padmavathi Ammavaru, blessed Sri Siddeswara
and other sages here.
The temple constructed by the Rajas of
Karvetinagar consists of a shrine for
Anjaneyaswami. Devotees, for relief from
chronic diseases, worship the imposing image
of the wind-god. There are also idols of
Goddess Padmavathi and Sri Andal here.
Sri Chennakesavaswami Temple is
located in Tallapaka village at a distance
of 100 km from Tirupati, which is the
birthplace of Sri Annamacharya, the
Sankeertana Acharyulu. The temple was
constructed and administered by the Matti
Rajas about 1,000 years ago. The sub-temples
here are Sri Kamakshi Sameta Temple, Sri
Siddeswaraswami Temple, and Sri Gopalaswami
Sameta Chakrathalwar Temple.
Sri Kariya Manikyaswami Temple or Sri
Perumala Swami Temple is located in
Nagiri, 51 km from Tirupati. It is believed
that Lord Vishnu killed Makara, a crocodile,
and saved Gajendra, an elephant at this
place.
Sri Annapurna Sameta Kasi Visweswaraswami
Temple is located in the Bugga Agraharam
village, 56 km from Tirupati. The temple is
on the banks of Kusasthali River.
Sites Nearby
Tiruchanoor, also known as
Alamelumangapuram, is about 5 km from
Tirupati. The temple of Sri Padmavathi Devi
or Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Sri
Venkateswara, is situated here. It is said
that a visit to Tirumala is fruitful only
after visiting the Sri Padmavathi Devi
temple. The sub-temples in its premises
include the Sri Krishnaswamy Temple, Sri
Sundara Rajaswamivari Temple, and Sri
Suryanarayana Swamivari Temple.
Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami temple
is at Srinivasa Mangapuram, situated 12 km
to the west of Tirupati. According to
legend, Lord Venkateswara stayed here after
his marriage with Sri Padmavathi Devi,
before proceeding to Tirumala.
Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami temple,
at Narayanavanam, is 40 km from Tirupati.
Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami is the main
deity here. There are four sub-temples here,
which include Sri Padmavathi Ammavari
temple, Sri Andal Ammavari temple, Sri Sita
Lakshmana Sameta Ramulavari temple, and Sri
Ranganayakula Swami temple. Besides these,
there are five other temples attached to Sri
Kalyana Venkateswaraswami temple, namely,
Sri Parasareswara Swami temple, Sri
Veerabhadra Swami temple, Sri Sakti Vinayaka
Swami temple, Sri Agastheeswara Swami
temple, and Sri Avanakshamma temple.
Sri Veda Narayanaswami temple is
located in Nagalapuram, 70 km southeast of
Tirupati. It is believed that Lord Vishnu,
in the form of Matsya, killed the demon
Somakudu here, and retrieved the Vedas from
the latter. The sanctum sanctorum houses an
image of the Matsya form of Vishnu, with
Sridevi and Bhudevi on either side. A
peculiar feature of the idol is that it
holds the Sudarsana Chakra in prayoga mudra,
ready for release. The temple was
constructed by Sri Krishnadevaraya Raya, the
Vijaynagar emperor, and is a fine specimen
of the Vijaynagar style of architecture. The
sub-temples inside the main temple are Sri
Vedavalli Tayaru temple, Sri Lakshmi
Narasimha Swami temple, Sri Veeranjaneya
Swami temple, Sri Bhakta Anjaneyaswami
temple, and Sri Sita Lakshmana Sameta
Ramulavari temple.
Sri Venugopalaswami temple is
situated in Karvetinagaram, 58 km from
Tirupati. The main deity of the temple is
Sri Venugopalaswami with His consorts, Sri
Rukmini Ammavaru and Sri Satyabhama
Ammavaru. There is a sub-temple with the
idol Sri Sita Ramula Pattabhishekam.
Fairs And Festivals
Each of the above mentioned temples have
their own festivals. The Navratra and
Dussehra festival are particularly popular.How
to Reach
It is possible to visit Tirupati for a
daylong trip from Chennai. The Indian
Airlines Office (Ph. 22349) is opposite the
main bus stand. There are direct flights
from Hyderabad and Chennai. Direct railway
services are available from Hyderabad,
Chennai, Calcutta, Mumbai and Bangalore.
One can travel from Tirupati to Tirumala by
road. The Andhra Pradesh State Road
Transport Corporation (APSRTC) runs a
regular bus service between the twin
locales.Accommodation And
Food
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)
ensures cheap and comfortable accommodation
facilities to the pilgrims. The organization
has constructed about more than 4,850
cottages, guesthouses, and choultries both
at Tirupati and Tirumala. It also provides
accommodation free of cost to pilgrims who
cannot afford to pay for their stay. Sri
Venkateswara Dharamshala (Ph. 25144),
opposite the Tirupati railway station and
Sri Venkateswara guesthouse (Ph. 25144) are
worth mentioning. At Tirumala, pilgrims can
stay in free in the dormitory halls provided
by the TTD by contacting the Central
Reception Office near the bus stand.
Pilgrims can reserve paid accommodation in
Tirumala 30 days in advance of their visit,
by writing to the Assistant Executive
Officer (Reception-I), TTD, Tirumala 517504.
Vegetarian meals are provided free of cost
to devotees in the Sri Venkateswara Canteen
Complex, from 1000 to 2300 hours everyday.
One can avail of this facility on production
of the free meal coupon that is distributed
inside the temple after worshipping the
Lord. About 20,000 pilgrims avail this
facility every day. |
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