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ఓం నమో వేంకటేశాయ నమః
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple (తిరుమల శ్రీవేంకటేశ్వర స్వామి ఆలయం) is a famous Vedic temple in the hill town of Tirumala, near Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. It is around 435 km (270 mi)[2] from the state capital Vijayawada, 571.9 km(355.3 mi) from Hyderabad, 138 km (86 mi)[3] from Chennai and 291 km (181 mi)[4] from Bangalore.
The Tirumala Hill is 853m above sea level and is about 10.33 square miles (27 km2) in area. It comprises seven peaks, representing the seven heads of Adisesha,
thus earning the name Seshachalam. The seven peaks are called Seshadri,
Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabhadri, Narayanadri and
Venkatadri. The temple is on Venkatadri
(also known as Venkatachala or Venkata Hill), the seventh peak, and is
also known as the "Temple of Seven Hills". The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of lord Vishnu. Venkateswara is known by other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa.[5]
The temple lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini, a holy
water tank. The temple complex comprises a traditional temple building,
with a number of modern queue and pilgrim lodging sites.
[6][7]) and the most-visited place of worship in the world.[8][9][10]
The temple is visited by about 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily (30 to
40 million people annually on average), while on special occasions and
festivals, like the annual Brahmotsavam, the number of pilgrims shoots
up to 500,000, making it the most-visited holy place in the world.[11]
There are several legends associated with the manifestation of the Lord in Tirumala. According to one legend, the temple has a murti (deity) of Lord Venkateswara, which it is believed shall remain here for the entire duration of the present Kali Yuga.
Architecture
Vimanam
Tirumala Temple and Vaikuntam Queue Complex (semicircular building in the foreground) as seen from Srivari Padalu on Narayanagiri hill
The vimanam is a monumental tower with a golden roof. Its inner temple or vimanam
houses the main deity, Lord Sri Venkateswara. The deity stands directly
beneath a gilt dome called the Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana. This
exquisitely wrought deity, called the Mulaberam, is believed to
be self-manifested, and no human being is known to have installed it in
the shrine. The Lord wears a gold crown with a large emerald embedded in
the front. On special occasions, he is adorned with a diamond crown.
The Lord has a thick double tilaka
drawn on his forehead, which screens his eyes. His ears are decorated
with golden earrings. The right hand is pointing to his lotus feet. His
left hand is akimbo. His body is dressed with yellow clothing tied with
gold string and a gold belt with gold bells. He has a yajnopavita (sacred thread) flowing down crosswise from his left shoulder. He bears Lakshmi Devi on his right chest and Padmavathi Devi
on his left chest. His feet are covered with gold frames and decked
with gold anklets. A curved gold belt encompasses his legs. The Ananda
Nilaya Divya Vimana was covered with gilt copper plates and surmounted
with a golden vase in the 13th century, during the reign of the
Vijayanagara king Yadava Raya.The ancient and sacred temple of Sri
Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak, Venkatachala (Venkata Hill)
of the Tirupati Hill, and lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami
Pushkarini. It is by the Lord's presidency over Venkatachala, that He
has received the appellation, Venkateswara (Lord of the Venkata Hill).
He is also called the Lord of the Seven Hills.
Bangaru Vakili
From the Tirumamani Mandapam, one can enter the Bangaru Vakili (Meaning Golden Entrance in Telugu)
to reach the inner sanctum sanctorum. There are two tall copper images
of the dwarapalakas Jaya and Vijaya on either side of the door. The
thick wooden door is covered with gilt plates depicting the dasavataram
of Sri Maha Vishnu. The doorway is directly in line with the Padi Kavali
and the Vendi Vakili(Meaning Silver Corridor in Telugu). It admits
pilgrims to the Snapana Mandapam. Suprabhatam is sung in front of this
door.
Garbha Gruham
The Garbhagruha
or sanctum is where the idol of Lord Sri Venkateswara is placed. The
idol stands majestically in the Garbha Gruha, directly beneath a
gilt-dome called the "Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana". This idol, called the
Mulaberam, is believed to be self-manifested. As there is no known
sculptor possessing the capability to sculpt idols of god so
proportionately. Further, no human being is known to have installed it
in the shrine.[22]
The idol of the Lord wears a gold crown (Kiritam), which has a large
emerald embedded on its front. On special occasions, it is replaced with
a diamond kiritam. On the forehead of the idol, two thick patches of
tilak drawn with refined camphor, almost covers the eyes of the idol. In
between the two white patches is a Kasturitilakam made of saffron.
Golden makara kundalas hang on the ears of the idol. The palm of its
raised right hand is embedded with a gem-set Sudarshana Chakra and the
left palm with the Holy Cone.
The slightly outstretched front right hand, has its fingers pointing
toward the feet, as if the Lord is the only recourse to his devotees to
dissolve in him and enjoy eternal bliss. The akimbo of the front left
hand implies lord's protection to devotees and to show that the Samsara
Sagara (Ocean of Life) is never deeper than to hip's height, if they
seek his refuge.
The body of the Idol is spun with a Gold-stringed-Pitambaram, with a
belt of golden-bells. The idol is decorated with precious ornaments. It
has a sacred thread flowing down, crossing from the left shoulder. It
bears Goddess Lakshmi
on the right chest and Sri Padmavathi Devi on the left. Nagaabharanam
ornaments are on both shoulders of the idol. The lotus feet are covered
with gold frames and decked with clinging gold anklets. A strong curved
belt of gold encompasses the legs. During abhishekam, we can have
darshan of Goddess Lakshmi.
The Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana was covered with gilt copper plates
and covered with a golden vase, in the thirteenth century, during the
reign of the Vijayanagara king, Yadava Raya.
Pilgrims are not allowed to enter the Garbha Gruha (beyond Kulasekhara padi (path)).
Ramanuja
Ramanuja (1017–1137 .E)[23][24] (Holy People of the World: A Cross-Cultural Encyclopedia)[25]
born in a Tamil Brahmin family in the village of Sriperumbudur, Tamil
Nadu.(Philosophers and Religious Leaders: An Encyclopedia of People Who
Changed the World Lives & Legacies)[26] was the architect of Tirupati and the father of the Sri Vaishnava community.[27]
He was responsible for managing the worshipping procedures and other
affairs of the Sri Venkateswara temple. His shrine was built around the
13th century. It overlooks the western end of the Tirumamani Mandapam.
There are two tall copper images of the Dvarapalas (door guardians) Jaya and Vijaya on either side of the door. The door is covered with gilt plates depicting the Dashavatara
of Sri Maha Vishnu. The doorway is directly in line with the Padi
Kavali and the Vendi Vakili. It admits pilgrims to the Snapana Mandapam.
Suprabhatam is sung in front of this door. The right hand of the stone
image of Ramanuja is held in the gesture of exposition (vyakhyana mudra),
and the left hand in the form of boon bestowal (varada hasta) or of
holding a book (pustaka hasta). The shrine figures prominently during
the festival of Adhyayanotsavam, which is a typical Pancharatra
observance. Special worship is conducted in this shrine during
Gandhapodi Utsavam and Bhashyakara Utsavam. The presiding deity of
Ramanuja is taken in a grand procession to meet Malayappa near the Padi
Kavali.
Jeeyar Mattam was established by Ramanuja, with the call of the Divine that made today's Chinna Jeeyar Swamy
the young Srimannarayana Ramanujacharyulu to take up the ascetic order
of JEEYAR(Lion) at a very young age of 23 years. He is reckoned very
high among the monks of the India and abroad as the pioneer and Crusader
of Peace.
Annamayya
Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya
(or Annamayya) (9 May 1408 – 23 February 1503) was the official
songmaster of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, and a Telugu composer
who composed around 36000 keertana songs, many of which were in praise
of Venkateswara, the presiding deity of the temple. The musical form of
the keertana songs that he composed have strongly influenced the
structure of Carnatic music compositions, which are still popular among
Carnatic music concert artists. Sri Annamacharya is remembered for his
saintly life, and is honoured as a great Bhakta/devotee of Bhagwaan
Govinda by devotees and saintly singers.He is widely regarded as the
Pada-kavita Pitaamaha (grand old man of song-writing) of the Telugu
language. Annamacharya is said to have composed as many as 36,000
sankeertanas[28]
(songs) on Bhagwaan Govinda Venkateswara, of which only about 12,000
are available today. Annamacharya considered his compositions as floral
offerings to Bhagwaan Govinda. In the poems, he praises Venkateswara,
describes his love for him, argues and quarrels with the Lord, confesses
the devotee's failures and apprehensions, and surrenders himself to
Venkateswara. His songs are classified into the Adhyaatma (spiritual)
and Sringaara (romantic) sankeertanas genres. His songs in the
"Sringaara" genre worship Bhagwaan Venkateswara by describing his
amorous and romantic adventures of Venkateswara and Alamel Manga, while
others describe the Bhakti of his devotees. In his later keertanas, he
espouses subjects such as morality, dharma and righteousness. He was one
of the first few who opposed the social stigma towards the untouchable
castes in his era, with his sankeertanas explaining that the
relationship between God and human is the same irrespective of the
latters' color, caste and financial status, in beautiful yet powerful
usage of words in his songs "Brahmam Okkate Parabrahmam Okkate..." and
"E Kulajudainanemi Evvadainanemi..."
Tarikonda Venkamamba
Tarikonda Venkamamba
(born 1730) was a poetess and staunch devotee of Lord Venkateswara in
the 18th century. She wrote numerous poems and songs. Her first poem was
Tarikonda Nrusimha Satakam; it was followed by three Yakshaganams,
Nrusimha Vilasa Katha, Siva Natakam and Balakrishna Natakam; and
Rajayogamrutha Saram, a Dwipada Kavyam. These works were completed when
she was in Tarikonda. On her return to Tirumala from Tumburakona caves,
Venkamamba composed Vishnu Parijatham, Chenchu Natakam, Rukmini Natakam
and Jala Krida Vilasam and Mukthi Kanthi Vilasam (all Yakshaganams),
Gopi Natakam (Golla Kalapam-Yakshaganam), Rama Parinayam, Sri
Bhagavatham, Sri Krishna Manjari, Tatva Keerthanalu and Vashista
Ramayanam (Dwipada), Sri Venkataachala Mahatyam (Padya Prabhandam) and
Ashtanga Yoga,Saram (Padyakruthi).
Tyagaraja
Kakarla Tyagabrahmam
(4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), colloquially known as Tyagayya and
Tyāgarājar, was one of the greatest composers of Carnatic music or
classical South Indian music. He, along with his contemporaries
Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Shastry, forms the Trinity of Carnatic
music. He was a prolific composer and highly influential in the
development of the South Indian classical music tradition. Tyagaraja
composed thousands of devotional compositions, most of them in praise of
Lord Rama – most of which remain very popular even today. Of special
mention are five of his compositions called the Pancharatna Krithis
(English: 'five gems'), which are often sung in programs in his honour.
His compositions in praise of Lord Venkateswara include – 'Tera
Teeyagarada', 'Venkatesa! Ninnu Sevimpanu' among others.
Deities in the temple :
- Moolavirat or Dhruva Beram — The main stone deity of Lord Venkateswara is called Dhruva Beram (beram means "deity", and dhruva means "pole star" or "fixed"). The deity is about 8 feet (2.4 m) from the toes to the top of the crown and is considered the main source of energy for the temple.
- Kautuka Beram or Bhoga Srinivasa — This is a tiny one-foot (0.3 m) silver deity, which was given to the temple in 614 AD by Pallava Queen Samavai Perindevi, and has never been removed from the temple from the day it was installed. This deity is popularly known as Bhoga Srinivasa, because it enjoys all the Bhoga (worldly pleasures) which the Moolavirat has. This deity sleeps in a golden cot every night and receives Sahasra Kalashabishekam every Wednesday. This deity is always placed near the left foot of Moolavirat and is always connected to the main deity by a holy Sambandha Kroocha. The deity is always faced at an angle of 45 degrees towards the devotees, because it holds a Prayoga ("ready to strike") Chakra.
- Snapana Beram or Ugra Srinivasa — This idol of the Lord represents the anger part of Lord Venkateswara. He remains inside the sanctum sanctorum, and comes out on only one day each year: on Kaishika Dwadasi, before the sunrise. Snapana means "cleansing". The idol is cleansed daily with holy waters, milk, curds, ghee, sandalwood paste, turmeric, and so on.
Malayappa swami along with his
consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi during the annual Vasanthotsavam ceremony
- Utsava Beram — This is the form of the Lord which comes out of the temple to see the devotees. This deity is also called Malayappa, and its consorts are Sridevi and Bhudevi. These three deities were found in a cave called Malayappan Konai in the holy Tirumala Hills. Originally Ugra Srinivasa was the Utsava Beram (the procession deity), and frequently disastrous fires were happening whenever the deity was taken out for processions. People prayed to the Lord for a solution. The Lord appeared in dreams, and ordered the people to find a suitable set of idols hidden in the Holy Tirumala hills for the Utsavar (procession). The hunt began, and the villagers called the idol they found Malayappa, which means "King of the Hills". After these idols were brought to the temple, the number of programmes increased to include Nitya Kalyanaotsavam, Sahasra Deepalankara Seva, Arjita Brahmotsavam, Nityaotsvam, Dolotsavam, and others. Jewels worth millions of rupees have been donated as offerings to these idols.
- Bali Beram or Koluvu Srinivasa — This panchaloha idol resembles the main deity, and represents the presiding officer for all activities and rituals in the temple. The idol is also called Bali Beram. Koluvu Srinivasa is regarded as the guardian deity of the temple that presides over its financial and economic affairs. Daily offerings are made to the deity, with a presentation of accounts. Every year during July i.e. according to Hindu calendar "Dakshinaya Sankaramana" the temple celebrates "Anivar Asthanam" which is the end of the fiscal year.
Temple activities
Prasadam :
The world famous Tirupati Laddu is given at Tirumala Temple as prasadam.[29] Recently, the Trust has taken Geographical Indication of Laddu prasadam, hence, no one can prepare the same Laddu. Many other prasadams are also available including daddojanam (curd rice), pulioharey (tamarind rice), vada and chakkera-pongali (sweet pongal), miryala-pongali, Appam, Paayasam, Jilebi, Muruku, Dosa, seera (kesari). Free meals are given daily to the pilgrims. On Thursdays, the Tirupavadai seva is conducted, where food items are kept as naivedyam to Lord Srinivasa..Hair tonsuring
Devotees shaving their heads at Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
Many devotees have their head tonsured as "Mokku", an offering to God. The daily amount of hair collected is over a ton.[30] The hair thus gathered is sold by the temple organisation a few times a year by public auction to international buyers for use as hair extensions and in cosmetics,[31] bringing over $6 million to the temple's treasury.[32] This is the second highest income generating activity in the temple next to the Hundi Collection.When Lord Balaji was hit on his head by a shepherd, a small portion of his scalp became bald. This was noticed by Neela Devi, a Gandharva princess. She felt "such an attractive face should not have a flaw". Immediately, she cut a portion of her hair and, with her magical power, implanted it on his scalp. Lord Balaji noticed her sacrifice. As hair is a beautiful asset of the female form, he promised her that all his devotees who come to his abode would offer their hair to him, and she would be the recipient of all the hair received. Hence, it is believed that hair offered by the devotees is accepted by Neela Devi. The hill, Neeladri, one of the seven hills, is named after her.Hundi (donation pot)
It is believed that Srinivasa had to make arrangements for his wedding. Lord Kubera credited money to the god Venkateswara (a form of the god Vishnu) for his marriage with Padmavati. Srinivasa sought a loan of one crore and 11.4 million (11,400,000) coins of gold from Kubera and had Viswakarma, the divine architect, create heavenly surroundings in the Seshadri hills. Together, Srinivasa and Padmavathy lived for all eternity while Goddess Lakshmi, understanding the commitments of Lord Vishnu, chose to live in his heart forever.[citation needed] In remembrance of this, devotees go to Tirupati to donate money in Venkateswara's hundi (donation pot) so that he can pay it back to Kubera. The hundi collections go as high as 22.5 million INR a day.[8] Devotees offer gold as a token of their love for God. Temple sources said that in April 2010 the temple deposited 3,000 kg of gold with SBI as gold offerings in the temple hundi by devotees, which had accumulated for the last several years.[33]Thulabharam
One of the most important offering in this temple, is the 'thulabharam.' In the Thulabaram ritual, a devotee sits on a pan of a weighing balance and the other pan is filled with materials greater than the weight of the devotee. Devotees usually offer sugar, jaggery, tulsi leaves, banana, gold, coins. This is mostly performed with newborn babies or children.Arjitha seva (paid services)
Pilgrims can view and participate (in a limited fashion) in the various sevas performed to Dhruva bera (main idol), Bhoga Srinivasa, Sri Malayappa swami and other idols in the temple.When pilgrims purchase arjitha seva tickets, they get the opportunity to see a seva performed to the Lord, obtain prasadam in the form of vastram (clothes), akshantalu (sacred and blessed rice) and food articles (laddus, vadas, dosas, pongal, rice items) and a darshan of the utsava murti.
