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Tirumala-Tirupati, one of the richest temples in the country,
is the most venerated Vaishnavite shrine of Lord Venkateswara.
It was patronised by the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Pandyas and
the Vijayanagar kings. 130 kms from the city of Madras
(Chennai), this temple is located in the southern Chittoor
district of Andhra Pradesh. Tiru' in Tamil means `Sri'. Hence
Tirupati translates to Sripati or Sri Maha Vishnu.
Deity: Lord
Venkateswara
Significance: According
to the Puranas, the range of Tirumala hills represent the body
of the serpent Adisesha, on which Lord Vishnu, the protector
of the world, rests. The seven hills represent the seven heads
of the serpent.
Perched on the 860 m high peak of the Tirumala hills, the
temple is a Dravidian masterpiece. The splendid Viman or
'Ananda Nilayam' rising protectively over the sanctum is the
most arresting feature in the temple complex. It is plated
with gold, as is the Dwajasthambam, or the temple flagpost.
The innermost enclosure of the three 'prakarams', opened once
annually, enshrines the two-metre high majestic black idol of
Lord Venkateswara, bedecked with priceless glittering jewels,
most striking of which is the diamond crown said to be the
costliest in the world.
Some people believe that the idol of Sri Venkateswara has the
attributes of Vishnu and Shiva, the preserving and the
destroying aspects of the Hindu Trinity. This conception is a
happy compromise appealing at once to the Vaishnavites and
Shaivites. The idol has four arms, two in the rear, one
carrying the Shankha or the conch, and the other the Chakra or
the discus, and two in the front, one in the Abhaya pose and
the other resting on the hip. On both the front arms, the
Bhujanga Valaya, or the girdle of the serpent, an emblem of
Shiva can be seen. People from the Northern parts of India,
worship Lord Venkateswara, as Balaji. It is praised by poets
as `Bhuloka Vaikuntha'.
The two very important customs followed in the temple are
anointing the body of the Lord with camphor (Karpoora),
saffron and musk, and offering the tonsure of hair as a
sacrifice to the Lord.
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The Varahaswami temple, situated near the Venkateswara temple,
on the banks of Swami Pushkarani tank, is said to be even more
ancient. This shrine is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form
of Varahaswami. It is said that the Adi Sesha himself forms
the seven hills on which the temple of the Lord is located.
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Festivals: Brahmotsavam, the most important of the various
festivals of the temple, is conducted usually in Bhadrapada
i.e., in September for about 9 days. On account of Adika
Masam, which comes in every third year, a second Brahmotsavam
in the month of Aswayuja (Puratasi) will be held under the
name, "Navarathri Brahmotsavam". These Brahmotsavams
attract thousands of pilgrims from various parts of the
country.
Other Places of Interest:There are several picturesque
sights around the Tirumala-Tirupati hills. Situated around one
km from the Tirumala temple is a unique natural stone arch
believed to be the source of Lord Venkateswara's idol.
Kalahasti Temple:Sri Kalahasti temple, situated 36 km
away is famous for its Vayudeva temple, which is the only
shrine of the god of wind in India. Constructed in the 12th
century by the Chola king, Rajarajendra, Vayu is incarnated as
Lord Shiva and worshipped as Kalahasteeswara. The story goes
that the linga here was invoked by a spider (Sri), snake
(Kala) and an elephant (Hasti). Hence the town was aptly
referred to as Sri Kalahasti. Besides Swamypushkarini, there
are several important water-falls in and around Tirumala,
namely Akasaganga, Papavinasanam, Pandava Theertham, Jabili
Theertham, Chakra Theertham, Ramakrishna Theertham,
Kumaradhara Theertham and Tumburu Theertham, each excelling
the other in the riddance of the sins of those who bathe in
them.
Narayanavanam:Located 36 km away is the temple
dedicated to Lord Kalyana Venkateswaraswamy. It is believed
that this is the venue of the sacred marriage between Lord
Venkateswara and Goddess Padmavathi.
How to Get There
Direct bus services from major towns and cities in the
south-Madras, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Nearest railhead is
Renigunda (!0 kms). Direct rail connections to Hyderabad,
Vijayawada, Madras, Tiruchirapalli, Puri and Delhi. Air
connections to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Madras and Vijayawada.
Where to Stay
Bhimas Hotel (Tel. 20-766) and Bhimas Delux Hotel (Tel.
20-121) 42, G Car St. Gopi Krishna Delux Hotel, opposite
Railway Station.
Weekend Trips (From Hyderabad)
Destination: Tirumala - Tirupati
Distance: 570 km
Duration: 14 hours (one way)
Departure: Friday at 4:00 pm
Return: Monday at 7:00 am
Sightseeing: Tirumala - Tirupati, Kalahasti, Mangapuram,
Tiruchenur
Rate: Rs 240 (to & fro) + Rs 400 (includes special
darshan, hill transport and accomodation)
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