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 Tirupati
Balaji Temple Tirupati
town is 67-km from Chittoor in Chittoor district,
the southern portion of Andhra Pradesh. The
most important place of interest at the place
is the historic shrine of Sri Venkateswara,
the Lord of Seven Hills, who is famous all over
the country. The shrine is located on a hill
at Tirumala, a cluster of seven hills known
as Seshachalam or Venkatachalam with an elevation
of 853m (2,800ft.) above the sea level. Said
to be the richest temple in the world, this
temple is a vibrant cultural and philanthropic
institution with a grand history spanning several
centuries. It attracts pilgrims from all over
the country who stand in line for hours together
to obtain a glimpse of the presiding deity for
a few fleeting seconds.
Tirupati - A Fine Example Of Dravidian Temple
Architecture
The temple
at Tirumala is believed to have existed from
ancient times. The dynasties like the Pallavas
of Kanchipuram, the Cholas of Tanjore, the Pandyas
of Madurai and the Kings and chiefs of Vijayanagara,
vied with one another in endowing the Shrine
and offering worship of the presiding deity.
The Tirupati temple with its 'gopuram' or tower
is a
fine example of Dravidian architecture. The
elaborate rituals and mode of worship in the
temple were prescribed by the saint Ramanujacharya
and are being followed even today. Anointing
the idol with camphor, and the offering by pilgrims
of the hair on their heads by getting themselves
shaved
by licensed barbers are the important customs
in vogue at Tirupati Temple. The 'Vimana' or
Cupola over the sanctum
sanctorum is covered entirely with gold plate
and is known as "the Ananda Nilayam".
The Shrine consists of three 'Prakarams' or
enclosures. The outermost enclosure contains
the 'Dhvajastambha' or the banner post and,
among others, the statues of Vijayanagara king
Krishnadevaraya and his consorts, and of Todarmal,
the minister of Akbar. The idol of the deity,
the full figure of Lord Venkateswara or 'Venkataramana'
or 'Srinivasa' or 'Balaji' (as is called in
various parts of the country) has the attributes
of both Vishnu and Shiva, preserving and destroying
aspects of the Hindu Trinity.
Festivals of Tirupati
Everyday
is a day of festivity at Tirumala. The most
famous is the annual festival called 'Brahmotsavam',
which is celebrated on grand scale for nine
days in September, attracting pilgrims and tourists
from all parts of the country. The fifth and
ninth days of the festival are especially significant
in as much as Garudostavam and Rathotavam takes
place on those days.
The Daily Routines - Tirupati Tirumala Balaji
Temple
The
daily program starts with 'Suprabhatam' (awakening
the Lord) at three in the morning and end with
the 'Ekanta Seva' (putting the Lord to sleep)
at one in the night. Daily, Weekly and Periodical
'Sevas' and 'Utsavams' are performed to the
Lord. Interested pilgrims can choose from the
list and pay to get the Sevas or Utsavams done
on their name. Devotees offer their gifts and
donations in the "Hundi", which is
the main source of income.
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