The Tirupati Balaji Temple also known as Venkateswara Swamy Temple is a Hindu temple in Tirumala, Tirupati, in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is devoted to Venkateswara, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu who is said to have arrived on Earth to deliver mankind from the trials and tribulations of the Kali Yuga. As a result, the site is also known as Kaliyuga Vaikuntha, and the god here is known as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam. Tirumala Shrine, Tirupati Temple, and Tirupati Balaji Temple are some of the various names for the shrine.

Venkateswara is also known as Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa. The temple is managed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which the Andhra Pradesh government oversees. The temple is one of the Pancha Kshethrams where Maha Lakshmi was born as Bhargavi, Maharishi Bhrigu’s daughter. The Pancha Kshethram also includes the Sarangapani temple in Kumbakonam, the Oppiliappan temple in Nachiyar Koil, and the Sundararaja Perumal Temple in Salem.

Story/Legend of the Tirupati Balaji Temple

During Dvapara Yuga, Adishesha resided on earth as Seshachalam Hills after losing a contest with Vayu. Tirumala is considered Adivaraha Kshetra in the Puranas. Adivaraha settled on this hill after killing Hiranyaksha. The most widely accepted legend surrounding Tirumala Temple is Venkatachala Mahatyam.

During the Kali Yuga, Narada advised some sages who were performing yagna to decide who among the Trimurtis (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) should be given the fruits of yagna. Bhrigu was sent to put the Trinity to the test. The sage with an extra eye in the sole of his foot went unnoticed in both Brahma and Shiva’s presence. He cursed Brahma for not being worshipped and Shiva for being worshipped as a lingam. Finally, he went to Vishnu, and the Lord acted as if he hadn’t noticed Bhrigu. Sage Bhrigu became enraged by this act and kicked Vishnu in the chest, to which Vishnu did not respond and instead apologised to the Sage by massaging his feet.

During this act, he squashed the extra eye that was in Bhrigu’s footsole. Lakshmi, on the other hand, considers it an insult because Vishnu’s chest was considered Lakshmi’s residence (vakshasthala), and Bhrigu kicked it, thus indirectly insulting Lakshmi. She then left Vaikuntha and travelled to Kolhapur, where she began meditating.

Vishnu took human form as Srinivasa left Vaikuntha in search of Lakshmi, and began meditating at the Seshachalam hills in Tirumala. When Lakshmi learned of Srinivasa’s condition, she summoned Shiva and Brahma. Shiva and Brahma then transformed themselves into a cow and calf, which Lakshmi then gave to the Chola king who ruled over Tirumala Hills at the time. Srinivasa would get milk from the cow every day while it was outgrazing.

When a cowherd saw this, he tried to beat the Cow with his staff, but Srinivasa was unharmed. Enraged by this, Srinivasa cursed the Chola king to become a Demon, because dharma states that sins committed by servants (shudras) must be borne by Kings. The king prayed for mercy, and Srinivasa told him that he should take the next birth as Akasharaja and marry his daughter Padmavati to Srinivasa.

Srinivasa went to Tirumala Hills to visit his foster mother Vakula Devi and stayed for a while. After being cursed, the Chola king reincarnated as Akasharaja and had a daughter named Padmavati, who was born in the Padmapushkarini in present-day Tiruchanur, Andhra Pradesh. Srinivasa married Padmavati in Narayanavanam, Andhra Pradesh, and then returned to Tirumala Hills. After a few months, Goddess Lakshmi discovered Srinivasa’s marriage to Padamavati and went to Tirumala Hills to question Srinivasa.

Srinivasa, unable to bear the feud between Lakshmi and Padmavati, turned to stone when he came into contact with Lakshmi and Padmavathi. Brahma and Shiva appeared before the befuddled queens and explained the main reason for all of this – the Lord’s desire to be on the seven hills for the emancipation of mankind from the eternal troubles of the Kali Yuga. Goddesses Lakshmi and Padmavathi also transform into stone deities to express their desire to be present at all times. Lakshmi remains on His left side of His chest, while Padmavathi rests on His right side.

History of Tirupati Balaji Temple

According to some evidence, the Tirupati Balaji Temple’s history dates back nearly 2,000 years. A queen named Samavai of the Pallava dynasty (614 AD) is said to have consecrated the first silver image here in ancient times. Sangam poetry (500 BC – 2000 AD) also mentions the temple. Numerous temple inscriptions from the 9th century document the temple’s construction and contributions from both Pallava and Chola Kings.

It is believed that Tirumala originally had only one shrine. In the 12th century, the Vaishnavite saint Ramanuja visited Andhra. Tirupathi temple was constructed. The temple complex flourished and expanded during the Chola period. During one of his many visits to the temple in 1517, Krishnadevaraya donated gold and jewels, allowing the Vimana (inner shrine) roofing to be gilded.

Raghoji Bhonsle, a Maratha general, visited the temple and established a permanent administration for the temple’s worship. The rulers of Mysore and Gadwal were among the later rulers who bestowed large benefactions. With the arrival of the East India Company in 1843, the administration of the Venkateshwara temple and a number of shrines was entrusted to Seva Dossji of the Hathiramji Mutt at Tirumala as Vicaranakarta for nearly a century until 1933, when the temple was returned to the mahants.

The Madras legislature passed a special act in 1933 that gave the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam ITTD) committee administrative and control powers through a commissioner appointed by the Madras government. A Ryot Advisory Council was formed to manage the TTD’s estates, and it was assisted by a Religious Advisory Council in religious matters.

Adi Sankaracharya visited Tirumala and placed Sri Chakra at Lord Venkateshwara’s lotus feet while singing the famous song -Bhaja Govindam-. is the supreme God or Vishnu, according to various verses from the Puranas and other texts. The Kali Yuga’s Narayana or Brahman. Lord Venkateshwara has His holy abode in the Venkatam hills (also known as ThiruVenkatam) near Tirupathi. Thus, the Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple is Lord Venkateshwara’s main temple.

The Tirupati Balaji Temple, where he is the presiding deity, is said to be the richest in the world. The temple is located in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, in the district of Chittoor. The presence of seven hills inspired the deity’s alternate names: Edukondalavadu in Telugu and Ezhumalaiyan in Tamil, both of which mean “Lord of the Seven Hills.”

The architecture of Tirupati Balaji Temple

The Tirupati Balaji Temple, built in the Dravidian style of architecture, has three entrances that lead to the sanctum sanctorum. The first entrance is referred to as ‘Mahadwaram.’ A 50-foot-tall gateway (Gopuram) stands directly in front of the first entrance. There are two circumambulation paths around the temple. While the first path contains many pillared halls, flagstaffs, and a dedicated area for the distribution of offertories, the second path contains many sub-shrines, the main kitchen, the main hundi, and many other important edifices.

Guest houses and various food counters have recently been built for the pilgrims’ convenience. The most important part of the temple is a gold-plated tower inside the main shrine called ‘Ananda Nilayam’. The inner temple of ‘Ananda Nilayam’, which houses the main deity, was built in the 12th century A.D. It was later rebuilt in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The Tirupati Balaji Temple also has a holy pond called Swami Pushkarni, which is located on the temple’s northern side. Pushkarni, which covers an area of 1.5 acres, is one of the temple’s most sacred places. According to legend, Garuda carried the pond all the way from Vaikuntham (Lord Vishnu’s abode) to the hills. In 1468, Saluva King Narasimha Raya built a pillared hall in the centre of the pond.

Within the Tirupati Balaji Temple complex, there are shrines to numerous deities. One of them is the Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman shrine. The temple also has shrines for Lord Krishna, his consort Rukmini, Vishvaksena, Sugriva, and Angad. While Sugriva and Angad are important characters in the Hindu epic Ramayanam, Vishvaksena is Lord Vishnu’s attendant who is in charge of the Lord’s wealth. Aside from these deities, there are five major deities, which are listed below:

• Moolavirat or Dhruva Beram – The main deity is Dhruva Bera, who is regarded as a source of energy. The Lord Venkateswara idol is fixed and is thought to be a Swayambhu (self-manifested image). Lord Vishnu is said to have reincarnated on Earth and taken the human form of Srinivasa. He married Princess Padmavati during his time on Earth. When Goddess Lakshmi learned of her husband’s second marriage, she set out to find him. Lord Vishnu, who had assumed the form of Srinivasa, turns to stone when confronted by both Mahalakshmi and Padmavati.
• Bhoga Srinivasa – This is a small silver idol of the Lord that is always placed near the main deity’s left foot. In 614 A.D., Queen Samavai of the Pallava dynasty donated this idol to the temple. The idol is usually swayed in a silver cradle and is placed in a golden cot to sleep. Because the idol enjoys all worldly pleasures, it is known as Bhoga Srinivasa.
• Ugra Srinivasa – The idol of Ugra Srinivasa is kept within the sanctum sanctorum and is cleansed daily with holy water, milk, ghee, curd, and other ingredients. The idol was originally used in the processions, but it was later replaced by Utsava Beram. It is said that whenever the idol of Ugra Srinivasa was taken out for processions, fires would inevitably occur. As a result, this idol was regarded as Lord Venkateswara’s fierce form.
• Utsava Beram – When the devotees were unable to use the idol of Ugra Srinivasa for processions, they prayed to the Lord, requesting that He suggest an alternative. The Lord then appeared in the dream of one of His devotees, telling him about another idol that could be used for processions. The devotees then discovered Utsava Beam’s idol in the hills of Seshachalam. To this day, the same idol is used in processions.
• Koluvu Srinivasa – Koluvu Srinivasa, made of five metals, is considered the guardian deity who oversees all activities, including the temple’s finances. The idol resembles Dhruva Bera and is also known as Bali Beram.

Facts about Tirupati Balaji Temple

• Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple is a prominent Vaishnavite temple in Tirumala, Tirupati, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India.
• Tirupati Balaji Temple is the world’s richest and most visited temple (of any faith). Tirumala is an ideal sacred weekend getaway from Chennai.
• Tirumala, the abode of Sri Venkateswara (also known as Balaji), is one of India’s most popular pilgrimage destinations, attracting millions of devotees each year.
• The temple is located at an altitude of 3,200 feet atop the Tirumala Hills, which are made up of seven peaks known as Sapthagiri.
• The seven peaks represent Adishesha, the serpent on which Lord Vishnu resides. The temple is located on Venkatadri, the seventh peak.
• The Tirupati Balaji Temple was built by Thondaimaan, the Tamil king. The Pallavas of Kanchipuram (9th century), Cholas of Tanjore (10th century), Pandyas of Madurai, and Vijayanagara Kings (14th & 15th centuries) all paid frequent visits to the temple and contributed significantly to its development.
• Sri Krishna Devaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire, in particular, made significant contributions to the temple. On the temple grounds, there are statues of Sri Krishna Devaraya and his consorts.
• The Tirumala shrine is a Dravidian architectural masterpiece. The main sanctum houses a 2 m tall standing idol of Venkateswara on a lotus, flanked by his consorts Bhudevi and Sridevi.
• The most striking feature of the magnificent black idol is its magnificent diamond crown, which is said to be the most valuable single ornament in the world. The ‘Ananda Nilayam’ Sanctorum has a glittering gold-covered Vimana and gold-covered gates.
• Religiously, the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala (Tirupati) is very important to Hindus. Every year, tourists and devotees from all over the world visit the temple.
• Sri Venkateswara, according to legend, is a benefactor of boons during the Dark Age (Kaliyuga), and people come here to seek the Lord’s blessings.
• During Brahmotsavams, the temple will be visited by thousands of devotees, particularly for Garuda seva.

Famous Festivals In Tirupati Balaji Temple

• Brahmmotsavam is the major festival celebrated in the temple. During Brahmotsavams, the temple will be visited by thousands of devotees, particularly for Garuda seva. During Brahmotsavams, the processional deity Malayappa, accompanied by his concerts Sridevi and Bhudevi, is led in a procession through four mada streets surrounding the temple on different vahanams.
• Venkateswara Brahmotsavam – The major event in the temple is Sri Venkateswara Brahmotsavam, a nine-day event held every year in September/October.
• Jyesthabhshekam – This festival is held in the month of June. Lord Venkateshwara appeared in Kaliyuga with a protective armour to fight evil. People perform Abhisheka and Poojas on this day to that armour.
• Chitra Poornima is also a major occasion for celebration in the temple.
• Vaikuntha Ekadashi – Vaikuntha Ekadashi celebrated during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) is the major festival celebrated in the temple.
  
• Teppotsavam is a five-day festival held in the month of Chaitra (March). The Swami Pushkarini Tank is used to transport the deities of Tirumala Temple.

Additional Information About Temple

Special Darshan is available for the elderly (those over the age of 65), parents with infants under the age of one year, and the physically challenged. Darshan can be done in a variety of ways. Darshan can take up to 24 hours depending on the number of people. One must obtain a Kankanam (token) with a time limit for entry.

The temple board offers various types of accommodations that must be reserved at least two months in advance. On Tirumala Hill, there are no private accommodations. Please visit the TTD website at http://www.tirumala.org/.

Dress Code – Since 2013, the Tirupati Balaji Temple Devasthanam administration has enforced a dress code for men and women. Men must dress in a traditional dhoti or pyjama with a shirt or kurta. Women must dress in a saree or a Churidar pyjama with a kurta.

How to reach Tirupati Balaji Temple

By Air: The nearest airport is Tirupati Airport, at a distance of 40 km from the temple. Chennai is the second nearest international airport.

By Railway: The nearest railway station is Tirupati, 26 km away from Tirumala. The AP Sampark Kranti Express connects to Bhopal, Gwalior, and New Delhi.

By Roadways:  There are several direct buses from cities such as Chennai, Bengaluru, and Vellore. Regular buses run from Tirupati to Tirumala. Tirupati Balaji Temple is located 1 km from Tirumala Bus Station.

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