Temples in Tirumala
Sri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple
Sri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple
This temple is one of the most important Vishnu temples in India and is also the richest. It is the most visited temple in India and is one of the most visited religious places in the world. This magnificent temple is located 20 km up a hill from Tirupati. It is a very peaceful place and coming to this temple is a very awe-inspiring and devotional experience. On a spiritual tour of South India it is an absolute must, as it is the crown jewel of all the temples in the South.
Some pilgrims walk from all parts of India just for a few-seconds glance at Sri Balaji, whose eyes are covered with the wide Ramanuja tilaka. Many people consider that one's life is not successful without visiting this temple at least once. Over 25,000 people visit daily on an average and on festival days it can run to over 100,000. In 1989 over 11 and a half million people made their pilgrimage here.
As you enter the inner sanctum the chanting becomes more and more
intense-"Om Namo Venkateswara, Om Namo Venkateswara." On special days when the Deity is in "full dress" His entire outfit (His skirt) spreads from one end of the altar room to the other and all the jewels of the dress are real gold coins, emeralds, diamonds, platinum. He is approximately 2 metres high and the dress which is entirely covered with jewels has a width of at least 5 metres.
It is said that at Tirumala, Lord Vishnu grants the wish of anyone who offers Him their weight in something, be it gold, fruit, cloth, or whatever. Pilgrims who make such an offering and ask a boon or blessing generally return (after achieving their desire) and make another offering to the Lord, acknowledging His kindness.
The worship in the temple is performed by Sri-sampradaya Vaishnava Brahmins, in the line of Ramanujacarya. Except for a shrine for Sri Ramanuja, there are no other shrines for Vaishnava saints, the Alwars, or the Acaryas.
The Venkateswara temple is 126.5m (414 ft) long, 80m (263 ft) wide, and covers an area of 2.2 acres. Because of the large number of people and every thing that is happening there the temple can seem much smaller than it is. The temple itself is unusual in that nothing can be seen from the outside. It is on. only when you get inside the complex that you see everything. What is particularly stunning is the vimana (dome), called Ananda Nilayam, above the Deity's main room. It is covered in hammered solid gold. The flag-pole (dwajasthamba) is gold-plated, and the gates that guard the inner sanctum are also covered with gold.
Every day 100,000 luglus are made. The demand is much more, but the tradition is that all the luglus must be cooked in the temple kitchens. The cooks receive 52 luglus for every 1000 they make, as payment for their services.
The average income of the temple $30,000 (10 lakhs) a day. It has an
annual income of 5 billion rupees (145 million dollars) a year. The TTD banks Rs 40 to 50 crores (12 million dollars) yearly. The Hundi (Deity box) collection over 5 million dollars yearly. It is not unusual when they open this box at the end of the day to find gold and platinum coins and bricks inside.
The Deity's gold and silver palanquins and other sacred paraphernalia are on display. There is a temple staff of over 6,000.
It is said that Sankaracarya established the Dhanakarshana Yantra at this temple to attract people to visit the temple. Lord Caitanya came here on His tour of South India.
Sri Venkateswara (Sri Balaji)
Lord Venkateswara is an impressive 2 metre (6 feet) high Deity, who stands a lotus that is placed directly on the ground. The Deity is known as Venkateswara, Venkatanathan, Srinivasa, Govinda, Perumal, or Balaji. Lord Venkateswara is a self-manifested Deity. Balaji is made of a jet-black stone. His diamond crown, made in Antwerp, he diamond capital of the world, is said to be the single most valuable piece of jewelry in the world.
His two upper arms hold a conch shell (sankha) and disk (cakra). The palm of His lower right hand is turned outward offering benediction (varada), while His lower left hand is turned inward (katyavalambita). Alarmelmangai Nachchiyar (Laksmi), seated on a lotus, is carved on the right side of Sri Venkateswara's chest. She enjoys all the worship that is accepted by the Lord. Lord Ramacandra's marks are found on Venkateswara near the armpits: the bow and quiver (arrows).
The Lord's lotus eyes are covered by a large tilak like "V" made of camphor. For it is said that Lord Venkateswara's lotus-like eyes are so beautiful that if they were uncovered, then pilgrims would not want to leave. This form of the Lord is known for fulfilling any desire a devotee may express to Him. It is also said that His eyes are covered because His gaze would scorch the entire world.
The Deity wears very precious jewelry. He wears a garland of big solid-gold coins. His two hands, opened in benediction, are covered first with silver and then diamonds and rubies. He wears different big crowns made of solid gold covered in diamonds, rubies, and other precious gems. The Lord wears a big emerald called "Meru Pacha", which is 3 inches in diameter and is considered to be the biggest emerald in the world. All the jewelry is real gold. The Lord possesses over 250 crores (70 million dollars) worth of gems and 640 kgs of gold.
Temple Program
At 3 am is suprabhatam, the awakening prayers. Between 3 am and 5 am is thomala-seva, or the renewal of flowers for the Lord, which can be attended by purchasing a ticket. Sarva-darsana, or general darsana (viewing) of the Lord. The Lord takes rest for just two hours a day.
The padmaradhana, or worship with 108 golden lotus flowers, is a popular abisheka done every Tuesday. Tickets are booked a year in advance.
Abhisheka, or the bathing of Sri Venkateswara, is done every Friday morning. The articles used for the abhisheka are carried in a procession around the sanctum. This abhisheka can be viewed by paying a donation and should be arranged as far in advance as possible.
Sri Ramanuja
Traditionally, a Deity of Lord Vishnu will bear in His hands certain distinguishing symbols: a lotus, a conchshell, a discus, and a club. During the time of Ramanuja, however, in the eleventh century, Lord Venkateswara's two upper hands were empty. No one knew why. It was not possible to verify the true identity of the Deity. Was this a form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vishnu, or a form of a demigod? To further complicate matters, some figures of snakes, symbols of Lord Siva, are on the body of the Deity. A dispute developed in which some people claimed the Deity was Lord Siva, while other insisted He was Lord Vishnu. The Saivaites insisted He was Lord Siva, and the Vaisnavas insisted He was Lord Vishnu.
In the midst of this feud, Ramanuja came to Tirumala on pilgrimage. Both factions called on him to settle their, dispute. He proposed that the paraphernalia of both Siva and Vishnu be left inside the Deity room overnight to let the Lord choose, while both parties waited outside the locked doors. They accepted this proposal. Sri Ramanuja locked the symbols of Lord Vishnu and Lord Siva in the Deity's room overnight. Next morning, all were astonished to find Vishnu's symbols, the conch and discus, in the Deity's hands. Since that day Lord Venkateswara's identity as Lord Krishna has never been questioned.
Ramanujacarya established the Deity worship system that is used in this temple. There is a shrine dedicated to Ramanuja in the Venkateswara temple.
Other Deities In the Temple
Immediately to the left of the second gopuram entrance is a small temple dedicated to Sri Varadaraja Swami. You will be led past this deity to get to the inner altar, and it is traditional to offer worship to Varadaraja first.
As you come into the second gopuram (entrance), to your right is a Deity of Lord Nararimha in his form of Yoga Narasimha. He is sitting in a cross- legged yogic position, with His two lower hands resting on His knees.
Facing west near Lord Narasimha is a deity of Sri Ramanuja, the
Sri Vaishnava Acarya. A part of the prasadam offered to Sri Venkateswara is offered to Sri Ramanuja. On certain festival days special honors are shown to Sri Ramanuja, because he established the day to-day procedure of worship in this temple.
Deities On Main Altar (Sanctum)
Bhogi Srinivasa, who is a silver replica of the mula-vigraha of Lord Sri Venkateswara, is always near Sri Veakateswara and connected to the main Deity by a silk cord. This Deity receives the daily abhisheka (bathing ceremonies), whereas the main Deity is only bathed on Friday.
This Deity is said to have a yantra installed in Him and is said to grant
material prosperity to His devotees. When the Deity is brought outside the inner sanctum for festivals, a gold link and silk cord still attach the Deity of Bhogasrinivasa to Sri Venkateswara.
Sri Malai Kuniya Nenran Perumal (Sri Malayappan) is the 3-foot-tall
processional Deity (utsava-murti). The Deity wears precious jewels set in platinum and gold. Sridevi is to the right of this Deity and Bhudevi is also near by.
Ugra Srinivasa (Venkatatturaivar), who is about 1½ feet tall, is the previous processional Deity. Ugra means angry. The Deity is holding a chakra in a slightly tilted way, as if it could be used immediately. It is said that if the rays of the sun would ever touch this Deity it would do incalculable harm to the world, therefore He is amply provided with Jewel-encrusted umbrellas.
Koluvu Srinivasa is brought daily after the morning thomala-seva (worship) and seated on a silver chair. He is the guardian Deity and supervises the temple affairs. The calendar of the day (panchangam) and the accounts of the temple are read to Him every day. He officiates for the main Deity.
There is also a set of Rukminikrishna Deities and Deities of SitaRama, Laksmana, and Sugriva.
There is also a deity of Chakra Alwar (Sudarsana cakra), the disc of the Lord, who always proceeds the utsavamurti (processional Deity) during processions.
Temple Complex
You enter the temple through the eastern entrance. As you enter the temple there is a small hall with two wings to your right and left. The one to your right (the northern side) has three metal statues of Krishnadeva Raya and his two queens, Tirumaladevi and Chinnadevi. In the southern wing (to your left) are metal statues of King Achyuta Raya and his two queens. These kings were important supporters of the temple.
To your right as you enter (southeast corner) is the Ranga-mandapa, where different festival events are held. To the west of this hall are the Annaunjal Hall and Tiurmalaraya Hall, which are also used for different festival events. In the north part of the courtyard is a hall called Aina-mahal (mirror hall). In the west of the courtyard, by the next entrance, is a mandapa that has the dwajasthamba (flagstaff) and balipita (platform of sacrifice).
The second enclosure area is called Sampangi Prakara. The wall that surrounds the inner sanctum and other structures is called the Vimana Pradakshina. It contains the altars of Sri Varadaraja, Sri Narasimha, and Ramanujacarya.
On either side of the entrance to the inner sanctum are the two dvarapalas (guards), Jaya and Vijaya. The Mukkoti Pradakshina is a path that encircles the inner sanctum. It is normally closed and is open only on Vaikuntha Ekadasi. One who goes through the special gate that circumambulates the inner sanctum of Sri Venkateswara is considered to gain liberation from this material world upon leaving this body. Around the Temple
There is a large water tank next to this temple called Swami Pushkarini tank, where pilgrims take bath before their darsana. The Varaha Purana says Swami Pushkarini was a pond used by Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha for recreation. Tradition says that this tank was put here by Garuda.
Next to the tank is the Varaha Swami temple. It is stated in the Puranas that Lord Varaha was on Sesachala before Sri Venkateswara, and He granted space to Venkateswara to live on Sesachala Hill. It is a tradition to visit this temple before going into the main temple.
There is a small museum called the Hall of Antiquities (opened daily), which is located opposite the temple entrance.
Akasa Ganga is a sacred waterfall 5 km south of the temple. Water is brought from here for Lord Venkateswara's abhiseka (bathing). On the way to Akasa Ganga is Papavinasha Tirtha.
After darsana, there are a number a things to do. Tirumala is more like a city than a temple, and one could easily spend a whole day just walking around. There are many sacred water tanks and smaller temples that house various paraphernalia, such as the chariot to carry the small processional Deities (utsava Deity) during festivals.
You can also visit the huge head-shaving center, which looks something like a South Indian temple. Instead of the usual murtis of demigods, it has statues of barbers shaving the pilgrims. Devotees offer their hair in expectation of pleasing the Lord. Head shaving (tonsuring) is done by many people (many of them women). The hair is sold for wig making, and these proceeds are also used for increasing the prosperity of the Deities and the upkeep of the town, etc. Three or four crore rupees (over a million dollars) is raised from thin process each year.
There are also other significant temples in the area and some beautiful waterfalls beyond Tirumala in the higher hills.
Kalahasti
There is an important Siva temple here. It is on the right bank of the Suvarnamukhi River, 27 km northeast of Tirupati. It is between the two hills Sripuram and Mummudicholapuram, which form part of the Sesha Sailam hills.
Kalahastiswara Temple
This is an important temple dedicated to Lord Siva. This temple has one of the elemental lingas, the vayu (air) linga. There is a lamp inside the inner sanctum that is constantly flickering despite the lack of air movement inside. The airlinga can be observed to move even when the pujaris close off the entrance to the main Deity room, which does not have any windows. You can see the flames on several ghee lamps flicker as if blown by moving air. The linga is white and is considered Swayambhu, or self-manifested.
The main linga is untouched by human hands, even by the priest Abhisheka (bathing) is done by pouring a mixture of water, milk, camphor, and panchamrita. Sandal paste, flowers, and the sacred thread are offered to the utsava-murti, not the main linga.
This temple is one of the most impressive Siva temples in India. It features an enormous, ancient gopuram (tower) over the main gate. The tower is 36.5m (120 feet) high. The entire temple is carved out of the side of a huge stone hill. It was built in 1516 by King Krishnadeva Raya.
The temple is run by neatly dressed Saivite Brahmins, who conduct the worship of the various deities inside. Inside the temple you will find the tremendously ornate and splendid architecture that South India is famous for. Elaborately designed pillars, altars, and paraphernalia abound.
The main entrance of the temple is from the south, but the deity faces west. There is an interesting underground temple for Lord Ganapathi, named Patala Vinayaka, which is 30 feet beneath the ground. The goddess here is called Jnana Prasannambha and is said to be the sister of Lord Venkateswara at the Tirumala temple. She is said to give supreme knowledge (jnana) to those who worship her.
The Suvarnamukhi River is a sacred river, said to have been brought to the earth by Agastya Muni. It is also called Uttara Vahini, because at this place it flows south to north, which is unusual. It is dry most of the year. You can climb to the top of the nearby Nagor Hill (1040m) and get a good view of the area. Lord Caitanya sanctified this spot with His visit. By purchasing a special darshan ticket you wait about 10 minutes instead of an hour on a normal day.
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