Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Thirumala

           The ancient and sacrosanct 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  The Temple of Sri Venkateswara has located in Tirumala, near Tirupati in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh,India. It is  around 500km from Hyderabad, 150 km from Chennai, and 250 km from Bangalore. Balaji and Venkatachalapati , is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. In the hill town of The Tirumala Hills are 853m above sea level and is about 10.33 square miles (27 km2) in area.
         The Temple has its origins in Vaishnavism, an ancient sect which advocates the principles of equality and love, and prohibits animal sacrifice The Temple of Sri Venkateswara has acquired unique sanctity in Indian religious lore. The Sastras, Puranas, Sthala Mahatyams and Alwar hymns unequivocally declare that, in the Kali Yuga, one can attain mukti, only by worshipping Venkata Nayaka or Sri Venkateswara. 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. 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 (Being presiding on the seventh peak of Tirupati Hill, Sri Venkateswara is also known as the Lord of the Seven Hills.), the seventh peak, and is also known as the “Temple of Seven Hills”.

Su-Darsanam:

          SUDARSANAM, is the newly introduced system in the famous Tirumala temple seeks to make the waiting time of pilgrims standing in queues as pleasant as possible. It is needless to mention that long winding queues and Tirumala are synonymous.
          It is to get out of this dubious distinction that the TTD(Thirumala Thirupathi devasthanam)  management, after considerable deliberations with experts and time management consultants, has hammered out this unique scheme and put it on stream as it is aware that the problem has already assumed alarming dimensions putting in its wake a tremendous load on other TTD infrastructures.
           Another new facility introduced at Tirumala by the TTD management is the opening of what is called an 'amenities complex' close by the shrine. The huge complex, built at a cost of Rs.2 crores, has four spacious halls which in all could accommodate 5,000 pilgrims at a time. The complex also has built-in common bathrooms, toilets, cloakroom, locker facility and on the top of it all make-shift tonsuring centers.
          An ordinary pilgrim could get his Sudarsanam band tied, and quietly walk into the complex and get all his routine chores, including tonsuring, completed under one roof. Once through with this, one can go on sightseeing around or shopping or rest in the complex itself before going to the queue complex at the appointed time. This obviates the need to take separate cottages and, thus, reduces to that extent the load on the scarce accommodation system.

Bangaru Vakili:

         From the Thirumamani mandapam one can enter the Bangaru Vakili to reach the inner sanctum sanctorum. There are two tall copper images of dwarapalakas jaya and vijaya. On either side of the door. The thick wooden door is covered with gilt plates depecting the dasavataam of Sri  Maha Vishnu.The doorway is directly in line with the padi Kavali and the Vendi Vakaili.It admits pilgrims to the Snapana Mandapam.Suprabatham is sung in front of this door.

Foot Way to Tirumala:

         Many pilgrims prefer to go on foot from the Tirupati to Tirumala to have the Darshan of the Lord. It is also part of Sankalpam(Commitment). T.T.D has provided many facilities for the benefit of such pilgrims.

• Free transport of the Pilgrims luggage from the bottom of the hill to the Top.
• Well cemented steps with hand rails for support.
• Supply of potable water along the way.
• Toilets for both ladies and Gents.
• Well lit path way and security guards to ensure safety of the pilgrims.
• Small restaurants along the way for refreshments and snacks.

         The pilgrims have to get to Alipiri toll gate ,where the steps to the Tirumala begins.This is 4 K.Ms away from the railway station.They can then deposit their luggage at the T.T.D transport office and obtain a receipt.On reaching the top, they can redeem their luggage after producing this receipt. The foot way is 11 Kilometers in distance.It takes roughly between 3 to 4 hours to reach Tirumala by this way.
           The natural beauty along the way is breath taking.Though the steps at the start are a bit steep, the rest of the way is quite even and one wouldn't need to strain much.All along the way one can see pilgrims of every age climbing the steps with equal gusto. There are small mandapams along the way where pilgrims can take rest.Though the journey is physically tiring, it is a spiritually satifying one.

Architecture:

            This ancient temple is supposed to have been standing since ages. Comprised of ‘Gopuram’ There is a gilded cupola (Vimana) by the name of “the Ananda Nilayam” over the main shrine. The shrine comprises three enclosures, which are also known as ‘Prakarams’. The outmost enclosure comprises the ‘Dhvajastambha’ (banner post) and the other enclosures have many statues including statues of King Krishnadevraya and Todarmal (minister of Akbar). This temple is known for its construction according to “Vastu”. The temple is the richest pilgrimage center, after  Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in   Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, of any faith (at more than INR 50,000 crore) and the most-visited place of worship in the world. 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.

Sermons:

          Till date, the Balaji temple follows complex rituals and sermons of worship that were prescribed by Ramanuja Acharya in the 12th century. Every day, the program begins with ‘Suprabhatam’, which encompasses awakening of the Lord at 3′O clock in the morning. ‘Ekanta Seva’ is the last program, in which, the Lord is made to sleep at 1′O clock in the night.As per the day and period, different ‘sevas’ (services) and ‘utsavams’ (festivals) are held in the shrine of the Lord. ‘Hundi’ is a donation box and this is the main source of temple’s income. Devotees offer donations as per their desire in these boxes that are kept at intervals in the temple. For the ease of the pilgrims, different ‘darshans’ including ‘Sarvadarshan’, ‘Special Darshan’ and ‘Sudarshanam’ are prearranged.

             The different sevas are performed to the  Lord are Suprabhatam,Thomala Seva,Kalyanotsavam,Arjitha Brahmotsavam,Unjal Seva,Sahasra Dipalankara Seva,Koil Alwar Thirumajanam,Vasanthotsavam,Pavithrotsavam,Pushpa Yagam,Abhidyayaka Abhishekam,Padhmavathi Parinayam,Pushpa Palaki,Ashtadalapada Padhmaradhana,Sahasra Kalabishekam,Thirupavada Seva,Purna Abhishekam.

Prasadam in Thirumala:

           Laddu is the world famous prasadam given at Tirumala Temple.Recently the Trust has taken copy right of Laddu prasaddam, hence, no one can prepare the same Laddu. Many other prasadams are also available including daddojanam (curd rice), pulihora  (tamarind rice), vada and chakkera-pongali (sweet pongal), miryala-pongali, Appam, Paayasam, Jilebi, Muruku, Dosa, seera (kesari).

Hair tonsuring:

             Many devotees have their head tonsured as an offer. The daily amount of hair collected is over a ton. The hair thus gathered is sold by the temple organization a few times a year by public auction to international buyers for use as hair extensions and in cosmetics, bringing over $6 million to the temple’s treasury.(Hair tonsuring is a symbole having visited to Balaji Temple specialy in A P,Karnatka,Tamil Nadu, and Costal Maharashtra)
             When Lord Balaji was hit on his head by a shepherd, a small portion of his scalp became bald. This is noticed by Neela Devi, a Gandharva princess. She feels “such an attractive face should not have a flaw”. Immediately she cuts a portion of herhair and with her magical power she implants it on his scalp.Lord Balaji notices her sacrifice. As hair is a beautiful aspect of the female, he promises her that, all his devotees who come to his abode should render 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 among seven hills is named after her.

Thulabharam:

                It is the most important offering in this temple,  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.