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The town of Tirupati-Balaji is one of the most ancient and sacred pilgrimage spots in India. |
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The name Tirupati means the 'Lord of Lakshmi', and should have been applied to the village on the Venkat hill, the dwelling of Lord Venkateswara.
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However, Tirupati-Balaji is the town and transport hub at the bottom of the hill. The hill near the temple is called Tirumala or the 'sacred hill'. The temple here is said to be the busiest in the world, eclipsing even Rome, Jerusalem, and Mecca in the number of pilgrims visiting it.
Tirumala is in the extreme southeastern part of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. It is situated in the Chittoor district of the state. The Tirumala Hill is 3,200 ft above sea level, and is about 10.33 sq miles in area. It comprises seven peaks, representing the seven hoods of Adisesha, thus earning the name Seshachalam. The seven peaks are called Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrishabhadri, Narayanadri, and Venkatadri. Tirupati-Balaji is 137 km from Chennai, 258 km from Bangalore, and 562 km from Hyderabad (via Kurnool and Cuddapah).
Tirupati-Balaji is on the Bangalore circuit, which also comprises Bangalore and Chennai.
Everyday is a festive day at Tirumala. Two customs peculiar to the temple of Lord Venkateswara are anointing the body of the Lord with camphor, saffron, and musk, and offering of hair by the devotees to the Lord Venkateswara. This offering is popular throughout the year. Devotees do not stop at their hair; they have been offering wads of currency notes, diamonds, gold, silver, clothes, revolvers, tables, small coins, or an occasional trinket. Something that has become synonymous with Tirumala is the laddu, a sweetmeat, whose quality and taste is unmatched. Often pilgrims are found carrying back this prasad (offering) to their friends and relatives back home.
| Fast Facts |
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| Area |
10.33 sq. miles |
| Altitude |
152 m above sea level |
| Population |
2,98,827 |
| Languages: |
Telugu, English |
| Religion |
Hinduism |
| Annual Mean Rainfall |
710 mm |
| Maximum Temperature |
40°C |
| Minimum Temperature |
15°C |
| Best Time To Visit: |
October-March |
| STD Code: |
08574 |
| State Capital |
No |
History
All the great dynasties of the southern peninsula have paid homage to Lord Sri Venkateswara at this ancient city. The Pallavas of Kanchipuram (9th century ad), the Cholas of Thanjavur (a century later), the Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings and chieftains of Vijayanagar (14th-15th century ad) were devotees of this shrine.
It was during the rule of the Vijayanagar dynasty that the contributions to the temple increased. Krishnadevaraya had statues of himself and his consorts installed at the portals of the temple, and these statues can be seen to this day. There is also a statue of Venkatapati Raya in the main temple. The Maratha general, Raghoji Bhonsle visited the temple and set up a permanent endowment for the conduct of worship in the temple. He also presented valuable jewels to the Lord, including a large emerald that is still preserved in a box named after the general. Among the later rulers who have endowed large amounts, are the rulers of Mysore and Gadwal.
In ad 1843, the administration of the shrine of Sri Venkateswara and a number of the temple estates was entrusted to Sri Seva Dossji of the Hatiramji Mutt at Tirumala, and the temple remained under the administration of the Mahants (head priests) for nearly a century, till ad 1933.
In AD 1933, the Madras Legislature passed a special act, which empowered the Tirumala Tirupati-Balaji Devasthanams (TTD) Committee to control and administer a fixed group of temples in the Tirumala-Tirupati-Balaji area, through a Commissioner appointed by the Government of Madras. In AD 1951, the Act of 1933 was replaced by an enactment whereby the administration of TTD was entrusted to a Board of Trustees, and the Government appointed an Executive Officer.
Best Season, Climate, and Clothing
Being situated in a tropical zone, Tirupati-Balaji normally has a very hot and humid climate. The temperature reaches a high of 40°C during summers, while it touches a low of 15°C during winters. The best time to visit Tirupati-Balaji is during the winter season, between September and February. Cotton clothing is apt for the summer months whereas light woollens are required for the winter season.
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