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 town of Tirupati-Balaji is one of the
most sacred places in India. It is famous for Lord
Venkateshwara Deity. The name Tirupati-Balaji means the
'lord of Lakshmi'. The shrine is located on a hill at
Tirumala, a cluster of seven hills known as Venkatachalam
with an elevation of 853m above the sea level. It is said to
be the richest temple in the world, this temple is a vibrant
cultural and philanthropic institution with a grand history.
The architecture of the temple is such that the Cupola over
the sanctorum is covered entirely with gold plate and is
known as "the Ananda Nilayam". The shrine consists of three
'Prakarams'or enclosures.
Tirupati town is 67-km from Chittoor, 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.
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 other shrines that you can visit while on a trip to
Tirupati-Balaji are the Sri Govindrajaswamy Temple
consecrated by Saint Ramanujacharya in AD 1130; Sri
Kapileswaraswami Temple, the only temple dedicated to Lord
Siva; Sri Kodandaramaswami Temple, which has Rama, Sita, and
Lakshmana as the presiding deities; and the legendary Sri
Kalyana Venkateswaraswami Temple. You can also visit
Tiruchanur, where the temple of Sri Padmavathi Devi is
situated.
TIRUPATI BALAJI LIVE
TOUR
TEMPLE LEGENDS
Sri Venkatachala Mahatmya is
referred to in several Puranas, of which the most important
are the Varaha Purana and the Bhavishyottara Purana. The
printed work contains extracts from the Varaha Purana, Padma
Purana, Garuda Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Markandeya Purana,
Harivamsa, Vamana Purana, Brahma Purana, Brahmottara Purana,
Aditya Purana, Skanda Purana and Bhavishyottara Purana. Most
of these extracts describe the sanctity and antiquity of the
hills around Tirumala and the numerous teerthams situated on
them.
The legends taken from the Venkatachala Mahatmya and the
Varaha Purana, pertaining to the manifestation of the Lord
at Tirumala, are of particular interest.
According to the Varaha Purana, Adi Varaha manifested
Himself on the western bank of the Swami Pushkarini, while
Vishnu in the form of Venkateswara came to reside on the
southern bank of the Swami Pushkarini.
