File:Sivkishen at Tirulama.JPG

Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple 

Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple    ( తిరుమల  శ్రీవేంకటేశ్వర  స్వామి  వారి  ఆలయం ) <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'TimesNewRoman',serif;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">is a famous Vedic temple in the hill town of Tirumala, near Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. Tirumala: Tiru means 'Holy' or 'Sacred' and mala means hills/ mountain in the Tamil language. Therefore, it translates as Holy Mountains. Venkateswara: In Sanskrit, Ven-kata-eswara means this: 'vem' = all the links with one's own sins, 'kata' = will be cut off in total to the one who surrenders to him, 'Eswara' = Supreme God.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.5pt;text-align:justify;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'TimesNewRoman',serif;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">It is 853m above sea level and is about 10.33 square miles (27 km <sup style="text-align:start;">2 ) in area. 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 <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""><span style="background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">   <span style="background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">(also known as Venkatachala or Venkata Hill), the seventh peak, and is also known as the "Temple of Seven Hills". The presiding  deity of<span style="background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;"> the temple is Lord  Venkateswara, an incarnation of lord  Vishnu. Venkateswara is known by other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.5pt;text-align:justify;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'TimesNewRoman',serif;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">It is the richest temple in the world in terms of donations received and wealth, and the most-visited place of worship in the world. The temple is visited by about 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily 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.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.5pt;text-align:justify;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'TimesNewRoman',serif;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">There are several  legends associated with the manifestation of the Lord in Tirumala. According to one legend, the temple has a Murti (deity) of Lord Venkateswara, which it is believed shall remain here for the entire duration of the present Kali Yuga.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.5pt;text-align:justify;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'TimesNewRoman',serif;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">This Temple built as per Agama Sastra. The entire science of Temple <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif""> <span style="background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">Architecture is well dealt in the Kingdom of Shiva.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.5pt;text-align:justify;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'TimesNewRoman',serif;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">Just Let us have a look at this Divine Temple and know on how the Agama Sastra followed here”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0.05in0in0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">'''<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-fareast-language:EN-IN; mso-bidi-language:TE">Vimanam '''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.5pt;text-align:justify;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'TimesNewRoman',serif;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">The  vimanam is a monumental tower with a golden roof. Its inner temple or vimanam houses the main deity, Lord Sri Venkateswara. The deity stands directly beneath a gilt dome called the Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana. This exquisitely wrought deity, called the Mulaberam, is believed to be self-manifested, and no human being is known to have installed it in the shrine. The Lord wears a gold crown with a large emerald embedded in the front. On special occasions, he is adorned with a diamond crown. The Lord has a thick double  tilaka drawn on his forehead, which screens his eyes. His ears are decorated with golden earrings. The right hand is pointing to his lotus feet. His left hand is akimbo. His body is dressed with yellow clothing tied with gold string and a gold belt with gold bells. He has a yajnopavita (sacred thread) flowing down crosswise from his left shoulder. He bears Lakshmi Devi on his right chest and Padmavathi Devi on his left chest. His feet are covered with gold frames and decked with gold anklets. A curved gold belt encompasses his legs. The Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana was covered with gilt copper plates and surmounted with a golden vase in the 13th century, during the reign of the Vijayanagara king Yadava Raya.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. === Bangaru Vakili === <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.5pt;text-align:justify;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'TimesNewRoman',serif;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">From the Tirumamani Mandapam, one can enter the Bangaru Vakili (Meaning Golden Entrance in  Telugu) to reach the inner sanctum sanctorum. There are two tall copper images of the dwarapalakas Jaya and Vijaya on either side of the door. The thick wooden door is covered with gilt plates depicting the dasavataram of Sri Maha Vishnu. The doorway is directly in line with the Padi Kavali and the Vendi Vakili(Meaning Silver Corridor in Telugu). It admits pilgrims to the Snapana Mandapam. Suprabhatam is sung in front of this door. === Garbha Gruham === <p style="margin:0in0in0.0001pt;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">The Garbhagruha or sanctum sanctorum is where the idol of Lord Sri Venkateswara is placed. The idol stands majestically in the Garbha Gruha, directly beneath a gilt-dome called the "Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana". This idol, called the Mulaberam, is believed to be self-manifested. As there is no known sculptor possessing the capability to sculpt idols of god so proportionately. Further, no human being is known to have installed it in the shrine.<sup id="cite_ref-19" style="unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate">[19 ]

<p style="margin:0in0in0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">The idol of the Lord wears a gold crown (Kiritam), which has a large emerald embedded on its front. On special occasions, it is replaced with a diamond kiritam. On the forehead of the idol, two thick patches of tilak drawn with refined camphor, almost covers the eyes of the idol. In between the two white patches is a Kasturitilakam made of saffron.

<p style="margin:0in0in0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">Golden makara kundalas hang on the ears of the idol. The palm of its raised right hand is embedded with a gem-set Sudarshana Chakra and the left palm with the

<p style="margin:0in0in0.0001pt;text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">Holy Cone. The slightly outstretched front right hand, has its fingers pointing toward the feet, as if the Lord is the only recourse to his devotees to dissolve in him and enjoy eternal bliss. The akimbo of the front left hand implies lord's protection to devotees and to show that the Samsara Sagara (Ocean of Life) is never deeper than to hip's height, if they seek his refuge.

<p style="margin:0in0in0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">The body of the Idol is spun with a Gold-stringed-Pitambaram, with a belt of golden-bells. The idol is decorated with precious ornaments. It has a sacred thread flowing down, crossing from the left shoulder. It bears Goddess Lakshmi on the right chest and Sri Padmavathi Devi on the left. Nagaabharanam ornaments are on both shoulders of the idol. The lotus feet are covered with gold frames and decked with clinging gold anklets. A strong curved belt of gold encompasses the legs. During abhishekam, we can have darshan of Goddess Lakshmi.

<p style="margin:0in0in0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">The Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana was covered with gilt copper plates and covered with a golden vase, in the thirteenth century, during the reign of the Vijayanagara king, Yadava Raya. Pilgrims are not allowed to enter the Garbha Gruha (beyond Kulasekhara padi (

<p style="margin:0in0in0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-size:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial;">Sivkishen, Author Kingdom of Shiva

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