Tirupati Temple

Tirupati Temple is one of the most visited pilgrimage centers of India. People come to the temple to worship Venkateswara, or Srinivasa or Balaji, incarnation of Vishnu, one of the trinities of Indian mythology. The shrine is located on the Seven Hills of the Eastern Ghats in Tirupati, in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. The architecture of the main temple ofTirupati Temple is glorious and magnificent. The Vimana constructed over the sanctum and the Dhwajasthambam are gold plated. The temple received patronage from the Pallavas, Pandyas, Cholas, Vijayanagar rulers and later on by the Mysore king.

TheTirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) looks after the maintenance and administration of the temple. Apart from it the committee has to look after the welfare of the pilgrims, and sponsor several religious, charitable, social and educational institutions. TheTirupati Temple has been mentioned in the sacred Puranas. There are 108 holy temples in the Sri Vaishnavite tradition (Sri Vaishnava Divya Desams),Tirupati Temple is one among them. Krishna Deva Raya of the Vijayanagar Kingdom came to the temple 7 times to worship the Lord. TheVenkatesa Itihasa Mala and theVaraha Purana features a number of legends associated with the temple.

Tirupati Temple is said to be the richest Indian temple. Every day more than fifty thousand pilgrims come to theSri Venkateswara Temple. To manage the huge rush in the temple, the temple committee permits the pilgrims to enter through theVaikuntam Queue Complex, which is a series of halls leading to the temple.

Last Updated on 19 May 2011