Tirumala Tirupati
The temple town of Tirumala-Tirupati situated in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India is one of the most venerated place of worship for the Hindus . An important pilgrimage site, Tirupati, also known as 'Kaliyuga Vaikuntam' or Aadhi Varaha Kshetra" by its devotees is famous for its Sri Venkateswara temple. One of the most holiest and sacred shrines of India, the Sri Venkateswara temple, located at a height of 874 m above sea level and on the foothill of the seventh peak, Venkatachala or Venkatadri of the Tirumalai Hill is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is also known as Srinivasa or Balaji.
The Sri Venkateswara temple is reported to be one of the oldest temple of South India. Various literary and epigraphic evidence testify to the antiquity of the temple. References to Tiruvenkatam abound in early Tamil literature (Tolkappiam, Silappadikaram and Manimekalai), which bear testimony to the existence of a shrine at Tirupati. Explicit reference to the Lord of Tiruvenkatam is found in the works of the early Tamil Saint Poets as well as in the poems of the later Alwars. Tirumala constitutes one of the 108 Sri Vaishnava Divya Desams - sacred shrines in the Sri Vaishnavite tradition. Even the Venkatesa Itihasa Mala and the Varaha Purana contain several legends connected with Tirumalai while the Puranic literature which was composed around the Gupta era also mentions of Tirupati as the Aadhi Varaha Kshetra.
According to some evidence the history of the temple dates back almost 2,000 years . Though nobody knows when and who built the temple, tradition holds that the temple is Swayambhustala, i.e., that it came into existence on its own without anyone constructing it. According to the local folk legends , there was a huge anthill at Tirupati. A farmer heard a voice from the heavens asking him to feed the ants. By chance the local king heard the voice and began supplying milk for the ants himself. His compassion resulted in the liquid uncovering a magnificent idol of Lord Venkateshwara hidden beneath the anthill.
Whatever its origins, the Sri Venkateswara temple was a well established Hindu shrine by the 5th century A.D. Numerous temple inscriptions from the 9th century record details of the temple and contributions made by both Pallavas and Chola Kings. Under the Cholas, the temple complex prospered and expanded further. But, it was under the Vijayanagara emperors especially Krishnadeva Raya, that the temple attained its current opulence and size. In 1517, Krishnadevaraya, on one of his many visits to the temple, donated gold and jewels enabling the Vimana (inner shrine) roofing to be gilded. Among the later rulers who endowed large benefactions were the Maratha general Raghoji Bhonsle and the rulers of Mysore and Gadwal.
One of the richest shrine in the world, second only to Vatican , thousands of pilgrims flock to this temple town to pay their respects to the Lord. It is estimated that more than 50,000 people visit the temple everyday; making almost 19 million people in a year and though it is possible to drive to the temple from Tirupati to Tirumala, many devotees prefer to walk through the seven picturesque medium sized hills as a display of piety. Probably one of the busiest temples in the world, devotees often have to wait for 12 hours or more to get a glimpse of the deity. However, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the temple, has come out with a unique concept to ease the problems of the pilgrims. To ensure 'Sarvadarsanam', which means 'darshan for all', of Lord Sri Venkateswara, the TTD has established computerized system which allows the pilgrims to book tickets and they are given a specified time slot. In addition, there are free darshans, and special darshan, which cost a bit more. There are also special darshan for the physically disabled and the aged through a separate gate at the Maha Dwaram - the main temple entrance. Escort facilities for the pilgrims are also available.
The temple town of Tirumala-Tirupati witnesses the largest number of pilgrims on the day of Ekadasi in the month of Vaikunta for it is belevied that whosoever is there at the abode of Lord Venkateswara will be absolve of all their sins.
At the Sri Venkateswara temple, it is considered auspicious to offer your hair to the Lord. Considered as a means of effacing of the ego as per the Vaishavite tradition, devotees irrespective of age, sex and race can get their heads tonsured by the barbers at the Kalyana Katta, a huge building near the temple where most of the barbers sit. A bathroom is also provided next to the Kalyana katta for devotees to take bath. Alternately, they can also take a holy dip in the Pushkarini after which they are supposed to visit the temple for darshan. In fact the volume of human hair is so enormous that it is actually sorted out and exported, making India the largest exporter of hair in the world.
