Tirupati Balaji Temple

Tirupati is one of the most famous shrines in the country. For over thirteen centuries, people all over the world, have visited this holy site to worship Lord Vekateshwara. Tirupati town is 67 km from Chittoor in Chittoor district, the southern portion of Andhra Pradesh. The temple of Sri Venkateswara holds a distinct and important place in Indian religious forum. The Sastras, Puranas, Sthala Mahatyams and Alwar hymns declare that, in the Kali Yuga, one can attain mukti, only by worshipping Venkata Nayaka or Sri Venkateswara.

All the great dynasties of rulers of the southern peninsula have paid homage to Lord Sri Venkateswara in this ancient shrine. The Pallavas of Kancheepuram (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 the Lord and they competed with one another in endowing the temple with rich offerings and contributions.

The Shrine consists of three 'Prakarams' or enclosures. The outermost enclosure contains the 'Dhvajastambha' or the banner post and, among others, the statues of Vijayanagara king Krishnadevaraya and his consorts, and of Todarmal, the minister of Akbar. The idol of the deity, the full figure of Lord Venkateswara or 'Venkataramana' or 'Srinivasa' or 'Balaji' has the attributes of both Vishnu and Shiva, preserving and destroying aspects of the Hindu Trinity.

Each day pilgrims in thousands throng the temple. They wait patiently in long queues, offer cash and jewelry and tonsure their heads in fulfillment of their vows. The view of the deity completely ornamented from tip to toe is in itself awe-inspiring. Before entering the temple, devotees have to take a dip in the Pushkarini tank, the waters of which are considered sacred and highly praised in the Puranas. Devotees overflowing with bhakti (devotion), with prayer on their lips, move in single file with hands held high in salutation. The day starts with the suprabhata darshanam and ends with the ekanta seva when the Lord is put to bed in a velvet mattress spread over a swing cot suspended by gold chains.