The temple of Tirupati Balaji, which is located in Andhra Pradesh, is well-known amongst Hindus. This temple radiates enormous grandeur. It is believed that paying a visit to the Tirupati temple at least once in life ensures success.
The Tirupati temple located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh is a well-known pilgrimage across India. Lakhs of people from all over the world visit the temple every year, to offer their prayers. This temple is dedicated of Bhagwan Venkateshwar, who is an incarnation of Bhagwan Vishnu. It is said that Bhagwan Venkateshwar took this avatar to save the mankind from the ill-effects of the Kali yug.
There are various tales about the history of this ancient shrine. The huge sculpture of Bhagwan Venkateshwar is believed to have emerged on its own. Numerous ancient literatures, like the Rig Veda and other significant texts describe the temple’s presence and relevance in their verses. According to a belief, Bhagwan Varah constructed the entire Seshachalam Hills so that Adisesha, who is Bhagwan Vishnu’s seven-headed snake, may rest on the ground. Seshachalam Hills consist of the seven hills, which are believed to symbolize the serpent king Adisesha’s 7 heads.
The Temple complex is built in ancient Dravidian architecture style, around the year 300 CE. Bhagwan Ventakateshwar is standing in the Garbha Gruh facing the east direction. The Garbha Gruh is called Anand Nilayam’. Today, the two modern waiting complex structures have been built to manage the rush of millions of visitors. There is also a separate building for the free meal to the visitors known as the Tarigonda Vengamamba Annaprasadam complex. Another place has been exclusively built for the pilgrims who wish to donate their hair to the Almighty, with a belief that they will be blessed several times more than the amount of hair they offer to the God. Around six to seven hundred barbers have been appointed by the temple trust to carry out massive hair donation drive that takes place every single day.
Throughout the years, various monarchs and kingdoms have contributed to the construction and renovation of the temple. After defeating and killing Dost Ali, in the violent battle at Damalcheruvu, it was the Maratha general Raghoji Bhonsle who initiated a permanent management review of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthan. Raghoji Bhonsle offered his prayers to Bhagwan Venkateshwar and donated valuable jewels and stones, including an enormous emerald that is still closely guarded by temple authorities and stored in the ‘Raghovari Peti,’ a trunk dedicated to the Maratha General.
Later on, when the British arrived in India, they took control over the temple and licensed it to several tenants for various uses. The East India Company then gave the temple’s governance to Hathiramji Muth, who was the main priest of the temple. Hathiramji Muth took care of the temple till until 1933, when it was taken up by the ‘Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam’ (TTD). A court judgement in 1966 transferred the temple’s administration to the Andhra Pradesh government. This decree was rescinded in 1979, when the temple’s governance was given to TTD members.
Devotees frequently experience happiness and peace after visiting the temple. As the world’s affluent temple, it employs thousands of people and provides a source of income for countless others. The temple is essential to local people’s economy as well as for the government of Andhra Pradesh.
The laddoos served as naivedyam at the Tirupati temple are extremely tasty, and they have been designated as a Geographical Indication. As a result, only Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam can make such Dittam laddoos. According to statistics, over 1.5 lakh ladoos are made here every day.
