Venkateswara Temple Tirupati Andhra Pradesh History and Interesting Facts

Venkateswara Temple Quick Facts

Venkateswara Temple Overview

Tirupati Venkateswara Temple is a famous Hindu temple located in the Chittoor district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Lord Venkateswara is also known as Balaji, Srinivasa and Govinda, hence this temple built in Tirumala is world famous as Tirupati Balaji Temple.

Lord Venkateswara or Balaji is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Tirupati Balaji temple is one of the 'Richest Temples' in the country. Here every year, apart from big industrialists, film stars, and politicians, lakhs of people from far and wide come to visit and offer them their wishes. Built many centuries ago, this temple is a unique example of South Indian architecture and sculpture. Tirupati is one of the most famous pilgrimage centers in India.

Venkateswara Temple History

The original facts of when this temple was built are not available, but historians believe that the history of this temple dates back to the 9th century, when the Pallava dynasty rulers of Kanchipuram established their suzerainty at this place. Tirupati Balaji Temple started gaining fame in the 15th century.

The management of Temple was handled by the Mahant of Hatiramji Math under British rule from 1843 to 1933. The management of this temple was taken over by the Government of Madras in the year 1933 and the management of this temple was entrusted in the hands of an independent management committee 'Tirumala-Tirupati'.

After the formation of the state of Andhra Pradesh, this committee was reconstituted and an administrative officer was appointed as the representative of the Andhra Pradesh Government. Tirupati Board administers temples in many cities and towns including New Delhi, Rishikesh, Guwahati, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kanyakumari.

Venkateswara Temple Interesting Facts

1. Considered to be the holiest pilgrimage site of Hindus, this ancient Tirupati Balaji Temple is situated on the seventh peak of Tirumala mountain called Venkatadri, which is situated on the banks of the Sri Swami Pushkarni pond.
2. The Height of the oldest temple of Balaji is about 3200 feet above sea level.
3. Lord Tirupati Balaji is seated inside the temple with his wife Padmavati.
4. The Temple complex has many beautifully designed gates, Mandapams, and small shrines.
5. A stick is placed on the right side of the main entrance of the temple. It is said that Balaji was thrashed with this stick in his childhood, due to which his chin was hurt. Since then, the practice of applying sandalwood on the chin of Balaji's idol started and from then till now sandal paste is applied in some of them.
6. There is a lamp in the Temple, which has been burning continuously without oil and ghee for a long time, this place with many such specialties remains the center of exclusive reverence of the people.
7. The Idol of Lord Venkateshwara is installed in the main temple courtyard, which is decorated daily with dhoti and sari.
8. A special type of camphor is used for cleaning the idol of the Lord, which breaks immediately when rubbed on a stone wall, but nothing happens when rubbed on the idol.
9. There is a village 23 km away from the temple, where outsiders are prohibited from visiting. The people living there follow a lot of rules. The women there do not wear blouses. The fruits and flowers brought from there are offered to God and the same things are offered there like- milk, ghee, butter etc.
10. The main places of interest in the temple complex include Padi Kavali Mahadwara Sampanga Pradakshinam, Krishna Devarya Mandapam, Rang Mandapam Tirumala Raya Mandapam, Aina Mahal, Dhwajastambh Mandapam, Nadimi Padi Kavali, Vimana Pradakshinam, Sri Varadarajaswamy Shrine Potu etc.
11. Tirupati Balaji temple is the second richest temple in the world. His assets are worth Rs 50,000 crore and his annual income is around Rs 650 crore. More than 50,000 devotees visit the temple every day.