Tirupati Balaji Temple – The Sacred Jewel of India

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Temple Of Tirupati Balaji is located in the city of Tirupati, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. Known as the “Spiritual Capital of Andhra Pradesh,” this city is home to one of the most beautiful temples and shrine in all of India. The temple in Tirupati Balaji has a lot of Dravidian architectural influences, and the intricate designing and sculpting done over centuries. One of the most captivating aspects of Tirupati Balaji is the Ananda Nilayam. Ananda Nilayam, when translated, means “Abode of Happiness,”; a golden plated gopuram, absolutely stunning and one of a kind. The temple also has 640 inscriptions in different languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Sanskrit. You will even find around 3000 copper plates on which the Telugu Sankirtanas of Tallapaka Annamacharya and his descendants are inscribed. This collection forms a valuable source of material for a historical linguist in Telugu apart from its importance to musicologists. The Tirupati temple is maintained by the Tirupati Balaji Trust which is also the richest temple and trust in all of the world. There are at least 50,000 to 1,00,000 pilgrims daily while on Brahmotsavam and other special occasions this number shoots up to around 5,00,000 daily, a lot of whom make generous donations to the trust.

History of Tirupati Balaji Temple

The construction of the Tirupati temple started in 300 AD, and additions to the temple were made from time to time. During the reign of Vijayanagara, rulers donated umpteen diamonds and gold into the treasury. The majority of the dynasties that ruled over the southern parts of India always paid homage to the temple and also made significant contributions. Hindu mythology mentions the story of Balaji. Once, Sage Brighu decided that he wants to find out who is the supreme power out of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiv. Unhappy with the hospitality he experienced from Brahma and Shiv, he headed to Lord Vishnu. To grab Lord Vishnus’ attention, he kicked his chest. It is a well-known fact in Hindu mythology that Goddess Lakshmi resided on Lord Vishnus’ chest. After this incident, Goddess Lakshmi came to earth as the daughter of a king, Padmavati. She then got married in the Tirupati hills and settled there to save the people from the Kali age.

Unknown facts about Tirupati Balaji Temple

• The deity seems to be situated in the center of the Tirupati temple however it is located in the right-hand corner of it
• For some unknown reason, the back of the deity always remains moist. The priests are repetitively trying to wipe it dry but to no avail
• According to mythology, in the 19th Century, the king back then imposed a death sentence on ten people involved in a heinous crime. These ten people were hung in the temple, and this is when the Lord emerged
• Large quantities of flowers, holy leaves, clarified butter, and buttermilk is used to perform the daily rituals. These are sourced from an undisclosed village located around 20 kms away from the temple.
• Green camphor, when smeared on any piece of stone, leads for it to crack, also proven scientifically. The deity is made out of stone and is spread by green camphor all through the day. However, there are no cracks or marks.
• The flowers offered by worshippers are not thrown on the deity but are often flown into the water. Shockingly, these flowers can be seen up to 20 kms away in a place called Yerpedu
• The hair worn by Lord Balaji is always tangle-free, smooth, and real. It is believed that whoever shaves their head at the temple will have their desires fulfilled.

Suggested Read : Beautiful Temples of South India

How to Reach Tirupati Temple

By Road

Multiple buses ply to and from Tirupati Balaji to and through major cities and smaller pockets of Andhra Pradesh owing to it having grave religious importance through the state. Buses and taxi services are available every two minutes from Chennai, Vellore, Bengaluru, and many other places.

By Air

The closest airport to this temple is near Renigunta, which is at a distance of 16 km from Tirupati and around 40 km from Tirumala Venkateswara Temple- Tirupati Balaji. Many direct flights operate on a weekly basis from major cities like Hyderabad, Vishakhapatnam, New Delhi and Bengaluru. 

By Rail

The closest railway station is located in Tirupati, which is at a 26 km distance from the temple of Tirupati. Trains from all major metros of India are connected to this station. It is a major railway station and thus is very spacious and well developed.

By Foot

The Tirupati temple is situated atop a beautiful hill. To reach the top to the temple, one has to walk a stretch of 11 km. People prefer to walk this stretch out of love and devotion, but there are also palki options for older adults or people with health problems. If one wishes to finish this task without walking so much, another path called Srivari Mettu has been built from Chandragiri and is only a 6 km walk. There are services for the free transfer of luggage to the top and also many toilets, canteens, and medical facilities through the route to make it as comfortable as possible.

Location of Tirupati Temple

Tirupati is a city in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh in India and is most famously known for the shrine of Tirumala Venkateswara Temple situated at a small distance from Tirupati. This is the location of this beautiful temple

Must Read : Tirupati Tourism – The Paramount Travel Guide to Tirupati Darshan

This beautiful temple in Tirupati has more value and importance than only from a cultural and religious point of view. Head over to the Thomas Cook website to book your trip to Andhra Pradesh now.