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Venkateswara Temple
Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh |
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Golden templetop crowning the inner shrine of
Lord Venkateswara,
a form of Vishnu, the sustainer of the world,
The white Gopuram adorns the main temple entrance.
The most famous pilgrim site in India, the
Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala on a rainy day
Entrance to the shrine
Lord Venkateswara or Balaji are here
wearing a precious
diamond crown.
The idol from whom everybody of Hindu faith are sincerely keen to the get
the darshan of.
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The Venkateswara
Balaji Temple |
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The
most popular destinations for Hindu pilgrims in India is the
Venkateswara Balaji Temple situated in Tirumala Hills, near Tirupati. Itīs
a 30km beautiful drive or walk up hill 700m above the town Tirupati.
The temple eclipses Jerusalem and Rome in the number of pilgrims it
attracts on average around 60.000 pilgrims a day and up to 500.000 on festival days.
It is the most visited place of worship in the world.
The seven sacred hills of Tirupati are
believed to symbolize the seven-headed serpent god Adisesha, on
whose coil Lord Vishnu sleeps, thus the name, Seshachalam.
The
aura that surrounds Lord Venkateswara, a form of Lord Vishnu, the "Bestower of Boons" has made the temple the most visited and the
riches in India. Vishnu is also known as Balaji, and the temple is
therefor also called the Balaji Temple.
The
entire complex is built to accomodate the huge influx of pilgrims,
who come to seek the favours of Lord Venkateswara.
This temple is one of the few temples in South India where
non-Hindus are allowed into the inner sanctum.
Devotees wait patiently in long queus for a special darshan, and
make offerings of money, gold and jewellery that provide the temple
with an annual income of nearly 1,5 billion rupees.
The
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam runs the temple and employs over 6000
to see to the pilgrims needs and maintain the temple premises. |
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The Deity |
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The
Lord Venkateswara idol a jet-black stone image of 2m hight stands on a lotus and
is adorned with rubies, diamonds and gold.
The Deity wears a diamond crown, believed to be he most precious
ornament in the world. The deity is flanked by his consort Sridevi
and Bhudevi.
Several legends are associated with the manifestation of the Lord in
Tirumala. According to one legend, the temple has a murti (deity) of
Lord Venkateswara, which is believed shall remain here for the
entire duration of the present Kali Yuga.
Venkateswara Balaji flanked by his consort Sridevi and Bhudevi
The Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji,
pontiff of Avadhoota DattaPeetham, Mysore
in prayer in front of Lord Venkateswara
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The One of many beautifull depictions of the
Lord with his consorts, Sridevi and Bhudevi
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Life in the
temple compound |
The Venkateswara Temple dates back to
the 9th century, although it has often been expanded and renovated
from 15th century and onwards.
The temple is the riches pilgrimcentre and the most visited place of
worship in the world.
The
entire complex is built to accomodate the huge influx of pilgrims,
who come to seek the favours of Lord Venkateswara - anually 30-40
million pilgrims a year.
In the numerous shops all nessesities
are available
At a rainy day pilgrims are few
Worship with kum-kum the red powder
available all over India
Worship with insence, kum-kum etc.
Pilgrims resting in the huge mantapa,
between large korridors with shops on both sides 3,4 and 5 floors up
Ornament adorning a building
Pilgrims waiting in line to get to the
inner shrine.
It can last several hours to get the darshan of Lord Venkateswara,
depending on how many pilgrims that day.
A good time to visit is between 8 and 10 AM,
at that time in the morning there are less visitors.
Young men are making a good living
photographing visitors
Here a family has been
photographed to have a memory of the event -
100 Rupees for one photo!
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Getting there |
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Tollgate before commencing on the hill
road
Driving up hill through a beautiful
landscape ...
... with Tirumala seen at a distance
Tirumala wiev from the serpentine road
The road is prepared for the numerous
pilgrims
coming from all over India and abroard
A Hanuman shrine on the road
Shrine under the huge Hanuman idol
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Pilgrims on the
road to Tirumala |
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Amongst the numerous
pilgrims, several are walking on foot to the Tirumala Balaji Temple.
On all the roads leading to the 7 hills you find pilgrims coming
from all over India and abroard. |
Pilgrims from all over India patiently waiting for
darshan
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