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The Shri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple (grid reference SO980906 ) is a large functioning Hindu temple in the United Kingdom, Europe. It is dedicated in the Vaishnava tradition to a form of the supreme Hindu god Maha Vishnu, who is believed to be the preserver and protector of the universe. The temple is located in Tividale, West Midlands, England between the suburbs of Tipton and Oldbury, northwest of Birmingham city. The temple was designed with inspiration from the Tirupati Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh, India. [1] The temple was consecrated and opened to the general public in August 2006. [2]
The primary deity worshiped at this temple is Venkateswara, a well known manifestation of the supreme lord Maha Vishnu (He is one of the three supreme gods in the Hindu triumvirate, along with Brahma and Shiva, who are responsible for the creation, maintenance, and destruction of the world). Within the main temple complex are also shrines to his consort Padmavati (Alamelu). The temple also houses shrines to other major Hindu deities such as Hanuman, Shiva, Karthikeya, Ganesh, Ayappan and the Navagraha. [3]
The temple runs the Balaji School for Culture & Education which provides spiritual and cultural foundation for children and arranges classes on Veda (Hindu scriptures), music etc. The temple has a large Community Hall. The temple also provides free Matrimonial service by helps one find a suitable marriage partner. [4]
On site facilities include a large community centre, a gatehouse and a Gandhi Peace Centre. The temple operates annadhanam services, providing free meals for visitors funded by donations. Seeing up to 1500 visitors during the weekdays and 2500 visitors in the weekends, the temple does not only cater to the religious and spiritual requirements of Hindus. It receives over one hundred visits from special interest groups all across the UK and Europe, while playing an active role in supporting the community by welcoming school trips, hosting various cultural events and holding classes and teaching sessions in Vedic studies and Sanskrit for young people.
The temple is a non-profit organisation and is a recognized charity in the UK.
Venkateswara, also known as Venkatachalapati, Balaji and Srinivasa, is a Hindu deity, described as a form or avatar of the god Vishnu. He is the presiding deity of Venkateswara Temple, Tirupati. His consorts, Padmavathi and Bhudevi, are avatars of the goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu.
Tirumala is a spiritual place in Tirupati district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the neighbourhoods of the Tirupati city. The town is a part of Tirupati Urban Development Authority and located in Tirupati (urban) mandal of Tirupati revenue division. The town is strictly vegetarian. It is a hill town where Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is located, a popular shrine of Vishnu. Vishnu was considered to reside here with his full power, as in Vaikuntha, and thus the place was also called 'Bhuloka Vaikuntha'.
The Venkateswara Temple of Tirumala, called Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple, is a Hindu temple situated in the hills of Tirumala at Tirupati Urban Mandal in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared on the earth to save mankind from trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. Hence the place is also known by the name Kaliyuga Vaikuntha and the deity here is referred to as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam. The temple is also known by other names like Tirumala Temple, Tirupati Temple and Tirupati Balaji Temple. Venkateswara is also known by other names including Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa. The temple is run by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which is under control of Andhra Pradesh Government. The head of TTD is appointed by Andhra Pradesh Government.
In Hinduism, the yatra (pilgrimage) to the tirthas has special significance for earning the punya needed to attain the moksha (salvation) by performing the darśana, the parikrama (circumambulation), the yajna, the Dhyana, the puja (worship), the prarthana, the dakshina, the seva, the bhandara, etc. These sacred places are usually located on the banks of sacred waters, such as sacred rivers or their tributaries, the kundas, the ghats, or the stepwells, or the temple tanks.
Vaikhanasa or Vaikhanasagama is a tradition of Hinduism that primarily worships Vishnu as the Supreme God. The tradition draws its name from the philosophy propounded by its founder, Sage Vikhanasa.
The Purushotama Perumal Temple is located in Thirunangur, a village in the outskirts of Sirkazhi in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Purushottaman and his consort Lakshmi as Purushottama Nayagi.
Thiruarimeya Vinnagaram or Kudamadukoothan Perumal Temple is dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu located in Tirunangur, a village in the outskirts of Sirkaḻi in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Kudamudakoothan and his consort Lakshmi as Amirtagadavalli.
Thiruvaikunda Vinnagaram or Vaikunta Nathan Perumal Temple is dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu located in Tirunangur, a village in the outskirts of Sirkazhi in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Vaikuntanathan and his consort Lakshmi as Vaikuntavalli.
Thirumanimadam or Narayanan Perumal Temple is dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu located in Thirunangur, a village in the outskirts of Sirkazhi in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Narayanan and his consort Lakshmi as Pundarikavalli.
Thiruthevanartthogai or Madhava Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu located in Tirunangur, a village in the outskirts of Sirkaḻi in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Madhava Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Kadalmagal.
Thiruthetriyambalam or Palli Konda Perumal Temple is located in Tirunangur, a village in the outskirts of Sirkaḻi in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Palli Konda Perumal.
Thirumanikkoodam or Varadaraja Perumal Temple is located in Thirunangur, a village in the outskirts of Sirkaḻi in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Varadharaja Perumal.
Thiruvellakkulam is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu located in Thirunangur, a village in the outskirts of Sirkazhi in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Annan Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Alamermangai.
Sapthagiri which is also called Tirumala Hill is situated in hill town of Tirumala, near Tirupati in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. This hill is 853 m above sea level and is about 10.33 square miles (27 km2) in area. It comprises seven peaks, representing the seven heads of Adisesha, thus earning the name Seshachalam. The seven peaks are called Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabhadri, Narayanadri, and Venkatadri. The hill is famous for the famous and one of the most holy Hindu deity Venkateswara swamy temple. The temple is on Venkatadri, the seventh peak, and is also known as the "Temple of Seven Hills". The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Venkateswara, a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. Venkateswara is known by other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa. The temple lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini, a holy water tank. The temple complex comprises a traditional temple building, with a number of modern queue and pilgrim lodging sites.
Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of the Rockies in Centennial, Colorado is the major Hindu Temple in the Denver, Colorado region. The Hindu Society of Colorado was incorporated in 1984. During 1996-2015 the temple was located in a former church building in Littleton. The formally designed temple opened on July 3, 2015. with Prana Pratishtha on June 5–7, 2015. The temple membership grew to include 1,500 families in 2011. The temple is non-regional and non-sectarian.
Sri Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina is a Hindu Temple located in Cary, North Carolina and serves the estimated 21,000 Hindus in the Research Triangle area. The temple is "dedicated to promoting the Hindu religion and humanitarian services across the Triangle."
The Sri Lakshmi Temple in Ashland, Massachusetts, also known as the New England Hindu Temple, Inc. (NEHTI), is New England’s first traditional Hindu temple. The temple was inaugurated in 1990 by priests from India, the United States, and Britain. Following the inauguration in 1990, the temple was expanded in 2005 and 2018. The central deity worshiped is Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of prosperity and abundance.
Adi moola Srinivasa Perumal Temple or Adi moola Venkataramanaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu located in a village called Mookanur, in the Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu, India. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, it is believed to have been built by the Pallava dynasty. It is considered one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition. The temple is Constructed in the foot hill of a mountain Dedicated entaierly to Vishnu. This structure was earlier maintained by Tenkalai Brahmins and now is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, follows the Vaikhanasa agama and is a pure Vaishnavate temple. There is no Ganesha shrine inside the temple complex. The divine-deity is the Kula-devata of many Brahmins and Gounder's in the Dharmapuri district.
The Pancha Kshetrams or Pancha Bhargavi Kshethram is a group of five sacred Hindu temples in India, dedicated to the deity Vishnu and Lakshmi With the legend associated to the Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala. All the temples are Divya desams except one which is an Abhimana Kshethram.
Vaishnavism in Tamil Nadu is documented in ancient Tamil Sangam literature dating back to the 5th century BCE. Maha Vishnu, also known as Perumal, is notably the most frequently mentioned deity in Sangam Literature. Some of the earliest known mentions of Perumal, and the Tamil devotional poems ascribed to him, are found in Paripāṭal – the Sangam era poetic anthology. He is a popular Hindu deity, particularly among Tamils in Tamil Nadu and the Tamil diaspora, as well as in Vaishnava temples. One of the richest and largest Hindu temples complexes is dedicated to Perumal in South India. [where? citation needed]
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