According to Sri Venkateswara Swami Vari Devasthanam:[2]
This pilgrimage centre is called "Dwaraka Tirumala" after the great saint, "Dwaraka" who located the self manifested idol of Lord "Sri Venkateswara" after severe penance in a ‘Valmikam’ (ant hill). The devotees call Sri Venkateswara as Kali Yuga Vaikunta Vasa. This place is also called "Chinna Tirupati".
As per Sastras North Indian rivers like Ganges and Yamuna are considered to be more and more holy as they go up to the origin and south Indian rivers like Krishna and Godavary are more and more holy as they go down the river to its mouth to the Sea. It is why there are numerous shrines and holy bathing ghats, at close intervals, on both sides of the great grand rivers Krishna and Godavary in their lower regions.
The region covered by our Dwaraka Tirumala is commanding the top most conspicuous position in India, being garlanded by these two great Indian rivers Krishna and Godavary, as pointed out by Brahma Purana.
The devotees who wish to go and offer their donations, or tonsures or any other offerings to Lord Venkateswara, Lord of Tirumala Tirupati, called as "Pedda Tirupati", due to some reason, if they are unable to go there, they can offer their donations, prayers and worship in Dwaraka Tirumala temple.
Dwaraka Tirumala is a famous temple from the ancient times. According to some Puranas, the temple is popular even in Satya Yuga and is still attracting the devotees. According to Brahma Purana, Aja Maharaja, the Grand father of Lord Sri Rama also worshiped Lord Venkateswara for his marriage. On his way to the ‘Swayamvaram’ of Indumati, he passed by the temple. He did not offer prayers in the temple. The bride Indumati garlanded him, but he had to face a battle with the kings who came to the Swayamvaram. He realized that the battle was thrust on him for ignoring the temple on the way. After realizing this, Aja Maharaja prayed to the Lord Venkateswara. Suddenly the kings stopped the battle.
It is a great wonder to see two main idols under one Vimana Sikharam. One idol is a full and complete statue. The other is a half statue of the upper portion of the form of the Lord. The upper portion of the form is a self-manifested idol located by Sage "Dwaraka". The saints of the yore felt the prayers to the Lord are not complete without worshipping His holy feet. So, the saints joined and installed a full statue behind the self-manifested idol, to worship the feet of the Lord according to Vaikhanasa Agamam.
It is believed that the prayers to the smaller statue of the Lord will lead to Moksha, and the big form stands for Dharma, Artha and Kama. The Tiru kalyanotsavam is celebrated twice a year. One for the self manifested idol in the month of "Vaisakha" and the other for the installed idol in the month of "Asvijaa".
Magnificence of the Sanctum Sanctorum:
On entering the sanctum sanctorum, one feels a most inspiring and enchanting experience. The presiding mythological deity Lord Venkateswara is visible up to the Bust size and the lower portion is imagined to be in the earth. The holy feet are said to be offered to Bali Chakravarthi in "Patala" for his daily worship. The full size idol of Lord Sri Venkateswara standing at the back of the main idol is said to have been installed by the great social reformer Srimad Ramanuja of the 11th century. The idols of Padmavathi and Nanchari are installed in the Arthamandapa facing east. This is a full equipped shrine to be a Divyasthala.
Combination of Shiva and Vishnu on Adisesha:
The most peculiar aspect here is that the hill appearing to be a serpent in form, even to the naked eye, confirms the mythological version that Anantha, the serpent king has taken up this terrestrial form of serpent hill and is carrying God Mallikarjuna on the hood and Lord Venkateswara on the tail, thus creating a happy and harmonious compromise of Vaishnavism and Saivism at a single place.
Renovation and origin of the present structure:
The magnificent monuments like, Vimana, Mantapa, Gopura, Prakara etc., stand to the credit of Dharma Appa Raoa recent ruler (1762–1827) and the golden ornaments and silver vahanas stand to the credit of the generous queen Rani Chinnamma Rao of Mylavaram, Krishna Dist. (1877–1902). These things immortalize the glory of the shrine.
The main temple is a masterpiece of South Indian Architecture with its five-storied main Rajagopuram facing the south and three other gopurams on the other three sides. The Vimana is in the Nagara style and old Mukhamantapa is extended to a great extent to suit the present day needs. There are several temples of Alwars attached to the Prakara on all sides. The whole spacious compound has been paved with stone and flower trees are grown in an order as if to feast the eye of the pilgrims. There are other shrines in the temple such as Anjaneya Swamy, Mount Garuda, image of saint Dwaraka and image of Sri Tallakapaka Annamacharya.
The daily sevas in Temple include (in order of occurrence) are Suprabhataseva, Pratahkalarchana, Sarva Darsanam, Vedaparayanam, Nityarjita Kalyanam, Maha nivedana, Prabhutvostavam, Sayamkalarchana, Sarvadaranam, Sevakalam, Sarvadarsanam and Ekanta Seva.
Weekly Rituals
Weekly sevas of the Temple include Snapana Pooja on Friday between 6-00 AM to 8-00 AM and Swarna Tulasidala Kainkarya Seva which is Celebrated only on Wednesdays 6.30 am to 7.00 am. There are no weekly sevas on Saturday and Sunday.
Gopuram View
Festivals
The 'Tiru kalyanotsavam' is the major festival that is observed in Sri Venkateswara Swami Vari Devasthanam or the Dwaraka Tirumala Temple. The festival for the self-manifested idol (small idol) is celebrated in the month of 'Vaisakha', while for the installed idol it is celebrated in the month of 'Aswayuja' which could be in the month of April–May and September–October respectively every year. Giripradakshina (January), Swamy Vari Vysakha Kalyanam and Radhotsavam (Car festival) (April–May), Pavithrotsavams (September), Swamy Vari Aswayuja Kalyanam and Radhotsavam (Car festival) (September–October), Teppotsavam/ Boat Festival in Nrusimha Sagar Tank (November) are the other major festivals celebrated in the temple.
Temple practices
Main Raja Gopuram
Prasadam
"Laddu" is given at Dwaraka Tirumala Temple as prasadam. In this temple Daddojanam, Kattupongali, Sarkarapongali, Pulihora, Kadhambam, Gaarimukkalu, Appalu are being distributed daily to the devotees after Nivedana to the deity.[4][5]
Hair tonsuring
Many devotees have their head tonsured as "Mokku", an offering to God. When Lord Balaji was hit on his head by a shepherd, a small portion of his scalp became bald. This was noticed by Neela Devi, a Gandharva princess. She felt "such an attractive face should not have a flaw". Immediately, she cut a portion of her hair and, with her magical power, implanted it on his scalp. Lord Balaji noticed her sacrifice. As hair is a beautiful asset of the female form, he promised her that all his devotees who come to his abode would offer their hair to him, and she would be the recipient of all the hair received. Hence, it is believed that hair offered by the devotees is accepted by Neela Devi. The place where pilgrims fulfill their vow of tonsure is called Kalyana Katta, which is to the west of the Main temple. Over 95 barbers, operating in two batches, are available at KalyanaKatta, to perform tonsure.
Sri VenkateswaraSwamy Vari Saswatha Annadhana Trust
The Devasthanam is maintaining Annadanam Trust from 08 to 12-1994. All the donations received from the donors are being deposited in National Banks and the interest derived thereon is being spent towards distribution of Annaprasadam. Exemption U/Sec.80(G) of Income Tax Act is covered under this scheme.[6]
The interest derived thereon is being spent towards Anna prasadam.
Providing free meals (annaprasadam) to 2000 pilgrims in normal days from 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.
In Saturdays, Sundays and other auspicious days providing nearly 4000 to 5000 pilgrims and also providing for the entire pilgrims who are interested to take annaprasadam from 9.30 a.m. to 4.00p.m.
The annaprasadam is also provided every Friday from 8.00 p.m. to 11 p.m. to the visiting pilgrims who came by walk from various places to Dwaraka tirumala.
At present 3 halls are provided for conducting Annadanam with a capacity of 364 seating.
The Devasthanam is constructing new Annaprasada Building at uphill with all facilities, 4 spacious halls with a total capacity of 1440 seating to facilitate the donors and pilgrim public with the estimated cost of Rs.14.00 crores and the said work is in progress.
Gosala
This Devasthanam is maintaining a Gosala at uphill with more than 300 cows, calves in Eight Sheds. Yielding more than 200 litres of Milk per day. One Veterinary Assistant is working in the gosala and also the cows are well treating and under regular treatment by Veterinary Doctors of Dwaraka Tirumala.. Gokulam with 7 Cows named as Saptha Gokulam. Gopujas are being performed every day in Sri Gokulam from 6.30 am to 12.00 noon and 12.30 P.M. to 6.00 A.M. by the devotees.[7]
Temple management
The present chairman of the management board is Sri Suraneni Venkata Sudhakara Rao and the Executive officer and joint commissioner is Sri Vendra Trinadha Rao.[8]
Places of Visit
The following temples which are situated with in a radius of 35km from Dwaraka Tirumala[9]
Sri Maddi Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Guravaya Gudem (V)
Sri Kunkullamma Vari Temple, Dwaraka Tirumala
Sri Anjaneya and Sri Subrahmanyeswara Swamyvarla Temples, Dwaraka Tirumala
Sri Santana Venugopala Jagannadha Swamy temple, Lakshmipuram (V)
Sri Seeta Ramachandra Swamyvari Temple, E. Yadavalli (V)
Sri Bhu Neela Sametha Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple, Rangapuram (V)
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamyvari Temple, I.S. Jagannadha Puram (V)
Parijata Giri Venkateswara Swamy vari Temple, Jangareddygudem
Venkateswara is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu and is the presiding deity of the Venkateswara Temple, located in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Venkateswara is also known by various other names.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is an independent trust which manages the temples including the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh, India. The trust oversees the operations and finances of the richest and the most visited religious center in the world. It is also involved in various social, religious, literary and educational activities. TTD is headquartered at Tirupati and employs about 16,000 people.
Sri Venkateswara Swami vari Brahmotsavam or Srivari Brahmotsavam is the most significant annual fête celebrated at the Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala-Tirupati, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The feast lasts for one month during the Hindu calendar month of Āśvina, which falls between the Gregorian calendar months of September and October.
The Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati in 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 has also got 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 known by many other names: 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.
Malayappa Swami is the current utsava murti in the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala. Malayappa Swami is worshipped during religious ceremonies and processions wherein it would be inappropriate to use the main deity. The two deities are worshipped equally and believed to be non-different in personality.
Tirumala Krishna idol is one of the idols in the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Andhra Pradesh, India. While the temple is dedicated to worship of lord Vishnu as Venkateswara, it contains the idols of some of Vishnu's other avatars - Krishna and Rama. The temple also has the idol of Rukmini, wife of Lord Krishna.
Tirumala Dhruva Bera is the name given to the deity of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Andhra Pradesh. Dhruva Bera is the official terminology used for the main deity of a temple with the exact translation being The Immobile image and as the name suggests, the deity is stationary and other deities are used for pujas, sevas that requires the deity's presence outside the garbha griham. Other terms used for Dhruva Bera include Moolavar or Moola Virat, Achala (Stagnant).
Sri Venkateshwara Swami Temple is a landmark vaishnavite temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu, who is believed to be appeared here to save mankind from the trials and troubles of Kali Yuga.
Konetirayala Swamy Temple is a Hindu temple of Lord Venkateswara in the town of Keelapatla, Palamaner, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
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 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.
Alipiri Padala Mandapam or Alipiri is the place at foot of seven hills in Tirupati, the pilgrim city of Sri Venkateswara Swami, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.
Sri Kodandaramaswamy Temple is one of the famous temples, after Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, in the holy city of Tirupati located in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Rama an incarnation of Vishnu along with Sita and Lakshmana. The temple also has a sub-shrine for Anjaneya the mount of Lord Sri Rama.
Devuni Kadapa is a part of Kadapa City and a historical site. It is also known as Patha Kadapa, meaning Old Kadapa. It is famous for its temple of Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami.
Padmavathi Temple is the temple dedicated to Goddess Padmavathi or Alamelumanga, the consort of Lord Venkateswara. The temple is situated in Tiruchanur, Tirupati in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is under the administration of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
Tirupati Laddu or SriVari Laddu is the laddu sweet offered as Naivedhyam to Venkateswara at Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The laddu is given as prasadam to devotees after having the darshan in the temple. The laddu prasadam is prepared within the temple kitchen known as 'Potu' by the temple board Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. Tirupati Laddu received Geographical indication tag which entitles that only Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams can make and sell it.
Venkateswara Temple is an important Vaishnavite temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala in Tirupati of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu, who is believed to be appeared here to save mankind from trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. The temple is situated at a height of 853 meters on Tirumala Hills which are part of Seshachalam Hills and is constructed in Dravidian Architectural Style.
Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple is an ancient Hindu Vaishnavite temple situated in the heart of Tirupati city in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh in India. The temple was built during 12 century and was consecrated in the year 1130 AD by Saint Ramanujacharya. The temple is one of the earliest structures in Tirupati and also one of the biggest temple complexes in Tirupati district. The Tirupati city is built around this temple. The temple is currently administered by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
Sri Kalyana Venkateswara swamy Temple is an ancient Hindu temple at Srinivasamangapuram in Tirupati. It is located in Tirupati District of Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu and is referred to as Kalyana Venkateswara. The temple is categorised as an Ancient monument of National importance by Archaeological survey of India. It is one of the centrally protected monuments of national importance.
Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple is a Hindu-Vaishnavite temple situated at Karvetinagaram in, Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh state, India. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, ninth incarnation of Vishnu's Dasavatharam, who is referred to as Venugopala. It is situated at a distance of 58 km from Tirupati and 12 km from Puttur.
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