Tirupati Balaji Temple is one of the richest shrines in India. It receives a lot of money from devotees in the form of jewelry, gold, silver and even land deeds. It is also believed that the idol of Lord Venkateswara at Tirupati wears real hair. He is worshiped six times a day according to the Vaikhanas traditions.
1. The Temple was built by a Tamil king
Tirupati Balaji Temple is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus. It is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The temple has immense significance for Hindus and is one of the 106 Divya Desam or Vishnu temples. The temple has been patronized by several dynasties, including the Pallavas and the Cholas. These dynasties donated large amounts of jewels to the temple.
2. The Temple was renovated by the Vijayanagara Empire
After the fall of the Hindu kingdoms, Tirupati Temple came under the control of different Muslim rulers and then the East India Company. The British adopted a policy of non-interference in temple activities and allowed the hereditary Mahants to oversee the administration of the temple.
The Vijayanagara Empire, particularly its devout emperor Krishnadevaraya, undertook significant renovations and expansions of the temple. He even established a system of time slotted Sarva Darshan, which continues to this day. By reading Shri Balaji Chalisa regularly, one gets the grace of Hanuman ji.
3. The Temple is surrounded by a forest
Tirupati is one of the richest as well as most visited temples in India. It receives offerings in cash, gold, jewelry, property deeds and even in shares through the Demat system. The temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, who is believed to have come down on earth to save humanity from the hardships of kali yuga. Tirupati laddoo, a famous offering at the Temple, has received the Geographical Indication tag.
4. The Temple is located on a hill
Tirupati Balaji Temple is located on top of the Tirumala hills. It is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu. The temple is one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites in India. The temple is easily accessible from most parts of the country by bus and train. It is a popular tourist destination and can be visited throughout the year.
5. The Temple is a place of pilgrimage
Tirupati Balaji Temple is a place of pilgrimage for many ardent devotees. It is believed that Lord Venkateswara Swamy resides here and answers prayers of ardent devotees. The temple also offers a variety of rituals. For example, many newlyweds visit this temple to seek blessings for a good married life. The temple is one of the richest in India. It has an annual budget of millions and runs charitable trusts. It is also famous for its festivals.
6. The Temple is a place of learning
Several literary works and sacred texts such as Varaha Purana and Bhavishyottara Purana have mentioned Tirupati Balaji Temple’s antiquity. The first recorded contribution was made by Pallava Queen Samavai in 966 CE when she donated jewels and two parcels of land to the temple. Since then, the temple has grown tremendously in size and wealth. Today, it attracts millions of pilgrims and is a symbol of devotion and architecture.
7. The Temple is a place of worship
The temple has been a place of worship since time immemorial. The Pallava queen Samaval donated jewelry to the temple and the Chola dynasty also contributed significantly. The temple gained more wealth during the Vijayanagar Empire. The temple is devoted to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu, who came down on earth during Kaliyuga to save mankind. Devotees believe that visiting the temple and seeing Lord Venkateswara will grant them all their wishes.
8. The Temple is a place of pilgrimage
Tirupati is one of the most famous pilgrimage destinations in India. It attracts devotees from all over the country and abroad. Several dynasties that ruled southern India revered Lord Venkateswara and donated money and jewels to the Temple. This enhanced its wealth and grandeur. The Temple is now a major pilgrimage center with modern Queue complex buildings to manage the crowd, Annaprasadam and Hair tonsure buildings.
9. The Temple is a place of worship
Tirupati Balaji Temple is one of the richest and most visited temples in India. It receives offerings from devotees in the form of cash, jewelry, silver and gold coins, property deeds and demat shares. The Garbagriha or Sanctum Sanctorum of the temple houses Lord Venkateswara in a standing posture. The Temple also has two circumbulation paths – Sampangi Pradakshinam and Vimanapradakshinam.
10. The Temple is a place of pilgrimage
The Temple is a place of pilgrimage where thousands of devotees visit each day. The TTD is committed to improving the temple’s infrastructure and service for visitors.
The TTD also offers free food to devotees as part of its charitable activities. It is this devotional spirit that makes the TTD a truly unique place in India. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Venkateswara. Many believe that the sight of this god will bestow blessings, remove sins and fulfill wishes.
