This temple of Tirupati Balaji, situated in the lap of the mountains of Andhra Pradesh state, is a great place of faith, where crores of devotees have faith for centuries. This Dham is dedicated to Sri Venkateswara Swami Ji, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This pilgrimage has many such features due to which it attracts devotees not only from India but from all over the world. Today we will talk about the history of this divine place, its importance, special rituals and the facilities related to train connectivity and ordering food in the train during the journey.
History of Tirupati Balaji
The history of Tirupati Balaji temple is centuries old. It is believed that Lord Vishnu incarnated here in the form of Venkateswara to remove the sufferings of Kaliyuga. This temple built on seven hills here is linked to mythological stories. The temple is a testament to the architectural merits of the Dravidians and Nayaks and the divinity of Lord Venkateswara. Tirupati Balaji Temple is one of the most visited temples in the world. People living all over India and outside India also have deep faith in this temple of Tirupati Balaji.
Features of Tirupati Balaji Temple
Located on Tirumala mountain in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, this place is one of the most prominent and sacred pilgrimage sites of India. Moreover, it is one of the richest temples in India. This temple full of miracles and mysteries is famous all over the world. The main deity of this temple is Sri Venkateswara Swamy Ji, who is considered to be an incarnation of Sri Lord Vishnu and resides with his wife Lakshmi Swarupa Padmavati on Tirumala Mountain.
Beliefs related to temple
Sri Venkateswara Swamy is considered as “Daya Sagar” and “Kolhu Vaibhavaya” i.e. the remover of suffering. Those who fulfill the wishes of their devotees are called “Kareem Daata”. The form of Lord Venkateswara gives the message of selfless action, devotion and charity. The seat of Sheshnag on his statue is a symbol of his kindness. According to beliefs, the tradition of hair donation is effective in Tirupati Balaji temple. Devotees whose wishes are fulfilled come to the temple and donate their hair to Venkateswara Swamy. This practice is not only from today but has been going on for many years, which even today the devotees follow with great devotion. The most unique point of the temple is that here not only men but also women donate their hair.
Tirupati Balaji Temple Tour
Importance of rituals:
There are many special rituals that take place in the Tirupati Balaji temple, of which darshan is the most important. The result of the golden darshan of God in the sanctum sanctorum is considered immeasurable. There are different arrangements for darshan here, like darshanam ticket, special entry darshanam and free darshanam. Srivari Seva is also an important ritual, where pilgrims contribute voluntarily to the service of the temple.
Darshan of Padmavati before Tirupati
Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple in Tirupati Balaji Dham is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites. This temple is considered to be the abode of Lakshmi Swarupa Devi Padmavati, the wife of Lord Venkateswara. According to the people here, the visit to Tirupati Balaji Dham is not considered complete until Sri Padmavati Ammavari Temple is not visited. This is the reason why devotees first reach for the darshan of Goddess Padmavati. After this, reach Tirupati Balaji ji. It is situated at a distance of about 5 km from Tirupati Balaji Temple.
Tirupati Balaji Temple
Visit to Tirupati Balaji: Order of Bath and Darshan
Swami Pushkarini Lake is in the neighborhood of Sri Venkateswara Temple. Taking bath in Swami Pushkarini Sarovar before having darshan of Tirupati Balaji is considered a sacred ritual. This lake is located at a distance of 2 kilometers from the temple and it is believed that Lord Vishnu took bath in it. Only after bathing the devotees proceed to the sanctum sanctorum to have darshan of the Lord.
modern conveniences:
While in earlier times pilgrims had to face many difficulties, now modern facilities have expanded greatly around the Tirupati temple. Many rest houses run by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams with spacious and well-appointed rooms are available for the visitors. Apart from this, for delicious food, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam's restaurant is located in the temple complex, which provides affordable and pure vegetarian food to the devotees visiting here.