Tirumalai Tirupathi
Tirupathi is a small town located in Andhra Pradesh. It takes 4 hours from Chennai (Madras) to Tirupathi by road transport. The common transportation is bus. But a car is better for comfort. There is also a railway connecting Chennai central to Tirupathi. The name of the train is Sapthagiri Express.
Tirupathi is a holy place of Lord Sri Venkateswara. The tirupathi hills are known as Tirumala. Tirumala means Holy Mountain. Lord Venkateswara also known as Balaji or Govinda is Vishnu’s incarnation. Lord Venkateswara’s wife is Goddess Padmavathy. In Hinduism there are three main Gods i.e., Brahma - the creator, Vishnu - the protector and Shiva - the destroyer. Brahma is the one who creates the birth of human beings. Vishnu looks after the well-being of humans and Shiva destructs the rakshasas or the evil.
Lord Venkateswara is the God of riches. It is believed that if you ask for money, wealth, all-round happiness etc., he gives all the things necessary for life. In tirumala non-vegetarian food is prohibited.
From Renigunta it takes 30 minutes drive to Tirupathi. Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam is looking after the temple and the hills which are maintained in a very neat and tidy manner.
A tag is tied on your wrist mentioning the time of darshan and you should be present at the prescribed time to have a dharshan of Lord Balaji. Immediately after dharshan prasadham is given. Mostly the prasadham consists of tamarind rice (puli sadham), sambar rice, the curd rice or the laddu.
Tirupathi laddu is world famous for its sweet taste and uniqueness. Lord Balaji liked the laddu very much. Hence it is the prasadham at Tirupathi.
Tirupathi Hundi is where people put money, jewels, gold, etc., If you put 1000 rupees in the hundi you will get the return by more than ten times of it. Businessmen in India put large amounts in the Tirupathi Hundi.
The devasthanam offers free food for the devotees in Tirumala. There are also plenty of hotels providing quality vegetarian food both in Tirupati and Tirumala (hill). The temple is kept very clean. The whole tirumala is pure and full of natural sceneries. We can feel the presence of the Almighty in Tirumala. The commonly spoken language in Tirupathi is Telugu. But knowing Tamil, Hindi or English is enough to visit the place. The cottages are offered by the devasthanam board itself. The costs of the rooms are very nominal. Only basic facilities are available in the cottages.
Tirupathi is a vaishnovite (dealing with Vishnu) temple shrine. People also walk to tirumala to have a glimpse of Sri Balaji. By walk it takes approximately 4 hours to reach the hill top.
Adi Shankaracharya who found the Advaita philosophy has visited Tirupathi. He has written the very famous “Baja Govindam”. The cassettes and CD’s of Baja Govindam recited by the Late M.S. Subbulakshmi are famous among Indians.
M S Subbulakshmi::Bhaja Govindam (w. Eng. subtitles) (Youtube)
Annamachari was one of the best known devotees of Lord Sri Balaji. He wrote a number of hymns praising the lord. Even Ramanuja, who is one among the alwars, wrote a lot of praises about Lord Maha Vishnu.
Sri Venkateswara Temple - The Official Website of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
TTD Sevas Online - To offer donations or book sevas / accommodation online
Photo Gallery - Photos from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam site
Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatham Recitation - Read and listen Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatham (from Tirumala site)
Prasadams - Prasadams that you can get at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
Code of conduct - The Dos and Don’ts that is to be followed at Tirumala
How to reach Tirupati - Traveling to Tirupathi information
Live Brahmotsavam Festival - View Brahmotsavam festival held at Tirumala Tirupati (Real Player)
Sapthagiri Online - The official magazine published by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam in English and Telugu seperately. The latest copy of it can be downloaded in the PDF format from here.
108 Tirupati of Lord MahaVishnu - Visit the 108 holy places (108 tirupathigal) of Lord Mahavishnu (pictorial tour)
Download Baja Govindam PDF - English translation of “Baja Govindam”, originally rendered by Adi Shankaracharya (via Shivananda.org)
Sloka for Today - Sloka or Hymn in praise of Lord Venkateswara updated daily
TTD Information Centre in Chennai
1.TTD Information Centre
V V R Dharmasala,
198 & 199, Peters Road
Chennai - 600 014
2. TTD Information Centre
50, VenkataNarayana Road
T Nagar
Chennai – 600 017
