Sri Tirupati Venkateswara Balaji

Among all the pilgrimage destinations of south India, Tirupati-Balaji has an inimitable position and is recognized for the much popular Lord Venkateshwara deity, which is visited by numerous tourists all the year round. The meaning of the name Tirupati-Balaji is ‘lord of Lakshmi’. The renowned shrine of the deity is located on a hill at Tirumala, which is a cluster of seven hills. When you travel to Tirupati-Balaji, you must pay a visit to this temple, which is one of the lively cultural and philanthropic institutions with an impressive history. The Dravidian architecture depicted through this shrine will take you back to the ancient times.

There are numerous places to see in Tirupati-Balaji and the Lord Venkateshwara temple is the best known among these. This temple is a Mecca for the Hindu pilgrims and devotees line up in long serpentine queues to offer prayers and offerings to the deity. The other leading places of tourist interest you will come across here are Sri Govindrajaswamy Temple, Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple, Sri Kodandaramaswami Temple and Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami Temple. Due to the presence of these hallowed shrines at this picture perfect town, tourism in Tirupati-Balaji is increasingly growing in popularity.

Apart from these attractions, further excitement awaits you when you embark on the weekend excursions. On a fine day, you can set out for a journey that will take you to the interesting sites such as Chandragiri, Sri Kalahasthi, Agastyaswamy Temple, Kalyani Dam, Horsley Hills and Kailasakona Waterfalls. The fun and excitement get enriched when your tour covers the festive seasons. The entire town pulsates with a festive spirit. Brahmotsavam is the most prominent among the festivals here. The temple car festival is also marked with great excitement and enthusiasm.

Another festival that is also characterized by the same degree of fervor and zeal is the Vijayanagar Festival which is held at the famous Chandragiri Fort. To be a part of these festivals is equally an exciting experience.

Tirupati-Balaji offers a number of excellent lodging facilities for the travelers. You can put up in any choice of accommodation you like and expect the finest hospitality and world class facilities and services. There are many luxury and budget category hotels that are located in and around Tirupati-Balaji.

Tirupati-Balaji is well-linked by air, rail and road. The nearest airport and railhead is Chennai and the town can be easily reached from Bangalore and Hyderabad by road.

source : www.touristplacesinindia.com/tirupati-balaji/

Temple Timeings:- Shri Lord Venkateswara - Balaji

Mondays (Special Seva---Visesha Puja 6.00 a.m to 8.00 a.m).

03.00 a.m to 03.30 a.m --- Suprabhatam (Only Rs 100.00 Special Entrance ticket holders will be admitted).
03.30 a.m to 03.45 a.m --- Suddhi etc.
03.45 a.m to 04.30 a.m --- Thomala Seva (Arjitham Rs 200.00 per head).
04.30 a.m to 04.45 a.m --- Koluvu and Panchanga Sravanam.
04.45 a.m to 05.30 a.m --- 1st Archana i.e. Sahasranama Archana (Arjitham Rs 200.00 per head).
05.30 a.m to 06.00 a.m --- 1st Bell, Bali and Sattumora.
06.00 a.m to 11.00 a.m --- Sarvadarshanam.
11.00 a.m to 12.00 p.m --- Suddhi, Second Archana (Ekantam) and 2nd Bell etc.
12.00 p.m to 07.00 p.m --- Sarvadarshanam.
01.00 p.m to 05.00 p.m --- Arjitha Kalyanotsavam, Bramotsavam, Vahana Sevas, Unjal Sevas etc.
07.00 p.m to 08.00 p.m --- Suddhi, Night Kainkaryams (Ekantam) and Night Bell.
08.00 p.m to 10.00 p.m --- Sarvadarshanam.
10.00 p.m to 10.30 p.m --- Suddhi, preparations for Ekantha Seva.
10.30 p.m Ekanta Seva (Arjitham Rs 100.00 per head).
Note: Sarvadarshanam will be continued beyond 10 p.m subject to rush.




Tuesdays (Special Seva---Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana).

03.00 a.m to 03.30 a.m --- Suprabhatam (Only Rs 100.00 Special Entrance Ticket holders will be admitted).
03.30 a.m to 03.45 a.m --- Suddhi etc.
03.45 a.m to 04.30 a.m --- Thomala Seva (Arjitham Rs 200.00 per head).
04.30 a.m to 04.45 a.m --- Koluvu and Panchanga Sravanam inside Bangaru Vakili.
04.45 a.m to 05.30 a.m --- 1st Archana i.e. Sahasranama Archana (Arjitham Rs 200.00 per head).
05.30 a.m to 06.00 a.m --- 1st Bell, Bali and Sattumora.
06.00 a.m to 11.00 a.m --- Sarvadarshanam.
11.00 a.m to 11.15 a.m --- Suddhi.
11.15 a.m to 11.45 a.m --- Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana Seva (2nd Archana with Golden Lotus Flowers).
11.45 a.m to 12.00 p.m --- 2nd Bell.
12.00 p.m to 07.00 p.m --- Sarvadarshanam.
01.00 p.m to 05.00 p.m --- Arjitha Kalyanotsavam, Bramotsavam, Vahana Sevas, Unjal Sevas etc.
07.00 p.m to 08.00 p.m --- Suddhi, Night Kainkaryams (Ekantam) and Night Bell.
08.00 p.m to 10.00 p.m --- Sarvadarshanam.
10.00 p.m to 10.30 p.m --- Suddhi, preparations for Ekantha Seva.
10.30 p.m Ekanta Seva (Arjitham Rs 100.00 per head).
Note : Sarvadarshanam will be continued beyond 10 p.m subject to rush.




Wednesdays (Special Seva---S.K.Abhishekam).

03.00 a.m to 03.30 a.m --- Suprabhatam (Only Rs 100.00 Special Entrance ticket holders will be admitted).
03.30 a.m to 03.45 a.m --- Suddhi etc.
03.45 a.m to 04.30 a.m --- Thomala Seva (Arjitham Rs 200.00 per head).
04.30 a.m to 04.45 a.m --- Koluvu and Panchanga Sravanam inside Bangaru Vakili.
04.45 a.m to 05.30 a.m --- 1st Archana i.e. Sahasranama Archana (Arjitham Rs 200.00 per head).
05.30 a.m to 06.00 a.m --- 1st Bell, Bali and Sattumora.Preparations for S.K.Abhishekam, etc.
06.00 a.m to 08.00 a.m --- Arjitha Sahasrakalas Abhishekam, 2nd Archana (Ekantham) & Bell.
08.00 a.m to 07.00 p.m --- Sarvadarshanam.
01.00 p.m to 05.00 p.m --- Arjitha Kalyanotsavam, Bramotsavam, Vahana Sevas, Unjal Sevas etc.
07.00 p.m to 08.00 p.m --- Suddhi, Night Kainkaryams (Ekantam) and Night Bell.
08.00 p.m to 10.00 p.m --- Sarvadarshanam.
10.00 p.m to 10.30 p.m --- Suddhi, preparations for Ekantha Seva.
10.30 p.m Ekanta Seva (Arjitham Rs 100.00 per head).
Note : Sarvadarshanam will be continued beyond 10 p.m subject to rush.




Thursdays (Special Seva---Tiruppavada, Poolangi Seva).




03.00 a.m to 03.30 a.m --- Suprabhatam (Only Rs 100.00 Special Entrance ticket holders will be admitted).
03.30 a.m to 03.45 a.m --- Suddhi etc.
03.45 a.m to 04.30 a.m --- Thomala Seva (Arjitham Rs 200.00 per head).
04.30 a.m to 04.45 a.m --- Koluvu and Panchanga Sravanam inside Bangaru Vakili.
04.45 a.m to 05.30 a.m --- 1st Archana i.e Sahasranama Archana (Arjitham Rs 200.00 per head).
05.30 a.m to 06.00 a.m --- 1st Bell, Bali and Sattumora.
06.00 a.m to 08.00 a.m --- Sallimpu, 2nd Archana (Ekantham) Tirupapavada Alankaram, & Bell.
08.00 a.m to 06.00 p.m --- Sarvadarshanam.
01.00 p.m to 05.00 p.m --- Arjitha Kalyanotsavam, Bramotsavam, Vahana Sevas, Unjal Sevas etc.
06.00 p.m to 08.00 p.m --- Pedda Suddhi, Night Kainkaryams, Poolangi Samarpana and Night Bell, etc.
08.00 p.m to 10.00 p.m --- Poolangi Sarvadarshanam.
10.00 p.m to 10.30 p.m --- Suddhi, preparations for Ekantha Seva.
10.30 p.m Ekanta Seva (Rs 100.00 ticket holders are admitted).
Note : Sarvadarshanam will be continued beyond 10 p.m subject to rush.




Fridays (Special Seva---Abhishekam).

03.00 a.m to 03.30 a.m --- Suprabhatam (Only Rs 100.00 Special Entrance ticket will be holders admitted).
03.30 a.m to 04.30 a.m --- Sallimpu, Suddhi, Nityakatla Kainkaryams, Morning 1st bell and preparations for Abhishekam.
04.30 a.m to 06.00 a.m --- Abhishekam.
06.00 a.m to 07.00 a.m --- Samarpana.
07.00 a.m to 08.00 a.m --- Thomala Seva and Archana (Arjitham Rs 200.00 per head).
08.00 a.m to 09.00 a.m --- 2nd Bell, Bali and Sattumora etc.
09.00 a.m to 08.30 p.m --- Sarvadarshanam.
01.00 p.m to 05.00 p.m --- Arjitha Kalyanotsavam, Bramotsavam etc.
07.00 p.m to 08.30 p.m --- Sahasra, Deepalankara Seva at kolimi Mantapam.
08.30 p.m to 09.30 p.m --- Suddhi, Night Kainkaryams and Night Bell etc.
09.30 p.m to 10.00 p.m --- Sarvadarshanam.
10.00 p.m to 10.30 p.m --- Suddhi, preparations for Ekantha Seva.
10.30 p.m Ekanta Seva (Arjitham Rs 100.00 per head).
Note : Sarvadarshanam will be continued beyond 10 p.m subject to rush.




Saturday's & Sunday's

03.00 a.m to 03.30 a.m --- Suprabhatam (Only Rs 100.00 Special Entrance ticket holders will be admitted).
03.30 a.m to 03.45 a.m --- Suddhi etc.
03.45 a.m to 04.30 a.m --- Thomala Seva (Arjitham Rs 200.00 per head).
04.30 a.m to 04.45 a.m --- Koluvu and Panchanga Sravanam.
04.45 a.m to 05.30 a.m --- 1st Archana i.e Sahasranama Archana (Arjitham Rs 200.00 per head).
05.30 a.m to 06.00 a.m --- 1st Bell, Bali and Sattumora.
06.00 a.m to 11.00 a.m --- Sarvadarshanam.
11.00 a.m to 12.00 p.m --- Suddhi, Second Archana (Ekantam) and 2nd Bell etc.
12.00 p.m to 07.00 p.m --- Sarvadarshanam.
01.00 p.m to 05.00 p.m --- Arjitha Kalyanotsavam, Bramotsavam, Vahana Sevas, Unjal Sevas etc.
07.00 p.m to 08.00 p.m --- Suddhi, Night Kainkaryams (Ekantam) and Night Bell.
08.00 p.m to 10.00 p.m --- Sarvadarshanam.
10.00 p.m to 10.30 p.m --- Suddhi, preparations for Ekantha Seva.
10.30 p.m --- Ekanta Seva (Arjitham Rs 100.00 per head).
Note: Sarvadarshanam will be continued beyond 10 p.m subject to rush.

Tirupati Balaji Brahmotsavam Festival

Be taken on an amazing tour to one of India's most sacred and ancient temples - the Tirupati/Tirumala Venkateswara temple - during the biggest festival of the year, the holy Brahmotsavam. See the nine days procession, with the temple deity being carried throughout the holy city on his various golden vahanas accompanied by hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic devotees.

World's Richest Temple, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh

There is ample literary and epigraphic testimony to the antiquity of the temple of Lord Sri Venkateswara. All the great dynasties of rulers of the southern peninsula have paid homage to Lord Sri Venkateswara in this ancient shrine. The Pallavas of Kancheepuram (9th century AD), the Cholas of Thanjavur (a century later), the Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings and chieftains of Vijayanagar (14th - 15th century AD) were devotees of the Lord and they competed with one another in endowing the temple with rich offerings and contributions.

It was during the rule of the Vijayanagar dynasty that the contributions to the temple increased. Sri Krishnadevaraya had statues of himself and his consorts installed at the portals of the temple, and these statues can be seen to this day. There is also a statue of Venkatapati Raya in the main temple.

Tirupati Balaji Virtual Tour

Everyday is a day of festivity at Tirumala. The most famous is the annual festival called 'Brahmotsavam', which is celebrated on grand scale for nine days in September, attracting pilgrims and tourists from all parts of the country. The fifth and ninth days of the festival are especially significant in as much as Garudostavam and Rathotavam takes place on those days.

108 Names of Lord venkateswara Balaji

Lord Venkateswara is the main deity of tirupati. lord Vekateswara is also known by other names. 108 names of lord venkateswara is given below

1) Om Shri Ventakeshaya Namaha
2) OM Sreenivasaya Namaha
3) OM Laxmipataye Namaha
4) OM Anaamayaaya Namaha
5) OM Amruthamsaya Namaha
6) OM Jagadvandyaya Namaha
7) OM Govindaya Namaha
8) OM Shashvataya Namaha
9) OM Prabhave Namaha
10) OM Sheshadrinilayaya Namaha
11) OM Devaya Namaha
12) OM Keshavaya Namaha
13) OM Madhusudhanaya Namaha
14) OM Amrutaya Namaha
15) OM Madhavaya Namaha
16) OM Krishnaya Namaha
17) OM Sriharaye Namaha
18) OM Jnanapanjaraya Namaha
19) OM SreeVatsavakshase Namaha
20) OM Sarveshaya Namaha
21) OM Gopalaya Namaha
22) OM Purushotamaya Namaha
23) OM Gopeeshwaraya Namaha
24) OM Parasmyjyotishe Namaha
25) OM Vaikuntapataye Namaha
26) OM Avyayaya Namaha
27) OM Sudhaatanave Namaha
28) OM Yadavendraya Namaha
29) OM Nithyayavvanaroopavate Namaha
30) OM Chaturvedatmakaya Namaha
31) OM Vishnave Namaha
32) OM Achutyaya Namaha
33) OM Padminipriyaya Namaha
34) OM Dharapataye Namaha
35) OM Surapatye Namaha
36) OM Nirmalaya Namaha
37) OM Devapoojitaya Namaha
38) OM Chaturboojaya Namaha
39) OM Chakradaraya Namaha
40) OM Tridamne Namaha
41) OM Trigunashrayaya Namaha
42) OM Nirvikalpaya Namaha
43) OM Nishkalankaya Namaha
44) OM Niranthakaya Namaha
45) OM Niranjanaya Namaha
46) OM Nirabasaya Namaha
47) OM Nityatruptaya Namaha
48) OM Nirgunaya Namaha
49) OM Nirupadravaya Namaha
50) OM Gadhaadharaya Namaha
51) OM Shaarangapanaye Namaha
52) OM Nandakine Namaha
53) OM Shankhadarakaya Namaha
54) OM Anakemurtaye Namaha
55) OM Avyaktaya Namaha
56) OM Katihastaya Namaha
57) OM Varapradaya Namaha
58) OM Anekatmane Namaha
59) OM Deenabandhave Namaha
60) OM Aartalokabhayapradhaya
61) OM Akasharajavaradhaya Namaha
62) OM Yogihrutpadmamandhiraya Namaha
63) OM Dhamodharaya Namaha
64) OM Karunakaraya Namaha
65) OM Jagatpalayapapagnaya Namaha
66) OM Bhakthavatsalaya Namaha
67) OM Trivikramaya Namaha
68) OM Shishumaraya Namaha
69) OM Jatamakutashobhitaya Namaha
70) OM Shankamadyolasanmanjookinkinyadyakarakandakaya Namaha
71) OM Neelameghashyamatanave Namaha
72) OM Bilvapatrarchanapriyaya Namaha
73) OM Jagatvyapine Namaha
74) OM Jagatkartre Namaha
75) OM Jagatsakshine Namaha
76) OM Jagatpataya Namaha
77) OM Chintitarthapradaya Namaha
78) OM Jishnave Namaha
79) OM Daasharhaaya Namaha
80) OM Dhasharoopavate Namaha
81) OM Devakinandanaya Namaha
82) OM Shauraye Namaha
83) OM Hayagreevaya Namaha
84) OM Janardhanaya Namaha
85) OM Kanyashravanatharejyaya Namaha
86) OM Peetambharadharaya Namaha
87) OM Anagaya Namaha
88) OM Vanamaline Namaha
89) OM Padmanabhaya Namaha
90) OM Mrughayasaktamanasaya Namaha
91) OM Ashvaroodaya Namaha
92) OM Kadghadharine Namaha
93) OM Dhanarjanasamootsukaya Namaha
94) OM Ganasaralasanmadhyakasturitilakojjwalaya Namaha
95) OM Sachitandharoopaya Namaha
96) OM Jaganmangaladayakaya Namaha
97) OM Yajnaroopaya Namaha
98) OM Yajnabokthre Namaha
99) OM Chinmayaya Namaha
100) OM Parameshwaraya Namaha
101) OM Paramarthapradhaya Namaha
102) OM Shanthaya Namaha
103) OM Sreemathe Namaha
104) OM Dordhandhavikramaya Namaha
105) OM Paratparaya Namaha
106) OM Parasmaibrahmane Namaha
107) OM Sreevibhave Namaha
108) OM Jagadeeshwaraya Namaha

Lord Balaji's

Millions of devotees throng the Tirumala Hills practically round the clock throughout the year. As the rush of pilgrims increases day by day, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams is hard put to finding ways and means of accommodating them and arranging darshan without long wait. As they move towards the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Venkateswara, how many will remember that there was a time, just a thousand years back, when the Hills were deserted with not much of human habitation in sight? Ask any sri vaishnavite to name the man of the millenium. Pat will come the reply, Saint Ramanuja.

Ramanuja (1017-1137 A.D.) had visited the Hills thrice. His maternal uncle, Peria Thirumalai Nambi gave him discourses on the Ramayana for several months at the Hills. The temple and the surroundings were in bad shape and worship was not organized regularly. Ramanuja was inspired by the Holy Hymns of the Alwars singing the glory of the Lord of the Seven Hills. He called an assembly of the Acharyas, 74 in number and posed them the question whether any one of them will take up the task of serving the Lord on the Hills on a day to day basis. Everyone was hesitating, fearing the hard life up the Hills what with tigers, malaria and the forests. There was Anantharya, a strong and silent devotee in the gathering. He rose to his feet and prayed, " Beloved Acharya ! Bestow the blessing of serving the Lord of the Seven Hills on this humble self. With your grace, I will be happy to undertake this service." Ramanuja was mightily pleased and embracing Anantharya, declared before the congregation, " Anantharya, You are truly the man (Aanpillai)." Anatharya chose to settle down on the Hills in fulfillment of the command of the Guru and went on to lay the garden of flowers, dug up the lake and named it after Ramanuja. Anantharya was so much obsessed with zealous personal service to the Lord that on one occasion, he hit with a crowbar a young man who was trying to help his wife in laying the garden. Anantharya was chasing him when the young man disappeared into the temple. The priests found blood oozing from the chin of the Lord as Anantharya entered the sanctum sanctorum. He applied camphor on the chin and prayed for forgiveness. The crowbar can even today be seen at the entrance to the temple as a memento to the dedicated devotion of Anantharya. The camphor is distributed as prasad (sri padarenu).

Anantharya was actually born in Siruputtur near Mysore and drawn towards Ramanuja by his magnetic personality. During the second visit up the Hills, Saint Ramanuja went round the garden laid down by Ananthasuri and was delighted to find the garden thick with vakula, patala, punnaga, shenbaga and other flower bearing fragrant trees, the bunches of flowers hanging from the branches, entertaining the ears of pilgrims with strains of music poured forth by bees and all kinds of plumaged birds. Saint Ramanuja remembered, how on the first occasion, he had given the call to Ananthasuri at the time of discourse on Nammalwar's hymns referring to the Lord as residing in flower bedecked Venkata Hills (sindhupoo maghizhum thiruvengadam). He called Anantharya and declared in the august presence of Peria Thirumalai Nambigal, "O Anantharya! Having nursed thee, I now reap the fruit."

Anantha Suri was some sort of a chronicler. His Venkatchala Ithihasamala represents to Tirupati what Koil Olugu is to Srirangam. The Holy triumvirate of Saint Ramanuja, Anantharya and Peria Thirumalai Nambigal at a conference at the third visit of Ramanuja set up the Pedda Jeeyangar Mutt to regulate the vaikanasa agama form of worship. The saint began his Sri Bashya with an invocation to the Lord as Brahmani Srinivasa. This was a free Sanskrit rendering of Nammalwar's famous hymn addressing the Lord as "Alarmelmangai Urai Marba."

Epigraphs TT 171, 173 and 175 on the Tirumalai Hills show Ananthalwan's dedication to Saint Ramanuja. His word was gospel to him. Whatever was dear to Ramanuja was dearer to Ananthalwan. He prays to Ramanuja to bless him with the noble spirit to imbibe the teachings of Nammalwar. His devotion to Andal was so great that on one occasion he was seen diving deep down the Srivilliputtur temple tank to search for the remnants of holy turmeric if any used by Andal. He composed the Ramanuja Chatusloki showing how Srirangam, the Tirumalai Hills, Kanchi and Melkote were dear to Ramanuja. His Gotha Chatusloki is a work of great art, rich in lines whose depth of thought, warmth of feeling, glow of imagery and grace of phrases will ring for centuries in every land where the glory of Andal is cherished.

Bhattar, the successor to Saint Ramanuja at Srirangam, once sent a disciple to Ananthalwan to ascertain who a true Vaishnava was. Ananthalwan told the Brahmin from Srirangam, "A true Sri Vaishnavite is like a crane, like a cock, like salt. He will be like You." Bhattar later on explained the four different ideas of Ananthalwan. The Srivaishnava ignores ordinary mortals and awaits the arrival of a true Gnani so that he may surrender to that Mahatma through devotion to service. Not for him the different parts of the Vedas which are not always of universal appeal. Like the cock picking up the good grains from the chaff, the Vaishnava will swear by the Dravida Veda of Nammalwar. Just as the salt dissolves itself in food and becomes useful thereby, the Srivaishnava effaces himself in Bhagavath, Bhaagavatha and Acharya Kainkarya. Like the Brahmin from Srirangam, he is free of ego or arrogance, always humble and devoted to the Srivaishnava clan.

Ananthalwan's final sacred gift to the pilgrims visiting the Hills was the shrine for Ramanuja. The image was presented to Ananthalwan by Saint Ramanuja Himself on request and was consecrated after the Saint shuffled off his mortal coil. Consecration may be later in time but the image itself is more ancient than those in Sriperumbudur, Srirangam and Thirunarayanapuram.

Ananthalwan rebukes Nanjeeyar for taking to Sannyasa. For him liberation is attained by service to the community. Indeed Ananthalwan advises his disciple Vaishnava Dasa to spend his wealth for the upliftment of the poor and the down trodden if he is to aspire for the grace of Lord Venkateswara.

Ananthalwan joined eternity with the Lord on the sacred Thiru Adi Pooram day. Even today, Lord Venkateswara visits the garden and bestows honours on the Magizha Tree.

The satari at the main sanctum sanctorum is known as Sadagopa in remembrance of Nammalwar. The one in the Ramanuja shrine is known as Ananthalwan.

The Vaishnava community always held religious beliefs as filling too vital a function in sustaining individual morality and morale and social order and control. Ananthalwan belonged to a different clime and a different age, but it was not blind faith but faith married to reason.

Source : http://www.indiadivine.org