Tirupati Balaji Temple: India's richest temple

Tirupati, a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, is famous for the sacred Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, an important Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Situated in the Tirumala Hills, about 150 km from Chennai, this temple is a major pilgrimage site known for its historical and religious importance. Tirupati, also known as the abode of Venkateswara, is a city rich in spirituality and tradition, attracting devotees from far and wide. With a rich cultural heritage and architectural marvels, including Dravidian style temples, Tirupati holds a special place in Hindu mythology and is considered one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in India.

Table of contents

1. History of Tirupati Temple
2. Importance of Tirupati Temple
3. Tirupati Temple Architecture
4. What is the best time to visit Tirupati Temple?
5. Ancient customs and tradition
6. Morning ritual

History of Tirupati Temple

Tirupati temple has a rich and extensive history. It is believed that this temple was built around 300 BC. It happened during this period. According to Hindu scriptures, this temple is the abode of Lord Vishnu in the form of Lord Venkateshwara, who is said to have appeared here himself to save humanity from the trials and tribulations of Kaliyuga. The temple has been patronised by many emperors and kings over the centuries, including the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th–16th centuries. During this time, the temple underwent significant expansion and renovation, with the construction of the iconic Rajagopuram (entrance tower), implementation of administrative and ritual systems, which remain the basis of temple practices today. The temple faced challenges during Muslim rule in the 14th–16th centuries, when the temple's wealth and resources were looted. The temple survived due to the efforts of the local rulers, who continued to patronise it.

In the 18th century, the Maratha rulers played an important role in restoring the temple to its former glory, providing security and donating resources to revive its rituals and traditions.

Tirupati Temple is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world, attracting millions of devotees annually. It is famous for its architectural wonders, rich cultural heritage and the sacred deity of Lord Venkateswara.

Importance of Tirupati Temple

It has immense importance in Hindu culture. The temple is revered for its spiritual significance and historical heritage. This temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Devotees come to this temple to seek blessings, fulfil their wishes and offer prayers. One of the unique features of the temple is the devotees offering their hair to Balaji. Devotees offer their hair as a symbol of surrendering their ego to God. These hairs are then used to make wigs and hair extensions, providing income to the temple. Additionally, the temple is known for its humanitarian activities, providing free food, accommodation and medical services to devotees. The rich history, stunning architecture and cultural significance of Tirupati Balaji Temple makes it one of the most visited and revered temples in India, attracting millions of devotees annually.

Tirupati Temple Architecture

The temple is built in the Dravidian architectural style and is situated at an altitude of 853 metres on the Tirumala Hills, which are part of the Seshachalam Hills.
The main entrance to the temple is called the Maha Dwaram, which is a five-tiered gopuram (temple tower) that is 50 feet high and adorned with seven kalashas.
The MahaDwaram provides access from the outside to the Sampangi Pradakshinam (a passageway into the temple), an area that circles the outer and inner compound walls of the temple.
Bangaru Vakili (Golden Gateway) is the second gateway that leads directly to the inner sanctum, where Lord Venkateshwara, the main deity, is installed. This entrance is decorated with gilt plates depicting the Dashavatara (tenth incarnation) of Lord Vishnu.
Ananda Nilayam is a gold plated tower located inside the main temple, with Lord Venkateswara as the main deity.
Swami Pushkarini is a sacred pond spread over 1.5 acres, believed to be brought from Vaikuntam (the abode of Lord Vishnu) by Garuda.
The temple complex also includes many other architectural features like mandapams (pillared halls), flagpoles and sub-shrines that add to its grandeur and spiritual significance.

What is the best time to visit Tirupati Temple?

The best time to visit Tirupati Balaji Temple is between October to March. During this time the weather is at its best and the crowd in the temple is also less. Darshan in the temple starts from 6:30 am. Spring season is also considered a good time to visit Tirupati Temple. Special worship and festivals also take place in the temple at this time. Since there are many temples to see in Tirupati, two days is enough time, but if you want to explore more then you can extend your trip by another day.

Ancient customs and traditions

One of the most important rituals at Tirupati temple is the hair offered by the devotees. It is believed that offering hair is a sign of renunciation of ego and complete surrender to God is a symbol. The temple has created extensive facilities for lakhs of devotees who come to offer their hair.
The temple also has a strict dress code, where wearing modern clothes like shorts, jeans and T-shirts are not allowed. Women should wear saree or churidar, while men should wear dhoti or formal pants and shirt.
Some of the major festivals celebrated at the temple include Brahmotsavam, a 9-day festival, and Vaikuntha Ekadashi, when it is believed that the gates of heaven remain open. These festivals attract huge crowds of devotees.
The temple has a unique set of daily rituals and traditions which are followed with great devotion. These include rituals like Suprabhatam, Thomala and Archana. The temple also provides free food to devotees in its dining halls.
Another unique feature is that the idol of Lord Venkateswara is believed to maintain a constant temperature of 110°F, and the sound of ocean waves can be heard from behind the deity. The flowers offered to the deity are also brought from a nearby Gupta village.
Visiting Kapila Theertham on Mahashivratri provides an opportunity to become familiar with the customs and traditions of the people of Tirupati.

Special Morning ritual of Tirupati Balaji Temple

The Suprabhatam ritual at Tirupati Balaji Temple is a sacred ritual in which Lord Venkateswara is awakened from his divine sleep. This ritual marks the beginning of the day in the temple and involves singing bhajans and praying to the Lord to seek blessings and give an auspicious start to the day. The word "Suprabhatam" means "good dawn" or "good morning", reflecting a prayer to God for an auspicious start to the day.