Tirupati History and Growth

About Tirupati

About Tirupati, Its History and Growth

Tirupati is the ancient Holy city in Andhra Pradesh.  Many Sacred Temples are located In and Around Tirupati. One of them is Tirumala Temple, Pilgrims destination. The temple of Tirupati is built in the foothills of the Tirumala Seven Hills. This temple is very popular among the devotees.

Tirupati-Town

Some say that Tirupati Originally Called as Tripathi, Tiru derived from Tri a Sanskrit Word.

“Venkatesaya Vidmahe, Tripathi Nadhaya Dheemahi, Thannoah Srinivasa Prachodhayath”

Here in this phrase Lord Venkateswara is referred as Lord of Tripathy.

Some other Scholars says that Sanskrit husband is called as Pati or Pathi means Husband and Tiru or Thiru literally means ‘Holy’ or ‘Sacred’ in Tamil and together the temple is called as Tirupati.  Tirupati is the Gateway to Tirumala- The abode of Lord Venkateswara.

Around 1500 years ago, there was no human habitation below the Scared Hill, there was a Huge forest that extended all around the Hill stretching up to the Bay of Bengal in the EAST and the River Pinaki or Penna in the North and extending miles towards WEST and SOUTH.

Gradually, with the growing importance and popularity of the Tirumala Temple, a village came up at its foot. It gradually grew into the town and the Town acquired the name of the Hill. Even today, many devotees refer Tirupati as Keel Tirupati or Lower Tirupati and Tirumala as Upper Tirupati or Mel Tirupati.

Govindaraja Swamy temple2

As per the earliest of Tamil literature (dated between 500 B.C to 300 A.D) mentions Tirupati as Thrivengadam which used to form the northernmost frontier of the Tamil Kingdoms.

Literature which was composed roughly around the post-Mauryan and early-Gupta era also refers Tirupati as the Aadhi Varaha Kshetra. 

Govindaraja swamy pushkarini

 

Tirumala was maintained and upgraded by various kingdoms. These include the Pallava Kingdom around 9th Century AD, Chola Kingdom around 10th century AD and the latest one being Vijayanagara Empire around 14th to 15th century AD.It was during the rule of Vijayanagara Empire that the temple received contributions.

In the period of Vijayanagara emperors, the temple attained its current opulence and size. The emperors of the dynasty, in particular, Krishna Deva Raya lavished on the temple numerous objects of priceless value, ranging from diamond studded crowns to golden swords.

SriKrishna Devaraya copy

Tiruchanoor Temple History

Tiruchanoor is a small village which is about 5 Km from Tirupati Bus station. It is also known as Alamelu Mangapuram, where the Temple for Sri Padmavathi Amma Varu, is located. Inscriptions on the walls of ancient Temple of Tirupati indicate the existence of an equally old Temple here known as Ilan Koil. It is said that there was an Ilan Koil important to Saivities at Tiruchanoor before 7th Century when Saivism thrived here.

This Temple was called either Thiruvengadathu Perumanadigal, Thiruvilan Koil Perumanadigal or Thirumantrasalai Perumanadigal. Inscriptions here reveal that it was built towards the end of the 8th Century.

Tiruchanoor was the last point on the old highway known as Vadakkuvazhi that connected the Tamil Country of Thondaimandalam with the region towards the north of the Hills known as the land of the Vadugars.

 

Chandragiri History

Chandragiri lies to the South-West of Tirupati. It gained prominence in the period of Saluva Mangideva, the great-grandfather of Saluva Narasimha, one of the generals who served under the command of Vira Kumara Kampanna in the second quarter of 14th Century.

Later, it grew up when the Saluva and Vijayanagara Kings built their forts and palaces here. Chandragiri as the second Capital of the Vijayanagara Empire.

 

Tirupati City View

 

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12 comments

  1. In some websites , I saw that , Lord tirupati Balaji is worshipped as maa Durga in 4/7 days of a week and as shiva in 1/7 days of week and as vishnu only for just 2 days in a week? is it right ? then who is actually the god of tirupati ? by worshiping Balaji to whom iam praying ?Vishnu or Ambal
    please answer ……..please
    I have some miracle experienced from tirupati balaji eventhough i did not worship him early , I’m from kerala and no one near me is able to clear my doubt…………

    • Dear Arjun V Kartha,

      Lord Balaji is worshiped as Lord Vishnu on all days. Let me explain on this, how Maa Durga and Siva came into this picture. Before Adi Sankaracharya arrival, there was so much confusion that they treat this Idol as their own God and started praying. Every Friday there Lord Venkateswara will be bathed with Turmeric water which is as per Agama Sastra only.

      It is mentioned in Annamayya Sankeerthanas that Lord Venkateswara appears in whichever form you pray for him. As he is Universal ruler, he will bless devotees at our wish.

      Could you let me know about your miracle?

      Thanks,

      • I suffered from a disease ( which can’t be tell now ) in my 18 years old . before that I was well good in studies and had already secured 96% in first two years of my degree course, but due to this illness I could n’t study in final year and failed in all exams. many rumors spread about me among teachers. But I have to keep my disease secret . and for four years I was treated by best doctors of my state. but all treatments were failed. The financial stability of family started to shake. while I was fighting with this problem many other incidents took place , my father met with an accident , and I was in trivandrum for higher studies .so I have to gave it up ( father was willing to pay for my studies , but my conscience couldn’t accept that offer ). At the same time . I’m accused for some mischief in society , and actually I’m unaware about ” what had happened? “. all these happened in 2014 . I fed up with my life and tried to flew away from my village , I also thought about committing suicide . At the middle of these problems one day I just prayed to venkateswara. and the same day itself I’m freed from my disease , first I thought that it may be a coincidence. but I tried once more , I again prayed to ( i don’t know any mantras , or stories about balaji) venkateswara and asked him to prove my innocence in the case i was accused , within hours it also happened . my friends , parents knew about my innocence and started to love and respect me more , om namo venkatesaya………….om namo venkatesaya……….

  2. Dear Kamal

    I have a long time confusion here.
    Always i come to tirumala, i will visit tirumala temple first
    then only will be going down to keel tirupathi padmawathi amma koil.
    Is this the correct way of worship?

    As some are telling that we should visit padmawathi amma kiol first
    before we can go top hill of tirumala to visit balaji.

    Please advice.

    Thx

    • Dear Nantha,
      Here is the complete order for Darshan.

      1) First visit to Kapila Theertham (Tirupati), to wash your feet and hands at temple tank (Pushkarini)
      2) Then start to Tirumala, After reaching Tirumala, Go to Swamy Pushkarini , take bath here or at least sprinkle on your Head from Pushkarini.
      3) Then Aadhi Varaha Swamy Darshan which is on the banks of Swamy Pushkarini
      4) Lord Venkateswara Swamy Darshan, main temple.
      5) Sri Padmavathi Devi Temple Tiruchanoor

      Thanks,

  3. We are very hard devotees of Lord Tirupati Balaji and we have been visiting Tirumala Temple almost 3 times a year from Mumbai since last many years ( say about 35 years ). Earlier years there was no problem of ques and we used to get the Darshan of Lord Balaji any time in a free darshan but ever since online booking has started, we had to book darshan in advance by paying 50/= per person. Gradually when this 50/= darshan ticket was discarded without any notice from the temple board and there was no information available even on the website. Even we tried sometime back to get in touch with Mumbai booking office earlier at Dadar and later on at sion east but we got the same reply from both offices that they are no more online bookings done and that we should approach customer care at tirumala. when contacted at Tirumala, they would direct us to same mumbai office. There is no clarity on this

    • Dear Sir,
      Rs.50 tickets can be availed at TTD counters. Please visit nearest TTD center to book the tickets in person.
      Thanks

  4. Dear Arjun,
    Good Evening. I am devotee of Lord Venkateshwara and coming to Tirumala from my childhood since 37years. Today I booked Kalyanotsavam ticket on 22-10-2016 and did small mistake while booking.
    Instead of giving my name I gave my son’s name(Mihir Chandra) who is 7yrs old and ID proof is my Aadhaar Number which is correct and accompanying pilgrimage details are given correct which is my wife’s name and her correct ID proof number.

    Kindly let me know whether we will be allowed for Kalyanotsavam since name is given as my son’s name. I have all original proof’s for myself, My son and for my wife if required to produce during darshan date.

    thanks
    Mahesh Chandra

  5. sir,
    I would like to book for udayastamana sarva seva. will you please let me know the procedure and the cost.

    Is there any provision to receive email notifications about the lord.

    thank you,

    • Dear Madam,
      Udayasthamana Seva is available for 1 crore and above donors.
      Next sevas quota will be released online on 4th Nov at 11 am
      Kindly subscribe to gotirupati newsletter so that we can communicate the dates in advance
      Thanks

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