The temple Venkateswara which is a Hindu temple, is situated in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and it attracts thousands of devotees every year. It is believed that Lord Vishnu came to reside here in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati to save humankind in the Kali Yuga. Due to this, the temple is also known as Kaliyuga Vaikuntham, and the Lord here is called Kaliyuga PrathyakshaDaivam.
The temple is also known for getting donations on a huge level from the devotees. It is run and managed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which works under the Andhra Pradesh Government. The Andhra Pradesh Government itself uses all the donation that comes from the devotees. It is a custom practice here to donate. People here come to say their wishes, and when their wishes are fulfilled, they contribute in the form of donation.
The Formation of the Temple
The temple has many legends associated. One such legend is that once King Thondaiman was deeply asleep, Lord Vishnu appeared in his dream and asked him to construct the temple in Tirumala’s hill town. The King woke up in the morning and instructed his people to start the construction.
After the initial formation, many other kings ruled over the place, and the construction was developed with each kingdom. Pallava queen Samavai is known as one of the major contributors; she donated her many precious jewels 23 acres of land.
Chola dynasty and Vijayanagara Empire also contributed majorly. They adorned the temples with riches and gold and diamonds to increase its significance even more.
When the Britishers took control, the East India Company used the temple to keep different tenants. Later they gave the administration of the temple to the chief priest of HathiramjiMuth. The priest then managed the temple until 1933, and then “Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam” (TTD) took the temple under control.
In 1966, an order was passed after India’s independence, stating that the administration of the temple should be given to the government of Andhra Pradesh. Later in 1979, another order was passed that gave the TTD control of the temple again. Since that time, TTD has been administrating the temple’s day-to-day activities under the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
The Most Popular Legend Associated
It was the Kali Yuga when some Rishis were performing Yagya. Meanwhile, Narada appeared and told them to decide who among the Trimurtis would give the Yagya’s most fruitful results. A sage named Bhrigu, who had an extra eye in the sole of his foot, was sent to visit the Trimurtis.
Both Brahma and Shiva didn’t notice him, after which he visited Lord Vishnu. Vishnu also made Bhrigu feel unnoticed; angry, Bhrigu kicked Vishnu in his chest that was the residence to Goddess Laxmi. Lord Vishnu apologized to the sage, but Laxmi found it insulting. She left the abode of Vishnu and went to Earth.
Lord Vishnu, when came to Earth finding his beloved, she had taken birth in a King’s family as Padmavati. Lord Vishnu then went to meditating in an anthill. Lord Brahma and Shiva came to help as a cow and a calf, and they kept feeding Vishnu with milk. Later, when the time came, as per the divine plan, both Vishnu and Padmavati met, and they got married.
Lord Kuber gave a huge amount of money to Lord Vishnu on the occasion of their marriage. This money was used to make the marriage extraordinary and grand. From then, Lord resided in the hills of Tirumala, where the temple was constructed later.
It is believed that Lord Vishnu has been repaying the money of Kuber since then. Hence people donate as they believe this would help Lord Vishnu to repay his debts quickly. This is the prime reason why The temple Venkateswara receives such a huge donation every year.
Reaching the Temple
The temple can be reached easily as the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh is well connected to all major cities. The town Tirupati itself is a highly developed place where buses and trains are run regularly. There are sturdy pathways for both pedestrians and those who are traveling via vehicles.
Read more about different temples in South India on Astropedia. Explore their legends and what significance they hold. Read more : https://www.astroved.com/astropedia/en/festivals/vaikunta-ekadasi
