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History Of Tirupati Temple – India is not called the country of temples for nothing, there is something special in the temples here…, which attract people from thousands of kms away due to their faith and devotion. There are thousands of temples here, which have their own history and mystery, which no one has been able to uncover till date and perhaps no one is capable of doing so. One of these is the Tirupati Balaji temple located in Andhra Pradesh…
Situated on Tirumala mountain in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, this temple is one of the most prominent and sacred pilgrimage sites of India. Apart from this, Tirupati is also one of the richest temples in India. Tirupati Balaji temple, full of miracles and mysteries, is known not only in India but all over the world. The main deity of this temple is Sri Venkateshwara Swamy, who is considered to be the incarnation of Lord Narayana himself, and also resides on Tirumala mountain with his wife Padmavati.
History Of Tirupati Temple (Tirupati Temple History)
Tirupati Balaji Temple is also known as ‘Temple of Seven Hills’. This temple was built around the third century, which has been renovated from time to time by the rulers of different dynasties. By the 5th century, Tirupati temple had emerged as the main religious center of Sanatanis. It is said that the Tirupati temple was originated by the Vaishnav sect.
In the 9th century, the Pallava rulers of Kanchipuram captured it. If we talk about the fame of this temple, then after the 15th century, this temple got a lot of fame, which remains till date.
Story of Tirupati Balaji Temple
It is said that once Lord Vishnu was resting on his Sheshshaiya in Ksheer Sagar with his wife Lakshmi, then Bhrigu Rishi came there and kicked him on his chest. Instead of getting angry at this, Vishnu Ji held the feet of Bhrigu Rishi and asked whether Rishivara’s feet were hurt. But Lakshmi Ji did not like this behavior of the Rishi and she got angry and left Vaikunth and was born on earth as a girl named Padmavati.
On this, Lord Vishnu changed his form and reached Mother Padmavati in the form of Venkateshwara and proposed marriage, which the goddess accepted and then both of them got married. Even today, the idol in Tirupati temple is decorated in half male and half female clothes. It is believed that Lord Venkateshwara Swamy lives here with his wife Padmavati.
Tradition of hair donation in Tirupati temple
According to beliefs, the devotees whose wishes are fulfilled come to the temple and dedicate (donate) their hair to Venkateshwara Swamy. Despite being in the south, the faith of the whole country is associated with this temple. This tradition is not from today but has been going on for many centuries, which even today devotees are following with great devotion. The specialty of this temple is that not only men donate their hair here but women and girls also donate their hair here.
The story behind hair donation in Tirupati
According to the mythological legend, in ancient times ants had made a nest on the idol of Lord Tirupati Balaji, due to which it was not visible to anyone. In such a situation, a cow used to come there every day and used to do Jal-Abhishek of the idol with its milk and go away. When the cow owner came to know about this, he killed the cow, after which blood started flowing from the head of the idol. On this, a woman cut her hair and placed it on Balaji’s head. After this, God appeared and told the woman, whoever comes here and sacrifices his hair for me, his every wish will be fulfilled. Since then this tradition of hair donation has been going on.
Mythological belief about Tirupati Balaji temple
According to mythological beliefs, Lord Hari Vishnuji lived for some time on the banks of a lake called Swami Pushkarni, which is located on the hill of Tirumala. That is why the hills around Tirupati are called ‘Saptagiri’, based on the seven hoods of Sheshnag. This temple of Shri Venkateshwaraiya is located on the seventh hill of Saptagiri, which is also known as Venkatadri. It is said that the idol of the Lord situated in the temple has not been made by anyone but it has arisen on its own.
Why is Venkateshwara temple called Tirupati Balaji?
Venkateshwara is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu but he is known by many names. One of his many names is Balaji. This temple is famous all over the world by the name of Tirupati Balaji. The decoration of Lord Venkateshwara is also quite different. Here the idol is dressed in half men’s clothes and half women’s clothes. Sandalwood paste is applied on the face along with dhoti and sari.
Prasad offered in Tirupati Balaji temple
Tirupati is a wonderful example of South Indian architecture and craftsmanship. 23 km from this temple. There is a village, where outsiders are prohibited from going. Here people live with great discipline and restraint. It is believed that fruits, flowers, milk, curd and ghee for offering to Balaji all come from this village. This tradition has been going on for centuries in this village; the women here never wear stitched clothes.
Important facts about Tirupati Balaji Temple
⦁ As soon as you enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, there is a stick on the right side, about which it is said that Balaji’s mother used to beat him with the same stick.
⦁ During the beating, his chin got injured, on which his mother applied that sandalwood paste, which is still going on as a tradition.
⦁ Venkateshwar Swami himself resides in the idol of the temple and that is why the hair on the head of the idol is real, which never gets entangled and remains soft.
⦁ If you listen to the idol with your ear, you can hear the sound of sea waves and the idol also always remains moist.
⦁ There is a lamp in the temple, which has been burning continuously for many centuries. The mysterious thing is that neither oil nor ghee is ever poured in this lamp.
⦁ On entering the sanctum sanctorum, the idol appears to be situated in the middle, but when seen from outside the sanctum sanctorum, the idol appears to be situated on the right side of the sanctum sanctorum.
⦁ Pachai camphor is applied on the idol of Venkateshwar Swami. According to science, applying Pachai camphor makes the stone crack after some time, but this camphor is being applied to Tirupati Balaji for years, but even today the idol is completely safe.
⦁ Every Thursday, Tirupati ji is decorated with sandalwood and when this sandalwood paste is removed, the image of Maa Lakshmi appears near the heart of the idol.
⦁ It is believed that Maa Lakshmi is present in Balaji. That is why every day during the decoration of the idol, a dhoti is worn below and a sari above.
⦁ The idol of Tirupati Balaji is made of a black stone, which looks like a living idol. The atmosphere of the sanctum sanctorum is kept very cool, despite that drops of sweat appear on the idol. It is believed that Balaji feels extreme heat, due to which his back is always moist.