Thursday, September 10, 2009

తిరుమల, A Nice Place


Tirumala Venkateswara Temple (Telugu: తిరుమల వేంకటేశ్వర దేవాలయం), also known as Tirupati Venkateswara Temple is a famous Hindu Temple of Lord Venkateswara located in the hill town [[Tirumala - TirupatiTirumala]], Andhra Pradesh. The temple is located on the Venkatachalam hill that forms part of the seven hills of Tirumala, and hence the temple is also known as the Temple of Seven Hills (Saptagiri in Sanskrit, Edukondalu in Telugu and Ezhumalai in Tamil). The presiding deity of the temple, Lord Venkateswara, is also known by other names - Balaji or Srinivasa or Perumal. The temple is the richest and the most visited place of worship in the world. The temple is visited by about 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily, while on special occasions and festivals, like the annual Brahmotsavam, the number of pilgrim’s shoots up to 500,000, making it one of the most visited holy places in the world. According to the legend, the temple has a self-manifested idol murti of Lord Vishnu, with the Lord believed to have resided here for the entire Kali Yuga. In Sri Vaishnava tradition, the temple is considered one of the 108 Divya Desam sites. The Tirumala hills comprising of the seven hills of Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabadri, Narayanadri and Venkatadri are the abode of the Tirumala Venkateswara temple. The hill town (Tirumala) and the temple (Venkateswara Temple) are located on the Seshadri or Seshachalam hill. The temple complex comprises a smaller traditional temple building along with a number of modern queue and pilgrim lodging sites
Ten avatars: The most famous of the divine incarnations are Rama, whose life is depicted in the Ramayana, and Krishna, whose life is depicted in the Mahābhārata and the Srimad Bhagavatam. The Bhagavad Gita, which contains the spiritual teachings of Krishna, is one of the most widely-read scriptures in Hinduism.
Matsya, the fish, appeared in the Satya Yuga. Represents beginning of life.
Kurma, the tortoise, appeared in the Satya Yuga. Represents a human embryo just growing tiny legs, with a huge belly.
Varaha, the boar, appeared in the Satya Yuga. Represents a human embryo which is almost ready. Its features are visible.
Narasimha, the Man-Lion (Nara = man, simha = lion), appeared in the Satya Yuga. Represents a newborn baby, hairy and cranky, bawling and full of blood.
Vamana, the Dwarf, appeared in the Treta Yuga. Represents a young child.
Parashurama, Rama with the axe, appeared in the Treta Yuga. Represents both an angry young man and a grumpy old man simultaneously.
Rama, Sri Ramachandra, the prince and king of Ayodhya, appeared in the Treta Yuga. Represents a married man with children in a very ideological society
Krishna (meaning dark or black; see also other meanings in the article about him.), appeared in the Dwapara Yuga. Represents a person in more practical society, where there is one good or bad. Good or bad depends on society you live in.
Gautama Buddha is considered an avatar that returned pure dharma to the world.
Kalki ("Eternity", or "time", or "The Destroyer of foulness"), who is expected to appear at the end of Kali Yuga, the time period in which we currently exist.
There is also a "hidden avatar" mentioned in 11th canto of the Bhagavata Purana.
Some consider Balarama, brother of Krishna to be the eighth avatar of Vishnu, and delete Buddha. The Buddha avatar, which occurs in different versions in various Puranas, may represent an attempt by orthodox Brahminism to slander the Buddhists by identifying them with the demons.[5] Helmuth von Glasenapp attributed these developments to a Hindu desire to absorb Buddhism in a peaceful manner, both to win Buddhists to Vishnuism and also to account for the fact that such a significant heresy could exist in India.[6]
Saturdays and Sundays
Time
Sevas (Rates)
0300 - 0330 hrs
Suprabhatam (Rs. 120.00 per head)
0330 - 0345 hrs
Suddhi
0345 - 0430 hrs
Tomala Seva (Arjitham - Rs. 220.00 per head)
0430 - 0445 hrs
Koluvu and Panchanga Sravanam
0445 - 0530 hrs
First Archana Sahasranama Archana (Rs. 220.00 per head) and Archanantara Darsanam (AAD) (Rs. 200.00 per head)
(Archana)
0530 - 0630 hrs
(AAD)
0630 - 0700 hrs
First Bell, Bali and Sattumura
0700 - 0730 hrs
Suddhi, Second Archana (Ekantam), Second Bell, etc.
0730 - 1900 hrs
Sarvadarsanam
1200 - 1700 hrs
Kalyanotsavam, Brahmotsavam, Vasanthotsavam, Unjal Seva
1730 - 1830 hrs
Sahasra Deepalankarana Seva
1900 - 2000 hrs
Suddhi, Night Kainkaryams (Ekantam) and Night Bell
2000 - 0100 hrs
Sarvadarsanam
0100 - 0130 hrs
Suddhi and preparations for Ekanta Seva
0130 hrs
Ekanta Seva (Rs. 120.00 per head)
Notes
Sarvadarsanam may continue beyond 0100 hrs subject to demand.
The seva rates may change from time to time.
T.T.D Information Call Center No. 0877-2277777, 2233333
TTD Counter
16th Cross, Vyalikaval
Malleswaram
Bangalore-560003
Landmark: Next to Chowdaiah Memorial Hall
Phone: 080-23445432 / 23315361
Time: 10 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4 PM