Tirupati Balaji Temple

Tirupati Balaji Temple is a famous Vedic temple in the hill town of Tirumala, near Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. It is the richest temple in the world in terms of donations received and wealth, and the most-visited place of worship in the world. The temple is visited by about 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily (30 to 40 million people annually on average), while on special occasions and festivals, like the annual Brahmotsavam, the number of pilgrims shoots up to 500,000, making it the most-visited holy place in the world.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is positioned on Venkatachala or Ventaka Hill (the seventh peak of the Tirupati Hill) in Chittoor district, Tirupati Temple. Dedicated to Sri Venketeshwara, the temple lies on the southern side of Swami Pushkarini.

Lord Balaji is also famous as Govinda. Lord Balaji is very kind and helps anyone who prays to Him for help. Lord Balaji at Tirupati has performed numerable miracles. The Lord Balaji is famous as the Lord helps during one’s misfortune. Venkateshwara means the Lord, who frees us from all of our sins. Ven means sin, Kat means one who delivers. We remain in this world, suffering, birth after birth, because of our sinful reactions, now in this age of kali, it is an age of sin. It is an ocean of faults.

The names ascribed to the main deity are Balaji, Srinivasa, Venkateswara, Edukondalavadu (Lord of seven hills in Telugu), “Aapadhamrokkuluvaadu” (Saviour of devotees during calamities in Telugu), Venkatachalapathy’ ‘or Venkataramana in Telugu, Malayappa (Father of hill in Tamil), Elumalaiyaan (Lord of seven hills in Tamil). The goddess Sri or Lakshmi (Vishnu’s consort) resides on the chest of Venkateswara; thus, he is also known by the epithet “Srinivasa” (the one in whom Sri resides). The goddesses Lakshmi and Padmavathi reside on either side of his chest. The deity is considered the Kali yuga varada, that is, ‘the boon-granting Lord of Kali yuga’. (Kali yuga is the fourth and final age of the Hindu cycle of ages). The temple is held in particular reverence by the sect who hails from “Naimisharanya” (north India), known as the Sri Vaikhanasa/ Adhi Vaikhanasas followers of Sri Vikanasa Muni.