Tirupati Balaji Temple

Tirupati is another name of festivities, so with each new day, there comes a festival. Every day, fair of pilgrims at the shrine add to the festivity of this temple. The town celebrates most Vaishnava festivals, including Vaikuntha Ekadasi, Rama Navami, and Janmashtami with great splendor, while the Brahmotsavam celebrated every year during September is the most important festival in Tirumala. The temple receives millions of devotees over the short span of a week. The most famous is the annual festival called ‘Brahmotsavam’, which is celebrated on grand scale for nine days in September, attracting pilgrims and tourists from all parts of the country. The fifth and ninth days of the festival are especially significant in as much as Garudostavam and Rathotavam takes place on those days.

Other major festivals include Vasanthotsavam (spring festival), conducted in March–April and Rathasapthami (Magha Shuddha Saptami) and celebrated in February, when Lord Venkateswara’s deity is taken on procession around the temple chariots.

Special Rituals/ Prarthana performed in temple

Lord Vishnu is worshiped in the Temple as per Vaikhanasa traditions. The ancient texts of the sage Marichi (the Bhagvad Shastram and Vimanarchana Kalpam) state that Lord Vishnu here should be worshipped six times a day.

UshaKala Aradhana — worship (or Aradhana) should start and finish before sunrise

Prathakala Aradhana — worship should start after sunrise and finish before noon

Madhyanika Aradhana — worship should start and finish at noon

Aparahana Aradhana — worship should start when the sun starts to descend

SandhyaKala Aradhana — worship should start and finish around the sunset

Ardharatri Aradhana — worship should start after the horizon is completely dark

All the Aradhana is done by hereditary Vaikhanasa priests, who have performed the services for generations. Only these priests have the right to touch and offer services to the Lord. These set of Archakas are called Mirasidars (owners and shareholders of the temple). The four families of the Tirumala Temple which are in this Mirasi are the Gollapalli, Peddintti, Paidipalli, and Tirupathammagari family.

For worshippers, the deity Venkateswara symbolises goodness. When people travel to Tirupati Balaji Temple, they chant the mantra Ezhumalayanukku Govinda Govinda or Venkataramana Govinda (in Tamil), Yedukondalavada Venkataramana Govinda Govinda (in Telugu) or Om Namo Narayanaaya or Om Sri Venkatesaya Namah (in Sanskrit). Lord Venkateswara is believed by followers to be a very merciful form of Vishnu, being the fulfiller of every wish made to him by the devotees.

Temple Pooja Daily Schedule

Every day, morning 6.00 am, the Lord is woken up, while reciting the Venkateshwara Suprabhatam and then the shodasha upacharam is performed. While waking up the Lord, 108 names of Lord are chanted along with offering of flowers and Tulsi at the lotus feet of Lord and Archana is performed.

Then the Lord is bathed and fresh silk clothes and jewellaries along with camphor, chandan are offered to the Lord. Lord is then dressed. Then fresh garlands are offered to the Lord, which are made by devotees following devotional standards.

Dhupa, deepa, Fruits and milk sweets are offered in the balabhogam at 7.30am. At noon 12.00pm, Rajabhoga – delicious dishes are offered to the Lord. In the evening at 6.00 pm Sandhya Bhog which includes fruits are offered.

In Ekanta Seva, Lord is put to rest while massaging the feet with the recitation of devotional prayers and songs