The temple of Lord Venkateswara in Tirupati isn't just a temple; it's a phemonenon of faith that has to be seen to be believed.

The Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati has two unique claims to fame. With an average of around ten thousand visitors a day, it is by far the most visited temple in country. Pilgrims walk miles, brave the harshest weather and wait paiently for hours, if not days to get a fleeting glimpse of the Lord. What's more, the daily collectin in theform of donations and from the sale of tickets and religious material runs into millions of rupees; making it the richest temple on the subcontinent. What is it about this ancient temple, perched high upon a hill, with a deity so fierce that even his gaze can blind you, that draws people for far and wide to its hallowed halls? One knows that faith can move mountains and scale them too, and who are we to question the faith of millions of people who seek the blessings of the Lord of the Hills?

"This temple is a vibrant cultural and philanthropic institution with a grand history spanning several centuries."

There is a Shloka in the Puranas that says "There is no place in the Universe so sacred as Venkatadri - Tirumala. There could be no manifestation of God like Sri Venkateswara in the past or even in the future. The Parabrahamam rules and reigns the world from atop the Tirumala Hills with Tirupati as the base, the starting point for any devotee to reach the Lord's Lotus Feet. Tirumala means the Hills that bestow "Tiru" i.e., the Hills that give "Sri" (prosperity) or the Abode of "Sri" - Mahalakshmi. The other name Venkatam indicates that it is capable of removing sins (' Ven' means sins, 'Katam' means the act of burning). Thus, the Lord is appropriately called Sri Venkateswara,to be the richest temple in India, this temple is a vibrant cultural and philanthropic institution with a grand history spanning several centuries. It attracts pilgrims from all over the country and it is not unusual for pilgrims to stand in line for hours together to obtain a glimpse of the presiding deity for a few fleeting seconds

TIRUMALA
THE PARAMAPADA
The Seat of Supreme Bliss

Sastras and Puranas unequivocally praise the sacred place that in the age of Kali Yuga one can attain mukti only by worshipping Lord Sri Venkateswara or the Holy Hills termed as Paramapada or Sri Vaikuntam on the earth, showing the Feet of Lord to all His devotees. The mere worship of the Seven Hills removes all sins and grants salvation.

According to the Puranas, Seshachalam is a part of the Mount Meru. It was brought to the earth as a result of a contest between Vayu(Lord of Winds) and Adisesha (Lord of Serpents). Vayu was asked to blow off the Meru mountain which was being protected by Adisesha. When Sesha raised one of his hoods for a moment, Vayu below off one of the peaks and it landed on earth on the banks of Swarnamukhi river near Tirupati. This peak is called Tirumala Hills. It is believed that Lord Vishnu (Balaji) enchanted by the charm of the high hill Seshachalam, settled down here to meditate and in course of time his body was transformed into stone. While he Varaha Purana mentions that Vishnu in the boar form and in the form of Srinivasa manifested himself on the banks of the holy Pushkarini in Tirumalai. It is believed that the celestial entities such as Bhramma and others worship Venkatachalapati and to facilitate their worship, all articles of worship are left open in the sanctum.

The hill on which the temple of Lord Venkateswara is at an altitude giving the impression that the temple is situated in the centre of a concave velly amidst the breathtaking natural splendour.

The height of the Hill to the North is 3426', to the East 2750' , to the South is 2920' and to the South-West 3620'. The Hill ranges extend to an area of nearly 100 square miles and have an enchanting picturesque backdrop of forests, rivulets, waterfalls and fountains. The atmosphere is cool and sancitified with echoes of divine chants charged with ecstatic devotion.

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