AdiVaraha Kshetram
It is essential to know the names of the Seven Hills – Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabadri, Narayanadri, and Venkatadri – that is the abode of Lord Venkateswara, the famous Kaliyuga Avatara of Sri Mahavishnu who descended from the Vaikunta to protect his devotees.
He is the world-famous and richest god and is referred to as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam. This kshetra is called Adivaraha Kshetra. Here in this Vaishnavite temple, pujas, and worship of God are done according to the Vaikhanasa Agama Sastras. The god is also known as Balaji, Venkatesa, Srinivasa, Govinda, etc. in other regions of India.
About the geographical conditions, the hills are at a height of 853 meters (2799 feet from sea level) and the temple has been constructed as per Dravidian Architecture. Here the god is manifested as Swaymbhu Avatara residing in the sanctum sanctorum.
Goddess Lakshmi stays with him on the left side of his chest, while Padmavathi rests on the right side in a Vimana Prakaram called Ananda Nilayam. The hills appear to start from the Western Ghats and are spread to the Eastern Ghats in a serpent shape, with Srisailam at its head and Tirumala at its tail.
The climate is very pleasant with abundant rains during monsoons and cold during winters. There are rich forests on these hills with a variety of flora and fauna.
During summers, due to heat, the branches of dry trees catch fire easily and so, a lot of wild serpents and different kinds of animals may turn into ashes. Hence, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has taken necessary steps to control the fires when they happen as well as protect the species of animals, whether in the Zoo Parker on the ghat road area by putting fences as much as possible.
Venkatadri Samasthanam Brahmande Nasti Kinchana
Venkatesha Samo Devo Na Bhuto Na Bhavishyati ||
Festival of Kshetrapalaka
In Tirumala, Maha Sivaratri is celebrated as the festival of kshetrapalaka. Rudra, the kshetrapalaka is enshrined on the bank of Gogarbha Tirtha in the southeast corner at a distance of two kilometres from the temple of Lord Srinivasa. It is an age-old tradition to worship Lord Rudra with namaka chamaka and abhisheka on the day of Maha Sivaratri.
Establishing Mada Veedhi (Mada Streets)
Today we have the four mada streets around the Tirumala temple. But it was not so in Sri Ramanuja’s times. At that time, the Brahmotsavams were being held at Tiruchanoor. Sri Ramanuja established the four mada streets around the temple so that the standard route was available for the celebration.
From the very next year, the utsavams were shifted to Tirumala where they have been happening ever since.
Rituals
Several rituals are ascribed to Sri Ramanuja. These include the Friday Tirumanjanam (ritual bath with milk and water), the application of an upward mark made of (swetha mrutthika) earth to symbolize His Eternal Connection to us, first aradhana to the Lord’s divine weapons and conducting temple festivals with the processional image of the Lord for his devotees to celebrate and Sayanotsavam to Lord Krishna during Dhanurmaasam.
Creating Tirupati
In 1130, Sri Ramanuja is believed to have built a temple at the foot of the Tirumala hill with the help of a Yadava king and installed Sri Govindarajaswamy there. He also created a town around the temple called Govindaraja Pattana (also referred to as Govindapattinam), later known as Ramanujapuram and known as Tirupati from the 13th century.
Though there were many changes brought in the Tirumala temple activities due to changes in time, the principal tenets, sevas, rituals, and regulations for the smooth run of temple affairs brought by Srimad Ramanujacharya are continuing even today in Tirumala temple without any deviation.
Tirupati is a sacred pilgrimage centre, a marvel to behold. It is the holy place of mysterious powers and countless boons. It is an axe that cuts down the jungle of sins. Puranas sing praise of this place as ‘Kaliyuga Vaikuntha’. In modern times, the famous name Tirumala refers to the upper part of the hills, and the town below is known by the name, ‘Tirupati’.
But earlier, both the hilltop and town below together were commonly known as Tirupati.
