Tirupati & Tirumala
Tiru
‘Tiru’ is a Tamil word in both Tirupati and Tirumala. ‘Tiru’ is affixed to several villages and towns in Tamil Nadu. For example: Tirunelveli, Tiruchinapalli, Tiruvallikkeni, Tirunindravur. It has become a tradition for Tamil to affix the word ‘Tiru’ indicating the honor of persons.
The word ‘Tiru’ is prevalent in the traditions and customs of Vaishnavas. Ex: Tirumeni, Tirumada Veedhi, Tiruppalliyelluchi, Tirumanjanam.
Tirupati
Tirupati speaks clearly about Sripati. Sri Mahavishnu is none other than Sripati. The places where Mahavishnu with His consort Lakshmi is installed in worship form are called Tirupatis. But while speaking about the Holy Places in Tamil Nadu the word ‘Tirupati’ is not affixed to any Holy Place.
The Holy Place Sri Rangam is called Sri Rangam but it is not called Tirupati. Sri Villiputtur is not called ‘Villiputtur Tirupati’. This kind of dispute is not there for Tirupati in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. It remains a compound word without the necessity of being prefixed or suffixed by any word to ‘Tirupati’.
Tirumala
In ancient times there was significance only for the word Tirumala. ‘Mala’ means ‘hill’. When ‘Tiru’ has become a sacred term, Tirumala has become a Sacred Hill. Peyalwar, one of the Alwars described Tirumalai as a Hill where streams flow in plenty around it and hailed swami ‘Tirumalai Mel’. But this town in ancient times was called Govinda Raja Pattanam, Achyutaraya Puram, Kottur.
Diguva Tirupati and Yeguva Tirupati
In Telugu Errana who worshipped “Venkatachalasthayi” gave importance to the term ‘Venkata’. Sreenatha in “Kasikhandam” referred to the mountains as Sri Saila, Venkata, Ahobila, Sonadri, and Salagramam. During the days of the Tallapaka dynasty, the place at the foot of the Hill was called ‘Diguva Tirupati’ and the place on the top of the Hill was called ‘Yeguva Tirupati’.
But in their keertanas, the poets used it with a single meaning but in other places, they used it separately.
As per the context, we must understand the places described.
‘Sripati puranayaka
Ramaku Tirupati Ramude mandu
Sri Venkatadri Tirupati Lopalanu’
In some way, Kannada Haridasas hailed Him ‘Tirumala Tirupati Vasa, Kande Tirupati Venkata Ramana’ in Devara namagalu like Tallapaka poets. Whatever the reason, Tirumala has become a Sacred Place with the importance of Kshetra, Teertha, and Divine traits.
