Name some of the facts about Tirumala Balaji Temple?
- Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy got first reference in first century CE Tamil classic Silappathigaram, which stated that Swamy was standing alone in the hill without any shelter holding sanku and chakra in both the shoulders flanked both sides are moon and sun. This means Swamy did not have any temple structure during that period. Swamy was known to outside world but the place was surrounded by forests and unreachable for most.
- The first three Azhwars of vaishnav cult sang on Tirumala Venkateswara Swamy in Tamil during fifth century CE mentioning Swamy is none other than Shiva Vishnu swaroopam. During this period also there was no mention of temple structure for Swamy. Later in 8th Century CE Kulasekara Azhwar mentioned that Swamy has temple and the Azhwar wanted to take birth as stepping stone before his garbhagruha in His temple (as per his song in Tamil). Probably the Pallava rulers must have raised a small temple. Nammazhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar, Andaal, Periya Azhwar - all were before 8th century CE, sang many songs in Tamil glorifying Swamy.
- Apart from above classical references the first inscription reference on Swamy was from a Pallava queen Samavai during 9th century CE. From then on hundreds of inscriptions raised in Tamil related to Swamy mostly in Tamil.
- Saint Ramanuja of 11 th century CE was instrumental in making swamy as Vishnu roopae and he regularised puja by Brahmins as per Agama sastra. Till then the temple was maintained according to ruralised based prescriptions followed by Tribes of the region. Ramanuja mentioned in a stone inscription that Tirumala was ‘raksha of Vaishnavas’ (saviour of vaishnavite cult)
- The golden period for Swamy started during Vijayanagara rulers in 14/15/16 th centuries CE - almost every month Brahmotsavam was celebrated and organised on behalf of Kings. Plenty of donations were pouring on swamy by rich people and kings all have been inscribed either in stone or temple wall or copper plate. The Kings regularised their coronation process in the temple. A King named Narasingha Raya of Chandragiri in the later half of 1400 CE regularised all the puja and administration procedures of temple.
- Under British rule in 19th C Swamy’s place was put under severe strictures by the rulers. When Malaria decease was spread in Tirupathi region, the rulers placed an ordinance that no one should climb Tirumala Hills. This stricture was there for many years.
- Laddu was recent entry in to the List of Prasadams. During 1940s one Kalyanam Iyengar who was incharge for cooking for Swamy prasadams prepared a big size sweet Laddu as Prasadam and offered to Swamy as per some donor’s request. Previously Pongal, curd rice, lemon rise and later puliyodara were offered to Swamy as Prasadam. There were several donor records as incriptions available on this at Tirumala.
- During 11th century CE there was some confusion among devotees that in what form the Swamy Venkateswara giving Dharshan - as Shiva or Vishnu swaroopam? There were heated arguments and quarrels among the devotees. Swamy’s Sanku and Chakrams were stolen by some and this added to the conflict of interest. But finally it was some how resolved that Venkateswara Swamy is in Vishnu form. Saint Ramanuja was involved in the conflict, it was told in the Vaishnava Acharya Vaibhava records. On this basis, I have written Novel in a Tamil published by Narmatha Padhippagam, Chennai. The name of novel - Thirumalai Thirudan (Thief of Thirumala). The book has plenty of details on history of Tirumala till 11th century CE.
- can write more on Him which always gives me pleasure. He is the God of Individual.