TIRUPATI
General Information about  Tirupati.

The Swami Pushkarini
It is very usual and highly probable to find a water tank either just beside or nearby every Hindu temple constructed during the ancient and medieval times. The waters of the tank were strictly for temple purposes only - like for the God's "bath" that is a ritual/worship, cleaning and washing the temples insides and outsides, for use inside the temples for drinking purposes (Not in Tirumala, though), kitchens (if any) and by large, by the folk that stay and live by the temple like the priests' families and workers, for their daily uses. The water's chief and famous uses are bathing and washing by the visiting pilgrims who take a dip or swim in it and, above all, for the temple's special occasions when the divine images are taken in the temple boat, in the tank waters. The water in the Swami Pushkarini is absolutely NOT stagnant OR infected. It has a state-of-the-art recycling facility and water is treated before it gets into and recycled continuously. Swami Pushkarini was a pleasure tank of Sri Maha Vishnu in Vaikuntham, and was brought and set on Earth by Garuda, for the sport of Sri Venkateshwara. It is adjacent to the Sri Venkateshwara temple. A bath in the Swami Pushkarini is believed to clean pilgrims of their sins and bestow temporal prosperity. Pilgrims bath here before entering the main temple. A bath in the holy tank purifies one's body and soul.

EXCURTION

Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple
Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple is the only temple dedicated to Lord Siva in Tirupati.
It is situated about 3 km to the north of Tirupati, at the foot of the Tirumala Hills. The sacred waterfall called Kapila Teertham (also known as Alwar Teertham) is located here. Annual Brahmotsavams and festivals like Vinayaka Chaturthi, Mahasivaratri, Skanda Shasti and Annabhishekam are performed here with great pomp and splendour.
Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple, Sri Lakshminarayanaswamy Temple and Sri Vinayakaswamy Temple on the Second Ghat Road are sub-temples which function under the control of the Kapileswaraswamy Temple.

 

The following festivals are conducted at the temple.

• Vinayaka Utsavam

• Annabhishekam

• Karthika Deepam

• Float Festival

• Maha Sivarathri

• Skanda Sashti

• Arudra Darsanam Utsavam 

• Devi Navarathri Utsavam

• Kamakshi Devi Chandana Alankaram

Devotees can perform Nithyabhishekam at the temple.

Sri Padmavati Samovar Temple, Tiruchanoor
Tiruchanoor, also known as Alamelumangapuram, is about 5 km from Tirupati. The temple of Sri Padmavati Devi, the consort of Lord Sri Venkateshwara is situated here. It is said that a visit to Tirumala is fruitful only after visiting the Sri Padmavati Devi temple. You may wonder why Sri Padmavati Devi's temple is away from Lord Sri Venkateshwara's. Legend has it that the Lord (Sri Maha Vishnu, who later took on the incarnation of Sri Venkateshwara) showed his reverence towards the sage, Bhrigu Maharshi, even though the sage had insulted Vishnu by kicking Him on the chest. In anger, Sri Maha Lakshmi (the Lord's consort) reached Patala Loka, where she heard a divine voice stating that a pushkarini was dug on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi, and here She immersed herself in penance for 12 years. In the 13th year (during the month of Kartika, on Panchami day in the last fortnight, highlighted by the nakshathram Uttarashadha), Sri Padmavati emerged from a golden lotus. It is believed that Goddess MahaLakshmi herself emerged as Sri Padmavati. Tirupati yatra is incomplete without a visit to this temple. Sri Padmavati is the divine consort of Lord Venkateshwara. 'Kalyanotsavam' is performed here as in Tirumala between 10.30 a.m. and 12 noon every day. Five members are allowed (Rs. 500/-). Special darshan (Rs. 5/-) is advisable. Darshan starts from 6.30 a.m. on Weekdays and from 8.00 a.m. on Fridays. Tiruchanoor (also known as Alarmelu Mangapuram) is 4 km from Tirupati. Buses ply throughout the day

Sri Varahaswami Temple
Lord Varaha), the privilege of first view by the visiting pilgrims and first Naivedyam (sacred offering of food to Lord for consecration) in return. Thus it is imperative that pilgrims visit Sri Varaha Swami first and The Lord, only later. According to legend, Tirumala was originally the Adi Varahakshetra (place belonging to Sri Adi Varahaswami). Lord Sri Venkateshwara took up residence here, with the permission of Sri Varahaswami. According to Brahmapurana, Naivedyam (food offered to God) should first be offered to Sri Varahaswami. Pilgrims should visit Sri Varahaswami temple prior to Sri Venkateshwara temple. According to Atri Samhita (Samurtarchanadhikara), Varaha Avatara is worshipped in three ways as Adi Varaha, Pralaya Varaha, and Yajna Varaha. The idol of Sri Varahaswami in Tirumala is that of Adi Varaha, as it resembles the description of the Adi Varaha Murti in Vaikhanasa Agama texts.
   The famous temple of Sri Varahaswami in Tirumala is to the north of the Sri Venkateshwara temple, on the banks of Swami Pushkarini. The presiding deity is Varaha Swami, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the form of a boar that was staying on the hills when The Lord descended unto earth. HE had to take permission from Lord Varaha to stay here and grant him .

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