Legend of Tirumala

For one of the major Hindu denominations, the Tirumala Sri Venkateshvara Temple at Tirupati in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is the most famous Vaishnavite temple in the world. The presiding deity of Vishnu here is referred to as Venkateshvara. There are many legends regarding this temple. The Sri Venkatachala Mahatyam is the most accepted legend among these, which provides the religious account of the history of the temple across various yugas. This place had also been mentioned in many Puranas.

Main article: Venkateshvara Temple

Legend of Venkateshvara

Vedas

Sri Vaishnava tradition says that the Rig Veda verse X.155.1 makes an indirect reference to the temple.^[1][2] One such translation goes as:^[2]

The person, devoid of wealth and vision, is implored to go to the hill which burns up all evil (vikata for Venkata) and drives away all obstacles to peace and prosperity. The call of the rishi Sirimbitha has obviously not gone in vain.

Thondaiman, ruler of Thondaimandalam(present day Kanchipuram and the surroundings),^[3] is believed to have first built the temple after visualizing Vishnu in his dream. He built the Gopuram and the Prakhara, and arranged for regular prayers to be conducted in the temple. Later on, the Chola dynasty vastly improved the temple and gave rich endowments. The various scripts are still seen inscribed upon the temple prakara walls. The Sangam literature such as that of Silapadikaram and Satanar Manimekalai, dated between 500BC and 300AD, mentions Thiruvengadam (now named Tirupati) by the appellation "Nediyon Kunram" as the northernmost frontier of the Tamil kingdoms.^[4] In fact, a fairly detailed description of the deity is given in lines 41 to 51 of Book 11 of the Silapadikaram.^[5]

Srivari Brahmotsavams

Main article: Srivari Brahmotsavam

Srivari Brahmotsavam is the most important annual festival celebrated at Sri Venkateshvara Temple. The event is conducted for nine days during Hindu Calendar month of Āśvina which falls in between the English months September and October. As per the legend it is believed that Brahma will descend to the earth to conduct this festival and hence the festival got the name Brahmotsavams, meaning an utsavam(festival) performed by Brahma.^[6] Sri Venkateshvara Sahasranamastotra has references to Brahma performing the festival. To resemble this even now a small empty chariot will move ahead of the processions of the Venkateshvara's processional deity Malayappa.^[6]