Thirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams (TTD)
The following is a list of Temples in Andhra Pradesh :
Thirupathi is the abode for the famous Hindu temple of Load Venkteshwara. It is
Tirupathi- ( Thirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams) Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple)
the richest and the most visited religious place in the world. 1st Its records an annual income of about 100 Billion Rupees (2. 5 Billion
US Dollars), mostly from offerings by the devotees. Located in Chittoor
District in Andhra Pradesh State About Sri Venkateswara Temple:
The
ancient and sacred temple of Sri Venkateswara is located on
the seventh peak, Venkatachala (Venkata Hill) of
the Tirupati Hill, and lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami
Pushkarini.
It is by the Lord’s presidency
over Venkatachala, that He has received the appellation, Venkateswara
(Lord of the Venkata Hill). He is also called the Lord of
the Seven Hills.
The
temple of Sri Venkateswara has acquired unique sanctity in
Indian religious lore. The Sastras, Puranas, Sthala Mahatyams
and Alwar hymns unequivocally declare that, in the Kali Yuga,
one can attain mukti, only by worshipping Venkata Nayaka
or Sri Venkateswara.
Temple History :
There is ample
literary and epigraphic testimony to the antiquity of
the temple of Lord Sri Venkateswara.
All the great dynasties of rulers of
the southern peninsula have paid homage to Lord Sri
Venkateswara in this ancient shrine. The Pallavas of
Kancheepuram (9th century AD), the Cholas of Thanjavur
(a century later), the Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings
and chieftains of Vijayanagar (14th - 15th century AD)
were devotees of the Lord and they competed with one
another in endowing the temple with rich offerings and
contributions.
It was during the rule of the Vijayanagar
dynasty that the contributions to the temple increased.
Sri Krishnadevaraya had statues of himself and his consorts
installed at the portals of the temple, and these statues
can be seen to this day. There is also a statue of Venkatapati
Raya in the main temple.
After the decline of the Vijayanagar
dynasty, nobles and chieftains from all parts of the
country continued to pay their homage and offer gifts
to the temple. The Maratha general, Raghoji Bhonsle,
visited the temple and set up a permanent endowment
for the conduct of worship in the temple. He also presented
valuable jewels to the Lord, including a large emerald
which is still preserved in a box named after the General.
Among the later rulers who have endowed large amounts
are the rulers of Mysore and Gadwal.
After the fall of the Hindu kingdoms,
the Muslim rulers of Karnataka and then the Britishers
took over, and many of the temples came under their
supervisory and protective control.
In 1843 AD, the East India Company
divested itself of the direct management of non-Christian
places of worship and native religious institutions.
The administration of the shrine of Sri Venkateswara
and a number of estates were then entrusted to Sri Seva
Dossji of the Hatiramji Mutt at Tirumala, and the temple
remained under the administration of the Mahants for
nearly a century, till 1933 AD.
In 1933, the Madras Legislature passed a special act, which empowered the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Committee to control and administer a fixed group of temples in the Tirumala-Tirupati area, through a Commissioner appointed by the Government of Madras.
In 1951, the Act of 1933 was replaced
by an enactment whereby the administration of TTD was
entrusted to a Board of Trustees, and an Executive Officer
was appointed by the Government .
