Some rare facts about Tirupati ,Tirumala and Lord Venkateswara
( Some portions of this post needs citation especially on the days when Lord Balaji is worshiped as Ambal and Shiva(marked with an *). People who are in Tirupati or those who have authentic sources may send me information, One of the Links mention that the Balaji Temple is that of Siva.There are other sources that say it is of Lord Muruga ,Ambal.I have a detailed post on this.People may contribute to this as well.)
1.The Arch at the entrance of Tirumala Hills is unique in the world.
”
Natural Arch, Tirumala hills is a distinctive geological wonder located 1 km (0.6 mi) North of the Tirumala hills temple, near the Chakra Teertham in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Arch is also called Silathoranam (శిలాతోరణం)in local language (Telugu language: “Sila” means ‘rock’ and “thoranam” means a garland strung over a threshold, connecting two vertical columns or an ‘arch’ as in this case). The arch measures 8 m (26.2 ft) in width and 3 m (9.8 ft) in height, and is naturally formed in the quartzites of Cuddapah Supergroup of Middle to Upper Proterozoic (1600 to 570 Ma) due to natural erosive forces.[1][2][3]
The arch is one of the few natural arches or bridges in Asia. But there are many others in other continents, such as the Rainbow Bridge (Arch) andArches National Park in Utah, USA which depicts 2000 sandstone arches, the Durdle Door arch in Dorset and the Arch of Cut Through in UK, Pravčická brána in Bohemian Switzerland, in Czech Republic, Pont d’Arc in Southern France, Rainbow cave arch in the Galilee Israel, El Arco de Cabo San Lucasin Mexico and London Arch in Australia(wiki)
2.The Idol of Balaji is adorned with ‘Pachai Karpooram’, from Cinnamomum camphora, which is a highly volatile substance,daily.
If applied to a stone, it will form Cracks.
But not so in Lord Balaji’s case.
3.There is no mark of the Chisel in the Idol.
4.The Idol is always at 110 Degree F, despite being bathed in Water, Milk at the early hours, 4.30am.
After bathing the Deity Sweat forms every day and it is wiped off.
5.Lord Balaji is worshiped as Goddess Uma (Ambal) on four days , as Vishnu for two days and Shiva as One day in a week.
Bilva Leaves, a must for worship of Lord Siva are used during archana (worship by various names of the Lord) to Lord Balaji on all Fridays. Similarly the same Bilva leaves are used during archanas in the month of Marghazhi.( 15th Dec. to 15 Jan).
“AmbAL Amsa are seen on Lord VenkateshvarA’s image, in the Simha LalATam, Yoga
MudrA, Bhoga MudrA, Varada MudrA, Kattiya Vilambita MudrA, the meTTi, kolusu,
taNDai (toe-rings and anklet) on the feet. All these are the marks of Sri
AlarmElu Mangai. The Kattiya Vilambita Hastam belongs only to AmbAL, not to
VishNu. The Vilambita Hasta MudrA can be seen on the images of Kanchi Kamakshi,
TiruvidaiMarudur Mookambika, Kanyakumari Bhagavati Amman, Tiruvaiyaru
Dharmasamvardini, and Mayiladuturai Mookambikai. The image of Bhagavati Amman on
the banks of the BharatapapuzhA river, Kerala, has an exact resemblance of Lord
VenkateshvarA.
No one can deny or hide these female AMsas on the Lord’s
body. We can see them with our own eyes. Certain pujas too resemble those done
in AmbAL temples. To VenkateshvarA, abhiShekam is done on Fridays, a
21-cubit sari vastram, abhiShekam with turmeric water, and
Brahmotsava during Navaratri are conducted. The abhiShekam is done by
pouring out water in a measure of 51 porringers. The number 51 refers to the
count of Shakti PiThas.
Every Friday, bilva leaves, which belong to
Shiva, are used for Archana. Now it is used in the Archana done in Margazhi
month.
On the day of ShivarAtri, an utsavam called kShetra PAlikA
is done. On that day, the utsava mUrti is adorned with diamond streaks of
VibhUti and the deity is taken on the streets on procession.
*The Tirumala
temple is an EkamUrti Alayam. There is no Sannidhi for any other deity. But then
there is a woman deity known as Tirupati GangammA. The festival called GangammA
JAtra is held once in a year. In those days, goats and chicken were sacrified
during this time. This Gangamma is a ShivagaNa, Yogini.
There is also an
aitihyam (legendary account) that during the abhiShekam, the Lord
opens his third eye. In those days, the ArchakAs agreed with this
belief.
The VishNu image at Srirangam has a streak resembling a beam of
light on its forehead, which is the general identity seen in ancient VishNu
images. On the sacred body of the Lord of Tirupati or his miniature image, there
is no such mark. The broad nAmam was fixed up only since the last 150 or
200 years.
As against the VishNu SahasranAmam chanted at Archana in other
VishNu temples, only the Venkatesha SahasranAmam is chanted here. The first line
of this composition is VenkateshAya namaH and the next line is VirUpAkShAya
namaH. VirUpAkShA is Shiva’s name.
Lord Venkateshvara is adored in the
Shaiva Tirumurais and in Tirumandiram. A sage-poet named TALLapAkkam AnnamaiyyA
adored the Lord in his songs as ParaBrahmam and the Ishvara with ShivAMsam and
wrote his songs on copper plates. Around 350 years ago, some ArchakAs who did
not appreciate it, melted those plates and made them into copper vessles and
plates.”
On Maha Sivaratri day which is considered sacred for the worship of Lord Siva a festival called Kshetra Palika is celebrated at Tirupati. On that day the Urchava Idol is decorated with a flat diamond studded ornament resembling the three streaks of vibhuthi (sacred ash applied on foreheads in three lines by worshipers of Lord Siva) and taken out in procession on the streets.
6.The Tirumala ranges show the face of Lord Balaji.
7.The Suprabhataham, the chantimg to wake up the Lord is not played in the temple during the month of Margazhi.( Dec-January) as He never sleeps.
I have a doubt.
If this is so, why the Suprabatham is played in the early mornings in the other months?
Source:
http://creative.sulekha.com/astonishing-wonders-miracles-of-tirupati_471184_blog
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=3915
Related articles
https://ramanan50.wordpress.com/2011/10/16/tirumala-hills-side-view-as-lord-balajis-face-pictures/
Ramanisblog 
Leave a comment