Tirumala Tirupati: The Supreme Lord

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The Supreme Lord is a unique coffee table book with over 200 photographs, graphics, paintings, and architectural ideas. For the first time, it confronts Lord Venkatesa's idol identification and offers viable answers. This emphasises the necessity of calling the Sri Venkatesvara temple Svayamvyaktakshetram and the Lord inside Yajna Vishnu. Dasavataras of Vishnu, how the Lord reached Seshachala hill, Kaliyuga Pratyaksha daivam, legends, and Srinivasa kalyanam with Padmavati are discussed. The Seven Hills were important in Seshachala when there were several hill ranges, and their significance is linked to the Mahavedi. Exclusive temple history, inscriptions, and architectural representations and their significance are offered. The Supreme Lord's physiognomy and why He looks so peaceful are described. For devotees, the hundi (koppera) and its shape, the sacrificial vedi, the reasons for the vast collection of quantities, and the construction of garbhagriha according to Mahavedi's measurements are described. Adi Varaha, Goddess Padmavati, Bhaktas, and rulers are highlighted for their contributions to the temple's growth in all sectors. Pictures of Tirumala festivals, prasadams, thirthas, and locations around Tirupati are lovely and alive. This volume would be a wonderful treasure trove for all Sri Venkatesvara followers.

'The Supreme Lord' is a distinctive coffee table book with more than 200 photographs, illustrations, paintings, and architectural sketches. It deals with controversies regarding the identity of the idol of Lord Venkatesa and gives reasonable conclusions for the first time. The relevance of calling the Sri Venkatesvara shrine Svayamvyaktakshetram and the Lord therein Yajna Vishnu is well brought out here. A detailed account of Lord Vishnu's ten incarnations (Dasavataras), followed by a description of His descent to Seshachala Hill the Vaikunta of Kali Yuga - as Kaliyuga Pratyaksha Daivam is presented in this book. This includes legendary narratives and a detailed explanation of Lord Srinivasa's celestial wedding with Padmavati. While the Seshachala mountain range encompasses numerous hills, the concept of the Seven Hills gained prominence. Their significance is often explored in relation to the concept of the Mahavedi (the great fire altar). Exclusive accounts on history, inscriptions, and architectural renderings of the temple, Anandanilayam, and their significance are included. The Supreme Lord's physiognomy and reasons for His beautiful, serene appearance are explained. This text also explains, for the benefit of devotees, the significance of the hundi (also known as koppera) and its specific form, which resembles a sacrificial altar (vedi). It also delves into the reasons behind the large collection of offerings and the construction of the garbhagriha (inner sanctum) based on the precise measurements of the Mahavedi ("great fire altar"). The text explores the profound role of Adi Varaha, Goddess Padmavati, and the unwavering devotion of Bhaktas (devotees) and rulers in shaping the temple's growth across all aspects. The festivals, prasadams, thirthas in Tirumala and places in and around Tirupati, etc. are presented through attractive and live photographs. This edition will be a priceless treasure trove for all the devotees of Sri Venkatesvara.

Tirupati is a well-known pilgrimage center and temple city located in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh. It lies between 13º N and 79°E and 162m above MSL. Tirupati is situated at a distance of 13 km from the Tirupati Airport and 10 km from the Renigunata Railway Junction. By road, it is 150 km from Chennai, 250 km from Bengaluru, and 560 km from Hyderabad. Tirupati is well connected by railway and roads to all parts of the country.

Vishnu Narayana, in the form of Sri Venkatesvara, is the presiding deity in the temple at Tirumala. Tirumala is also known as Vengadam, Saptagirlu, Edukondalu, Elumalai (Seven Hills), China Tirupati, or Eguva Tirupati. There are two paths to Tirumala, one from Alipiri and the other from Srivarimettu, near Srinivasamangapuram. It is the richest temple in the world, and on average, 70,000 pilgrims visit the temple every day. The temple attracts a substantial amount of money, exceeding four crore rupees, through hundi collections alone. The temple maintains charitable and educational institutions, including universities, hospitals, institutions for performing arts, museums, gardens, water tanks, roads, feeding the poor, orphanages, its own TV channels, etc.

Enshrined within this temple is the revered deity, Venkatesvara, meaning 'The Lord of the Venkata Hills' (Malaiyappa), Saptagirisvara, Elumalaiyan, Edukondalavada, Srinivasa, Balaji, etc. The idol of Sri Venkatesvara is revered as a manifestation of Lord Vishnu alone. However, regarding the identity of the idol, there has been controversy among a section of devotees.

Some of them believe that he is the god Subramanya. This section supported their argument by quoting certain portions from the Skandapurana and a Thiruppugal song sung by Arunagirinathar. Another group of votaries holds the idol to be of the Mother Goddess, and to substantiate this opinion, they draw attention to certain points, like the feminine name Balaji, the sacred bath done to the deity on Fridays only, and the figures of lions found on the vimana, a common practice followed in the temples of the Mother Goddess.