TIRUMALA TEMPLE

SRI VENKATESWARA SWAMY TEMPLE

AT

TIRUMALA

Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple is a landmark vaishnavite temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared here to save mankind from trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. Hence the place has also got the name Kaliyuga Vaikuntham and Lord here is referred to as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam. The temple is also known by other names like Tirumala Temple, Tirupati Temple, Tirupati Balaji Temple. Venkateswara is known by many other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa.

It is the richest temple in the world in terms of donations received and wealth. The temple is visited by about 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily (30 to 40 million people annually on average), while on special occasions and festivals, like the annual Brahmotsavam, the number of pilgrims shoots up to 500,000, making it the most-visited holy place in the world.

The world famous "Tirupati Laddu" is given at Tirumala Temple as prasadam. Tirupati Laddu had got Geographical indication tag which entitles only Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams to make or sell it. Many other prasadams are also available including daddojanam (curd rice), puliohora (tamarind rice), vada and chakkera-pongali (sweet pongal), miryala-pongali, Appam, Paayasam, Jilebi, Muruku, Dosa, seera (kesari), Malhora. Free meals are given daily to the pilgrims. On Thursdays, the Tirupavada seva is conducted, where food items are kept as naivedyam to Lord Venkateswara.

On any day the arjitha sevas that are performed to the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara commences withSuprabatham, followed by Thomala , Archana and finally concludes with the Ekanthaseva (not open to pilgrims). However after archana some arjitha sevas are also performed to the processional deity of Lord Venkateswara, also popularly known as “Malayappa Swamy” includes, Kalyanotsavam, Arjita Brahmotsavam, Dolotsavam, Vasantotsavam and Sahasra Deepalankara seva.

Morning Sevas:

Suprabhatam

Archana

Thomala Seva

Ekantha Seva

During the week days, each day has a specific ritual of worship which has a religious significance. Such sevas are called Weekly Sevas.

Vishesha Puja	(Monday)
Ashtadala Pada Padmaradhana	(Tuesday)
Sahasra Kalasabhishekam	(Wednesday)
Tiruppavada Seva	(Thursday)
Abhishekam-Vastralankara Seva-Nija Pada Darshanam	(Friday)

The periodical sevas are the annual events of religious significance performed in Tirumala following the importance of particular asterism.

    

Teppotsavam(or)float festival	5 days a Year (March)
Vasanthotsavam	3 days a year (March or April)
Padmavathi Parinayam	3 days a year (May)
Abhideyaka Abhishekam	3 days a year (June-Annual)
Pushpa Pallaki	(July)
Pushpa Yagam	(November)
Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam	(4 times in a year)
Pavithrotsavams	3 days a year (August)

BY AIR

Tirupati airport is nestled in the region of Renigunta. You have to cross only 15 km distance from the core of the main city. Frequent flights are accessible from other major Indian metropolis such as Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore to this place. The adjacent International airport is Chennai from which the place has a good connectivity with different corners of the country and abroad. You can take flights from Tirupati to Chennai,Bangalore,Hyderabad and other major cities.

Nearest Airport : Tirupati Airport, TIRUPATI

BY TRAIN 

The main railhead of the place is Tirupati Railway Station that is linked with railway stations like Bangalore, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Madurai and Mumbai. Renigunta rail station is very close to the city and is at a distance of 15 km. Renigunta lies in Trivandrum-Delhi route. Thus, once you arrive at the capital of India, there are various sources to know how to reach Tirupati

BY BUS

You can easily get regular buses to Tirupati from other major cities of the country.

Bus Station(s): Tirupati

VELANKANNI CHURCH

VELANKANNI CHURCH

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 CHENNAI

Velankanni Church, also called as the 'Mecca of the Christians', is one of the beautiful churches located at Eliot's beach in Besant Nagar. The principal shrine of this Velankanni church is Mother Mary and she is also prayed and worshipped by the people as the Lady of Health. And though, it is known as the 'Mecca of Christians' people of all different castes crowd in the feet of the Virgin Mary to receive her blessings

Vailankanni is fondly known as the 'Lourdes of the East' because like Lourdes in France, millions of pilgrims visit the Shrine throughout the year, praying to Our Lady for various needs and thanking her for the favors received through her intercession.

Tradition recounts that Mother Mary appeared with the Infant Jesus in this small hamlet at the end of the 16th or in the early 17th century. Ever since, Vailankanni is the most important destination and almost the synthesis of all Marian Sanctuaries for the pilgrims of the world.

The crowds of pilgrims come here regardless of creeds and languages.  Our Lady of Vailankanni devotions down through the centuries have proved the Shrine to be of divine origin and has assumed international character. Mary, the focus of unity at Vailankanni, is a clear proof of international, multicultural, and religious harmony.

The Shrine is kept open from 5.00 a.m. morning to 9.00 p.m. evening

Daily Services

5:45 a.m. Holy Mass in Tamil

6:45 a.m. High Mass in Tamil

9:00 a.m. Holy Mass in Malayalam

10:00 a.m. Holy Mass in English

12:00 a.m. Holy Mass in Tamil

6:00 p.m. Novena Prayers, Rosary, Evening prayers.

6:30 p.m. Holy Mass in Tamil.

Annual Feast Of Our Lady Of Health, Vailankanni

Celebrated from 29th August to 8th September - 8th September the Birth Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

More than 20 lakh pilgrims from all the corners of India and from other Countries throng the Shrine.
Holy Mass is celebrated in six languages, fourteen times a day during the Feast.

Car Procession of Our Lady of Health, takes place at 8.00 p.m.

Everyday hoisting of the Our Lady's flag, takes place at 12.00 noon.

The Grand Annual Feast commences with the hoisting of Our Lady's Flag at 6.30 p.m. on 29th August. The Bishop of Thanjavur is the main celebrant on this day.

The Feast concludes with the dismounting of Our Lady's Flag at 6.00 p.m. on 8th September. The Rector & Parish Priest is the main celebrant on the concluding Mass.

The Feast Mass is celebrated on 8th September at 6.15 a.m. in the Shrine open-air auditorium, presided over by the Bishop of Thanjavur.