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Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple Guide – Timings, Sevas and History

, 48 Comments Filed Under: Andhra Pradesh Temples, Tirumala Tagged With:

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is the most popular Vaishnavite temple in the world. It is located in Tirumala in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. The presiding deity, Lord Venkateshwara, is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is believed to have appeared to save humankind from Kaliyuga effects.

Who is Lord Venkateswara?

Tirupati Balaji Temple – Facts

DeityLord Venkateshwara
LocationTirumala, Andhra Pradesh
SignificanceVaishnavite Temple
Best Time to Visit September to March
Darshan Timings 3 AM to 1 AM
Entry FeeFree
VIP DarshanRs.300 per person
Senior Citizen DarshanFree
Dress Code Indian Traditional
Festivals Brahmotsavam, Teppotsavam

The temple is located at the peak of Tirumala hill, also known as Venkatadri. The Venkatadri is one of the seven hills (Saptagiri) considered holy by the Hindus. These seven hills are – Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabhadri, Narayanadri, and Venkatadri.

Tirupati Balaji Darshan

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is also known as Tirupati Temple, Tirupati Balaji Temple or just Tirumala Temple.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple Timings

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple Timings
Pilgrims waiting in queue for General Darshan at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple opens as early as 3 AM in the morning. The temple closes at 1:30 AM the next day although General Darshan stops after 1 AM.

Here are the different kind of Darshans and their respective timings:

  1. General Darshan (Sarva Darshanam) – This Darshan is open for the general public. The timings are different each day of the week.
    • Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday – The Darshan starts from 7:30 AM – 7 PM in the evening. It resumes from 8 PM till 1 AM the next morning.
    • Wednesday and Friday – The Darshan starts from 9 AM till 7 PM in the evening and again from 8 PM till 1 AM the next morning.
    • Thursday – The Darshan starts early from 8 AM till 7 PM and then again from 8 PM till 1 AM the next morning.
  2. VIP Darshan (Sheeghra Darshan) – It is for immediate Darshan. The ticket cost is Rs. 300 per person. Pilgrims can also make an advance booking on the official website at www.ttdsevaonline.com. This Darshan starts from 9 AM daily till 3 PM.
  3. Tirumala Darshan by Walk (Divya Darshan) – This Darshan facility is only for those pilgrims who walk up the hill to reach the temple. Alipiri Mettu and Srivari Mettu are the two routes.
  4. Special Darshan for Senior Citizens – Pilgrims can have darshan in two-time slots of 10 AM and 3 PM daily. However, they must show proof of their age to the authorities.
  5. Special Darshan for Physically Challenged – Pilgrims can have darshan in two-time slots of 10 AM and 3 PM daily. However, they must show proof of their disability to the authorities.
  6. Infant Darshan: TTD has facilitated special darshan for parents carrying infants under one year of age.
  7. Newly Married Couple Darshan: There is also a special darshan for newly married couples through the Supadham entrance.
General Darshan
↳ Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday 7:30 AM to 7 PM, 8 PM to 1 AM
↳ Wednesday and Friday 9 AM to 7 PM, 8 PM to 1 AM
↳ Thursday 8 AM to 7 PM, 8 PM to 1 AM
VIP Darshan9 AM to 3 PM
Special Darshan for Handicapped10 AM and 3 PM

Tirupati Balaji Darshan Procedure

  1. Pilgrims are can contact any one of the three counters present inside the temple premises.
    • Vaikuntha Queue Complex
    • Rambagicha Complex
    • Amenities Complex
  2. Here, pilgrims will receive their respective Sudarshan bands at a minimal cost. These bands will inform the pilgrims of the time at which they can have the Darshan of God.
  3. In this way, pilgrims do not have to wait in long queues. They can explore the Temple Complex area meanwhile. And they can report to the queue only when it is their turn to have the Darshan.
Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Darshan Entrance
The Golden Gate Entrance to Tirupati Balaji Temple is used by the pilgrims.

Tirumala Temple Dress Code

The Tirupati Balaji Temple Devasthanam administration introduced a dress code for men and women from 2013.

Men are required to wear traditional dhoti or pajama with a shirt or kurta. Women are required to wear either a saree or a Churidar pajama with a kurta.

Poojas and Sevas at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple

Here is a list of all Poojas and Sevas at Tirupati Balaji Temple. We can divide them into three types: The Daily Sevas, the Weekly Sevas, and the Periodical Sevas.

Tirumala Daily Sevas

  • Suprabhatam – This Seva is done at 2:30 AM in the morning to wake the Lord from his sleep. After that, the priests carry the idol from Sayana Mandapam (sleeping place) to the Ananda Nilayam (main shrine). The ticket costs Rs. 200 per person.
  • Thomala Seva – This Seva starts at 3:30 AM and lasts for 30 minutes. Priests decorate the idols with garlands made of Tulsi and various flowers. Pilgrims can watch this only on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The ticket price is Rs. 220 per person.
  • Venkateshwara Sahasranama Archana – This Archana starts at 4:15 AM. In this Pooja, devotees recite the 1008 names of Lord Vishnu. Priests also call the blessings in the names and Gothra of the pilgrims taking part in the pooja. Pilgrims can perform the Seva on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The ticket price is Rs. 220 per person.
  • Ekantha Seva – It is the last Seva of the day and starts at 1:30 AM. The priests lay down the silver image on a golden cot in a sleeping position.
Poojas & Sevas at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji
Priests performing Daily Sevas at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple

Tirumala Weekly Sevas

  • Vishesha Pooja on Mondays – This Pooja starts from 7:30 AM to 9 AM. Priests recite several stotras and perform an Abhisheka. Then, they place 14 Kalash in front of the deities. They consist of oil, milk, curd, rice, and holy water in them.
  • Ashtadala – Pada Padmaaradhana on Tuesdays – This Seva starts from 6:30 AM – 7:30 AM. Priests recite 108 names of the Lord Vishnu, each name accompanied by a Lotus flower. People also worship Goddess Lakshmi and Padmavathi and then a Ratha Aarti. The cost of the ticket is Rs. 2500 for 5 persons.
  • Sahasra Kalabhishekam on Wednesdays – The ritual starts from 6:30 AM till 8:30 AM. In this unique ritual, priests fill 1008 silver vessels, 8 Parivara vessels, and one gold vessel with various things. They place them in the main Mandapam. Devotees also recite various Pancha Suktas and Shanti Mantras. The ticket costs Rs. 5000 for 6 persons.
  • Tiruppuvada Seva on Thursdays – This Seva begins at 6:30 AM. Priests remove all the ornaments and flowers from the deity. Then, they dress the idol only in a Dhoti and an Uttareeyam. The cost is Rs. 5000 for 6 persons.
  • Srivari Abhishekam on Fridays – It starts at 4:30 AM – 6 AM. Priests give a bath to the deity in holy Ganga along with milk, ghee, sandal, and saffron. The ticket costs Rs. 750 per person.

The Periodical Sevas

  • Arjitha Kalyanotsavam Seva – The ritual signifies the marriage of Lord Venkateshwara with Goddess Lakshmi and Padmavathi. The ticket costs Rs. 1000 for 2 persons.
  • Arjitha Brahmotsavam – People worship Lord Venkateshwara with Goddess Lakshmi and Padmavathi. They also recite several stotrams in this ritual. The ticket costs Rs. 1000 for 5 persons.
  • Unjal Seva – The priests place the idols of the three deities on a swing against the backdrop of lamps. The ticket cost is Rs. 1000 for 5 persons.

Offerings and Donations at Tirupata Balaji

  1. Hair Tonsuring (Mundan) – Devotees shave their heads and give the hairs as an offering to God. It signifies the sacrifice for their Lord.
  2. Thula Bharam Seva – Under this Seva, a Thula (Weighing scale) is arranged. On one side, the devotee is seated whereas on the other side, an equivalent weight of offerings are made. It is ensured that both sides are at an equal level. The devotees then donate the offerings to the temple administration.
  3. Payback of Kubera’s Loan – As per the legend, Lord Venkateshwara took a loan from Kubera for his wedding arrangements with Padmavathi. A large Hundi is present inside the temple complex where devotees offer money and gold to God. Devotees donate with the belief that he can pay back the loan to Kubera.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple Architecture

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Architecture
Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Gopuram which is the top of the temple.
  • The temple follows the Dravidian style of architecture. The temple has three entrances leading to the main shrine (Ananda Nilayam).
    1. First entrance – Mahadwara Gopuram with a brass door.
    2. Second entrance – Nadimipadi Kavali with the silver entrance.
    3. Third entrance – Bangaru Vakili with a golden door.
  • The main idol of the Lord is in a standing position on a platform called “Brahmasthana.” Goddess Lakshmi is present on the right and Goddess Padmavathi on the left. The Gopuram (the entrance tower) over the main sanctum is covered with a golden vase. An idol of Vimana Venkateshwara is also present on the top of it.
  • Priests can never displace the main idol of the Lord. Hence, small idols of several Gods are present in the sanctum to worship. They are Bhoga Srinivasa, Ugra Srinivasa, Koluvu Srinivasa, Sri Malayappan, and Sri Chakrathalvar. Sri Krishna, Sri Rama, Mata Sita, Lakshmana, Sugreeva are also present.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple Significance

  • The common belief is that the Lord appeared on the Venkatadri hill to save humankind from the ill effects of Kaliyuga. The idol here is worshipped since the beginning of the Kaliyuga. Therefore, people call this place as Kaliyuga Vaikuntam.
  • Most-Visited Place of Worship – Around 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily (30 to 40 million people annually) visits this temple. On the day of the Brahmotsavam festival, the count increases to 500,000 pilgrims daily.
  • The Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is one of the eight Vishnu Swayambhu Kshetras. The word Swayambhu means that Lord Vishnu himself has turned into a statue here rather than installed by someone.
  • Tirupati Balaji is also listed as 106th Divya Desam among the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu. It is the last earthly Desam of Lord Vishnu before he left earth for Vaikuntha.
  • It is believed that one can hear the sound of an ocean by pressing an ear at the idol of the Lord. Also, the temperature of the idol always remains too high even after bathing it with water and Chandan.
Tirumala Tirupati Brahmotsavam Significance
Brahmotsavam Festival at Tirupati Balaji attracts more than 5 Lakh pilgrims daily.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is the wealthiest temple in the world in terms of donations received. Top Ten Richest Temples – Read More

History of Tirumala Temple

  • Tirupati Balaji Temple is believed to have been built by King Thondaiman at the end of 8th century AD. He was the ruler of the Tamil ancient kingdom called Thondaimandala.
  • The temple also received patronage from several dynasties like the Pallavas (9th century), the Cholas (10th century) and highly from the Vijayanagara kingdom in the 14th century.
  • Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara kingdom donated abundantly and renovated the temple periodically by adding new structures to it.
Tirumala Tirupati Balaji - History of the Temple
Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagar Kingdom renovated the temple.

Legends of Tirumala Temple

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple and its legends are mentioned in various historical manuscripts and also in various Puranas.

Legend of Lord Varaha Swamy

The legend says that Venkateshwara took the land of Tirumala hill from Varaha Swami. In return, Venkateshwara gave him a promise that he would be paid the first darshan.

Legend of Adishesha

Lord Vishnu gave a boon to Adisesha. The boon was that he would join the Venkatadri hills and become an abode of Lord Vishnu. Adisesha accepted and became Venkatadri.

Legend of Lakshmi and Padmavati

Lord Vishnu, incarnated as Srinivasa, met Padmavati in the forests during a hunt. They fell in love with each other. Later, they married each other after Akasa Raja’s approval. After six months of the marriage, Lakshmi returned to Vishnu in disbelief.

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji – Full Legend – READ MORE

Festivals celebrated at Tirumala

  1. Tirumala Brahmotsavam – This festival is celebrated for 9 days every year during the Tamil month of Purattasi (Sep/Oct). This festival attracts millions of pilgrims for nine days.
    • The deity is taken out in procession on different Vahanam every day like Shesha Vahanam and Singha Vahanam. By watching the parade, one gets the protection of Lord and Punya in life.
    • The last day is the Birth Star day of Lord Venkateshwara. The celebration ends with Dhvajavarohanam, lowering of the Garuda flag.
  2. Teppotsavam – This festival is celebrated for five days in the month of Chaitra (March). The deities of Tirumala temple are taken for a ride in the Swami Pushkarini Tank.
  3. Vasanthotsavam – This festival is celebrated for three days in March/April. King Achyutaraya introduced this festival to mark the beginning of the spring season.
  4. Pavithrotsavam – The festival is celebrated for three days in the month of Shravan (July/August). The priests seek forgiveness from Lord Venkateshwara for all the mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly while performing the daily rituals.
  5. Jyesthabhshekam – The festival is celebrated in the month of Jyestha (June). Lord Venkateshwara appeared with a protective armor to fight against evil in Kaliyuga. On this day, people do Abhisheka and Poojas to that armor.
Teppotsavam Boat Festival at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple
Deities of Tirumala temple taken for a ride in Swami Pushkarini Tank on Teppotsavam Festival.

Here are other major festivals celebrated at Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple. These are Pushpa Pallaki, Padmavathi Parinayam, Pushpa Yagam, and Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam.

How to reach Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple?

  • By Air – The nearest airport is Tirupati Airport, at a distance of 40 km from the temple. Chennai is the second nearest international airport.
  • By Rail – The nearest railway station is Tirupati, 26 km away from Tirumala. The AP Sampark Kranti Express connects to Bhopal, Gwalior, and New Delhi.
  • By Road – Several direct buses are available from cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Vellore. Regular buses are available from Tirupati to Tirumala.

Where to stay nearby?

  • The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has constructed several cottages and guest houses for the benefit of the pilgrims. These are-
    1. Padmavathi Guest House
    2. Sri Venkateshwara Guest House
    3. Varaha Swamy Guest House
  • Besides the guest houses, they have also constructed several choultries for the free stay of pilgrims.

The pilgrims can book the rooms by contacting the Central Reception Office, near Tirumala Bus Stand. The advance reservation can be made online by visiting the official website ttdsevaonline.com

Several private hotels are also available as an option for pilgrims.

Where to eat nearby?

  • The Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple Devasthanam (Temple administration) provides full meals to all devotees under the Nitya Annadanam Scheme.
  • Pilgrims can also get free tiffin, coffee, tea, and milk in the temple complex.
  • The meal is pure-veg.

What are some famous temples near Tirumala?

Explore Places Near Tirumala Temple
Explore Famous Places and Activities Near Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple
  1. Varaha Swamy Temple – It is located at the banks of Swami Pushkarini near the Tirumala Temple. According to legend, Lord Varaha Swamy granted land to Lord Venkateswara to stay in the hill. In return, Lord Venkateswara promised the privilege of first Darshan to Varah Swamy.
  2. Bedi Anjaneya Swamy Temple – This temple is located opposite to Tirupati Balaji Temple. As per the legend, young Lord Hanuman (Anjaneya) wanted to leave home in search of a camel. His mother Anjana Devi then tied his hands. The idol present here is also showing the hands of Hanuman tied.
  3. Padmavathi Devi Temple – This temple is located 5 km away from Tirumala Temple in the town of Tiruchanoor. The presiding deity is Goddess Padmavathi, the wife of Lord Srinivasa. People also call this temple as Alamelumangapuram.
  4. Prasanna Venkateshwara Swamy Temple – It is located 16 km from Tirupati. The uniqueness of the Temple is the presiding deity Venkateshwara who is in the “Abhaya Hasta” posture. This Temple is the marriage site of Srinivasa and Padmavathi.
  5. Govindaraja Swami Temple – The temple is also located in Tirupati and was built by Ramanujacharya. The presiding deity Govindaraja was the elder brother of Venkateshwara. It is believed that worshiping him can result in better management of one’s finances.
  6. Kapileswara Swamy Temple – This temple is also located in Tirupati. As per the legend, this is the place where Lord Shiva appeared before Maharishi Kapila. The Shiva Linga is believed to have been self-manifested here.
  7. Kodanda Ramaswamy Temple – The Chola dynasty and Vijayanagara Empire built this temple. The presiding deities are Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, and Lord Lakshman.

Yaganti Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

, 4 Comments Filed Under: Andhra Pradesh Temples Tagged With:

Yaganti Temple also known as Sri Uma Maheswara Temple or Yagantiswamy Temple is located in Yaganti which is in Kurnool of Andhra Pradesh. This temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and is supposed to have been built in the 15th century by kings Harihara and Bukka Raya of the Sangama dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Yaganti Temple is extremely beautiful and is in the middle of the Yerramala Hills, surrounded by scenic beauty. Also, there are numerous caves in the hills around the temple where quite a lot of saints reside including the great Telugu saint and astrologer ‘Potuluti Veera Brahmam Garu.’

The temple dates back to 5th and 6th centuries with donations from the Pallavas, Chalukyas, Cholas and Vijayanagara rulers. Apart from this, the temple also received valuable contributions from Vijayanagara Kings Harihara and Bukka Rayalu who completed the construction of quite a lot of structures in and around the temple.

Yaganti Temple has idols of Shiva and Parvathi engraved out of a single stone. This temple is almost certainly the only place where Lord Shiva is adorned in the form of an idol and not in the form of a Shiva Linga. It is a popular belief that Agastya performed the sacrament for Lord Shiva and appealed him Lord Shiva to make an appearance in Ardhanareeswara form. Another very bizarre yet miraculous characteristic of this temple is that the idol of Nandi here keeps increasing in size.

Yaganti Temple History

Lord Agastyar was a preacher, a Vedic saint, the earliest Siddhar & one of the Saptarishis, the seven sages who were extruded at many places in the Vedas. According to the mythology associated with the temple, Lord Agastyar desired to construct a temple for Lord Venkateswara, i.e. Lord Vishnu at Yaganti.

Accordingly, a number of rituals were performed to establish the idol of Lord Vishnu at the explicit place selected at Yaganti but to his surprise, he found that the nail of the foot thumb finger was broken. Lord Agastya was bothered to discover this and made a sacrament to Lord Shiva to be acquainted with the reason behind the incident. Lord Shiva responded positively to his prayer and appeared before him and explained that the place bear a resemblance to Kailash and it is appropriate tobe the domicile of Lord Shiva.

Sage Agastya was enthralled and demanded Lord Shiva to dwell in this place for eternity along with Goddess Parvati. So, since then the place is called as Uma Maheswara Temple where in ‘Uma’ refers to Goddess Parvati and ‘Maheswara’ refers to Lord Shiva.

Yaganti Temple is has been constructed as per the Vaishnava traditions and it demonstrates the artistic dexterity of the ancient Vishwakarma Sthapathis.

Significance of Yaganti Temple

The deities of Yaganti Temple are Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati carved on a single stone. There is also a cave in the name of sage Agastya who performed the sacrament towards Lord Shiva. The idol of Lord Vishnu which was apparently believed to be distorted was also found in one of the caves of the temple known as Venkateswara Cave.

The Nandi also termed as Lord Nandeeswara, the ascend of Lord Shiva, present in the Yaganti temple is considered to be budding in size over the decades. As per the researchers, the rock out of which the idol of Nandi is made has a special characteristic which leads the rock to grow. Furthermore, it was also discovered that the idol of Nandi increases to about 10mm per eight years i.e., 1 inch per 20 years. The Archaeological Survey of India has conirmed that the growing of the size of the idol is due to Geological phenomena as per science.

A very significant and remarkable feature of this temple is that the Pushkarini which is the temple tank consists of sacred holy water flowing from the tank. But, the water is believed to flow from the bottom of the hill.

A very bizarre fact about the place is that crows are forbidden to fly in Yaganti. This is because when sage Agastya was meditating here, Kakusara, the king of crows distracted him from his deliberation and in rage sage Agastya spelled his curse on the crows to prevent them from his entering his premises. Likewise, Shani, the vehicle of crows also could not go through.

It is also a belief that people performed Pradakshinas, rounds around the idol of Nandi years ago. One of the pillars of the temple has been removed due to the increasing size of the idol. As per the Potuluri Veera Brahman, the Basavanna which is the idol of Nandi will come alive and bellow when Kaliyuga ends.

Yaganti Temple caves are also remarkable about the place. The following are the temple caves at Yaganti:

  • Agastya Cave: It is believed that sage Agastya performed the holy sacrament here for Lord Shiva. The shrine for Godess Parvati is also located here and one has to climb 120 steps to reach the entrance to the temple.
  • Sri Venkateswara Cave: The distorted idol of Lord Vishnu can be seen here and it is a popular belief that this idol was carved preceding the arrival of Lord Venkateswara Swamy onto Tirumala hills.
  • Sri Potuluri Veera Brahman Cave: Here, the prophet Sri Potuluri Veera Brahman spent some of his time and that’s why the cave has been named so.

Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple, Nandi: Also dissimilar to other Shiva temples, the idol of Nandi is not placed right opposite to Lord Shiva, rather it is located to the side of main Mantap. Sri Potuluri Veera Brahmendra Swamy declared in his prophecy that the idol of Nandi would come alive at the end of the Kaliyuga and would shout piercingly.

Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple Akasha Deepam: The temple priest used to lit lamp using 4 litres of oil and 2-meter thick wick on an everyday basis. This was done in the evening on a ledge behind Veerabhadra Swamy Temple. The lamp burns from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm in an open air on the top of the hill.

What are the timings of Yaganti Temple?

Here’re are the timings of Yaganti Temple:

Darshan Timings: 6 AM to 1 PM, 3 PM to 8 PM.

The customary Poojas and rituals are performed within this time slot on an everyday basis.

Festivals celebrated at Yaganti Temple

The main festival celebrated at the Yaganti Temple is the Maha Shivratri Which is celebrated in the month of February/March. This festival is celebrated every year and a mammoth of visitors and pilgrims come from across the country and abroad to be a part of this ceremonial festival.

How to reach Yaganti Temple

  • By road: It is associated with state transport to Hyderabad, Chittoor, Tirupati, Cuddapah, Nellore, Kurnool and Chennai which is 24km from the place called Allagadda and is also connected to the rest of the major cities. Buses are also available to Yaganti from Banaganapalli twice a day i.e., at 7:00 am and 3:30 pm. One can also find buses to Banaganapalli from Cuddapah, Nandyal, Hyderabad and Kurnool.
  • By Train:  The nearest railway station to the Sri Uma Maheswara Temple is the Secunderabad Railway station which is about 7 km from the temple. Nandyal railway station which is 55 km away from the temple is the nearest railway station connected to connected to major cities like Hyderabad, Howrah, Bangalore, Goa, Machilipatnam, Vijaywada, Puri, Hubli, Vizag and Bhubaneshwar.
  • By Air: The nearest airport to Sri Uma Maheswara Temple is Rajiv Gandhi International airport, Hyderabad and it is about 12km from the temple.

It is believed that the best time to visit Yaganti is in between the months of October to March while the peak season is said to be in between the months of February to March and it generally takes half of the day to explore Yaganti.

Yaganti Temple Accommodation

There are quite a lot of hotels available in and around the Yaganti Temple. Apart from the hotels, Lodges are also available at reasonable costs with all the necessary facilities and every year pilgrims from across the world visit Yaganti on an everyday basis.

Where to Eat

Free and quality food are offered to the pilgrims on a daily basis at Annanda Hall and the timings are from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm and 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

Nearby Temples

There are a number of important temples located near by the Uma Maheswara/ Yaganti Temple and visitors from around the country visit these temples as well.

  • Nava Narasimha Temple: This temple is located on the upper Ahobilam at a distance of 8km from Lower Ahobilam. The supervising deity of this temple is believed to be “Svayambhu” who is worshipped as Lord Ahobila Narasimha Swamy and is also known as ‘Ugra Narasimha’ because he appears in his fierce feature.
  • Shikaresvara Temple: Located in Nallamala Hill of Srisailam, Shikaresvara Temple is atop the highest point 2830 feet termed as Shikaram. This temple is bestowed to Lord Shiva and the people residing here have the propensity to believe that Lord Shiva in this temple has great healing powers and accomplish all their wishes. The temple also consists of Garbha Griha, 16 pillared Mukhmandapam and Antaralaya.
  • Sakshi Ganapati Temple: This temple is considered as one of the most holy spots recurrented by pilgrims since time immemorial. Located at a distance of 3km from Srisailam, this temple is positioned on the main road to Sikharam. As per the legend of this temple, the Ganapathi in this temple is believed to keep habitual account of the pilgrims to tender Sakshyam which means evidence of their visit to this Kshetram and so the temple is accordingly termed as Sakshi Ganapathi.
  • Mahanandi Temple: Located in the east of Nallamala Hills near Nandyal in Kurnool district, Mahanandi temple is considered to be the living temple that abides the evidence to the harmony that depicts the Hindu way of life. Lord shiva is depicted as the Lord of Nandi, his bull vehicle. Bull is also considered to be an important aspect of the agricultural world and is also bequeathed with worship because bull here, is correlated to Lord Vishnu and his incarnations
  • Iswaraswami Temple: This is also among one of the famous temples in and around Yaganti. This temple is also most popular because of the scenic beauty and the captivating view. Devotees appear in mammoth to visit the temple on a daily basis.

Chintpurni Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

, 2 Comments Filed Under: Himachal Pradesh Temples Tagged With: ,

Chintpurni Temple is one of the major pilgrimages in India and also one of the Shakti Peethas. The Chintpurni Shakti Peeth or Chinnamastika Shakti Peeth is in the Una district of Himachal Pradesh. It has the western Himalayas in the north and the smaller Shivalik range in the East.

What is the history of Chintpurni Temple?

The history of Chintpurni temple relates itself to a famous legend. According to it, when Lord Vishnu severed Sati’s body into 51 pieces they scattered all over. He did this to stop Shiva’s Tandava.   So all of the pieces together formed the 51 Shakti Peethas.

According to Puranic traditions, Shiva – Rudra Mahadev will protect Chhinnamastika Devi in the four directions. Also, there are four Shiva temples – Kaleshwar Mahadev in the east, Narayhana Mahadev in the west, Muchkund Mahadev in the north and Shiva Bari in the south – which are nearly equidistant from Chintpurni. This also confirms Chintpurni as the abode of Chinnamastika Devi.

People also believe that Pandit Mai Das, a Kalia Saraswat Brahmanestablished this shrine to Mata Chintpurni Devi in Chhaproh village twenty-six generations ago. Over time this village became popular as Chintpurni after the eponymous deity.

What is the significance of Chintpurni Temple?

The significance of Chintpurni temple is that devotees believe that nobody goes empty handed from the shrine of Goddess Chintpurni / Chhinnamastika. The simple structure of the temple contains the main shrine, where the image of Mata Chintpurni is placed in the form a pindi (a round stone).

There are 51 Shakti Peeth associated with the 51 alphabets in Sanskrit. It is believed that Sati Devi’s feet fell here.

What are the Timings of Chintpurni Temple?

Here are the timings of Chintpurni Temple:

TimingsFromTo
open (winters) 5:30 a.m9:30 p.m.
open (Summers)4:00 a.m10:00 p.m.
Morning arti 6:00 a.m.
evening arti 8:00 p.m.

Which festivals are celebrated at Chintpurni Temple?

Navaratri is a grand festival that is celebrated with devotion in the Chintpurni temple. People from all over India and abroad come here during this to seek the blessings of Devi Ma. The festival takes place during in Aashadh (July), Ashwin (October) and Chaitra (March–April).

How to reach Chintpurni Temple?

Here’s how to reach Chintpurni Temple:

  • Air: Nearest airport is at Gaggal in Kangra district. Its distance from Chintpurni is about 60 km.
  • Road: State Transport bus services are available fromPunjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Delhi and others.
  •  Rail: The nearest railway stations is Amb Andaura,  20 km from the temple.

Where to stay nearby?

Some places where one can stay nearby are:

  • Hotel Amber Residency opposite KDM Hospital, Hoshiarpur is a great place to stay. The ambience is suitable for all and many visitors praise it.
  • Hotel Presidency at Model town road, Hoshiarpur is another great place to check in. Rooms are comfortable and spacious with all modern facilities.

What are some temples nearby?

Some of the temples/places that one can visit nearby are:

  • Naina Devi Temple – The temple of Shri Naina Devi Ji is on a hilltop in Bilaspur District of Himachal Pradesh in India, about 115 km south of Chintpurni.
  • Mandi is also famous as the Varanasi of the east and is on the banks of the Beas River. Situated some 70 km from Kullu, Mandi was getting its name from Sage Mandav who meditated here.
  • Thaneek Pura is at a distance of only 3 Kms from Chintpurni. It is well-known for its temples; Guga Zahar Peer Temple, Mahiya Sidh Temple, and Radha-Krishna Temple are some of the temples in the area. Thaneek Pura is also famous for a fair on the day of Krishna Janamashtmi along with Guga Navami festival.
  • Hidimba Devi Temple

Bhadrachalam Temple Guide – Sita Ramachandraswamy – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Bhadrachalam temple is the abode of Shri Sita Ramachandra Swamy. This temple is in honor of Lord Rama. The temple is on the banks of the Godavari river. It also relates to the life events of Saint Kancharla Gopanna, who was a great devotee of Lord Rama.

What is the history of Bhadrachalam Temple?

According to the history of Bhadrachalam Temple,  Gopanna the Tahasildar of Bhadrachalam (second half of 17th century), used money from government treasury to build this temple, and hence faced imprisonment in a dungeon at Golconda. Lord Rama miraculously gave the Sultan the money spent by Gopanna, after which he released him.

Gopanna then became Bhadrachala Ramadasa and went on to compose innumerable songs in praise of Rama.

Ramadasa heard the news that the villagers of palvoncha paragana were proceeding to witness Jatara at Bhadrachalam. He found the deities in an amazing appearance; and Ramadas then asked the villagers to contribute liberally for the construction of the temple.

So, the villagers appealed to him to spend the revenue collections for the construction of the temple with a promise to repay the amount after harvesting the crops.
The Golconda king Tanishah realized the devotional spirit of Ramadas after his imprisonment and took over the charge of temple administration.

Golconda king, Tanishah then realized Ramadas’s devotional spirit and dedication towards Rama, when Rama and Lakshmana repaid 6 lakhs Mohurs in the form of Ramoji and Lakshmoji, the servants of Bhakta Ramadas for the release of their devotee from imprisonment.

Thanisha gave voucher to these divine looking persons who approached him at his house during late night. Then they kept the voucher under the pillow of Gopanna where he was jailed.  Tanishah who woke up the next morning realized that those divine looking persons were none other than Rama and Lakshmana and made arrangements to get release of Gopanna and prayed to forgive him by placing all the Gold Mohurs received previous night at the feet of Gopanna.  But he refused to take back those mohurs except two as a mark of divine significance, and these two coins can still be seen in Bhadrachalam temple.

What is the significance of Bhadrachalam Temple?

Here is the significance of Bhadrachalam Temple:

  • Shri Rama is a charming person, of handsome beauty, and well-built physique, wearing in his two hands, the Dhanus, and the Bana, and standing in the ‘Tribhanga’ attitude as opposed to the ‘Samabhanga’ pose.
  • Sita stands near him, also in the Tribhanga attitude, with a lotus in one hand and the other hand shown in the ‘Katyavalambita’ posture.
  • Temple also exhibits the importance of Ramayana, one of the great canons of Hindu literature.
  • Moreover, the location Bhadrachalam exists in Dandakaranya, the spiritual significant region where Lord Rama, Goddess Seetha, and Lakshmana had spent 14 years of Vanavasam.
  • Lord Rama takes His abode on the head of the sage Bhadra (immovable hill) famous as Bhadrachalam.
  • A sub shrine of Goddess Lakshmi is also there inside the temple complex of Bhadrachalam temple.

What are the timings of Bhadrachalam Temple?

Here are the timings of Bhadrachalam Temple:

TimingsFromTo
Open4:30 am8:30 pm
Abhishekam00 AM 8.00 AM
Kesavanaamaarchanaa8:30 AM8.00 P.M
Sahasranamarchana8.30 A.M9.30 A.M
Suvarna Tulasi Astotharanamarchana (on Saturdays)8.30 A.M9.30 A.M
Suvarna Pushpa Astothara Namarchana (on Sundays)8.30 A.M9.30 A.M
Sakalbhishtaprada Sree Ramapuja8.30 AM
Nitya Kalyana Ubhayam9.30 A.M11.00 A.M
Rajata Ratha Seva 6.30 PM
Alaya Chuttu Seva8.00 PM8.30 P.M
Vahana Seva (Garuda, Hamsa, Hanumantha, Rajadhiraja)8.00 PM 8.30 P.M.

What are the festivals celebrated at Bhadrachalam Temple?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Bhadrachalam Temple are:

  • Vykuntha Ekadasi occurs in either December or January on the day of either Pushya or Margasira shuddha Ekadasi. The ten day festival Adhyayanotsavams and Dasavatara Mahotsavams (10 incarnations) of Sri Maha Vishnu are preceded to Vykuntha Ekadasi Fete.
  • Sri Rama Navami occurs on every ‘Chaitra shuddha navami ‘ on ‘Punarvasu’ -‘Janma Nakshatra’, of Lord Sri Rama. Further, the priests recite hymns in Kalyanamantapam near the stadium, where devotees witness it.

How to reach Bhadrachalam Temple?

Here’s how to reach Bhadrachalam Temple:

  • Air: Vijayawada is the nearest airport from where flights are available.
  • Rail: The nearest Railway station is Bhadrachalam (Kothagudem) which is 40 km.
  • Road: The state bus service, TSRTC operates numerous buses connecting the town to various places like Kothagudem, Hyderabad, Khammam, Warangal, Tirupati, Rajahmundry, Nalgonda, Chennai, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

Where to stay nearby?

Some of the places where one can stay near Bhadrachalam Temple are:

  • The Sita Nilayam Cottage, Bhadrachalam at Sree Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Vaari Devasthanam is a good place to check in. It has nice accommodations that the travelers find to be refreshing.
  • Srinidhi Resdidency at Rajaveedhi is a great place that has excellent accommodations and closest to the bhadrachalam temple entrance.

What are some places to visit nearby?

Some of the places one can visit near Bhadrachalam Temple are:

  • Parnasala is a significant and wonderful sightseeing destination of Bhadrachalam. Parnasala is a popular village in the Khammam district of Telangana, India.
  • Jattayu Paaka (Yetapaka)- This Place is 2Kms away from Bhadrachalam. Jatayuvu, a devotee of Rama obstructed Ravana while he was proceeding on the chariot after kidnapping Sita. After the battle between Ravana and Jataayuvu, the heavily injured bird waited at this place for Rama. A wing of this bird fell at Rekkapalli, about 55 Kms from here, in V.R. Puram Mandal.
  • Sabari in Bhadrachalam is the place where River Sabari joins River Godavari. Also, a woman named Dhammakka used to live here that used to have dreams in which Lord Rama appeared.
  • Annavaram temple is located nearby.
  • Yadagirigutta Temple

Bharat Mata Mandir Haridwar Guide – Timings, Significance and History

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Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar is dedicated to ‘Bharat Mata’. The word ‘Bharat Mata’ means ‘Mother India’. This multi-storey building is built with an extraordinary concept. It is alongside Samanvay Ashram on the banks of the holy river Ganga. The temple has 8 storeys, each depicting an era of Indian history, from the days of Ramayana until Independence.

It is also a part of the holy Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand. Lakhs of devotees visit this pilgrimage every year. 

Bharat Mata Mandir – Facts

Deity Bharat Mata
Location Haridwar, Uttarakhand
Significance Nation Goddess
Best Time to Visit September to April
Darshan Timings 5:00 am to 12:00 pm. 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Entry Fees Free
Dress Code Traditional
Festivals Republic Day and Independence Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbXbruYG0zE
Watch FULL VIDEO on Bharat Mata Temple

Bharat Mata Mandir Timings

People can have darshan at Bharat Mata Mandir from 5 AM to 12 PM in the morning. There is an afternoon break from 12 PM to 2 PM. The evening darshan resumes at 2 PM and the temple closes at 9 PM.

Here are the timings of Bharat Mata Mandir temple:

TimingsFromTo
Morning5 AM12 PM
Evening2 PM9 PM

What is the significance of Bharat Mata Mandir Haridwar?

Significance of Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar
From the eighth floor of Bharat Mata Mandir, the view of Saptsarovar is mesmerizing

The Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar signifies ‘Bharat Mata’ that represents ‘Aryavarta’. It also means the motherland of Hinduism as per Hindu Nationalism. It remains as the ‘vision of a unified motherland’. The divine statue symbolizes the Goddess of India. It stands for all the religious deities, freedom fighters, and leaders.

The temple showcases Bharat Mata in human appearance of the Indian country. The temple is loved by all Indians independent of their rank, belief or color. 

Located on the banks of the holy river Ganga. It welcomes everyone from different religions and communities. The key features that signify the temple and make it one of its kinds are as follows:

  1. Dispensaries of allopathic and homoeopathic.
  2. Diagnostic camps and physiotherapy centres.
  3. Gaushala which is a kind of cow shed with ultra-modern facilities.
  4. Ved Vidyalaya where you can study Vedas.
  5. Bharat Sadie is an old age home there.
  6. Atithi Sewa Kendra known as Samanvaya Kutir.
  7. Satsang Bhawan.
  8. A library.
  9. Rooms for accommodation.

What is the history of Bharat Mata Mandir Haridwar?

History of Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar
A historical day when Swami Satyamitranand Giri visited Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar

The temple is dedicated to each one of the individuals who had a significant influence in the battle for freedom. This temple was built before India was partitioned. The Bharat Mata temple is around two kilometres from the cantonment territory. Represented as a goddess, Bharat Mata temple is an incredible remembrance of unified India.

Established by Swami Satyamitranand Giri, Bharat Mata Temple is a one of a kind temple. It is sacred to Mother India and her cultural magnificence. Vishwa Hindu Parishad was the organization that constructed the Bharat Mata Mandir. The Late Indian Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi inaugurated the temple on 15 May 1983.

The renowned sculpture artist Abanindranath Tagore portrayed Bharat Mata as a Hindu goddess. She is portrayed with four arms, wearing robes of saffron colour, holding a book, sheaves of rice, a mala, as well as a white cloth. 

What is the architecture of Bharat Mata Mandir Haridwar?

The architecture of Bharat Mata Mandir
The Marble Idol of the Map of India designed in the ground of Bharat Mata Mandir

Despite the fact that there isn’t much grandeur and loftiness in the structure. It houses a marble Bharat Mata icon symbolizing India and a marble map of India designed on the ground. The temple is a contrast among many different temples. It doesn’t cherish a specific God or Goddess loved by religious devotees. 

The floors of Bharat Mata Temple are dedicated to many different Gods and mythological heroes.

What does each floor represent of Bharat Mata Mandir Haridwar?

Floors of Bharat Mata Mandir
The galleries inside the temple have a lot of Gods and Goddesses inside it.

At an astounding height of 180 ft, the temple is spread over eight floors. Each level of the floor is dedicated to many different gods and mythological heroes. We have tried to give a short detailed explanation of the same in the following list –

  1. First Floor – Bharat Mata: The first floor is dedicated to Mother India. It was a divine statue of Bharat Mata which adorns the floor along with a designed map of India.
  2. Second Floor – Shoor Mandir: The second floor is commonly known as the Shoor Mandir. It is dedicated to all the freedom fighters that played a role for our Independence.
  3. Third Floor – Matru Mandir: The third floor stands for the revered women of our culture. It is dedicated to honouring women like Ahilya, Savitri, Anusuya, Radha, Draupadi, Mira, etc.
  4. Fourth Floor – Sant Mandir: Every great saint is featured in this floor from different religions of India including Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.
  5. Fifth Floor: The floor includes a lobby embellished with works of art.  It depicts the history and excellence of various areas.
  6. Sixth Floor: It is dedicated to the manifestation of Goddess Shakti. Goddess-like Durga, Parvati, Sati, Radha, Goddess Saraswati, and Kali is here.
  7. Seventh Floor: The floor is devoted to manifestations and types of Lord Vishnu.  It includes Ram, Krishna, and Matsya.
  8. Eight Floor: The highest level offers a stunning perspective. The Himalaya mountain range and Sapt Sarovar can be viewed from here.

What are the festivals celebrated at this temple?

Celebrations of Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar
The celebration of 15th August as Independence Day in Bharat Mata Temple

Some of the festivals celebrated at Bharat Mata Mandir Haridwar are:

  • Independence Day: 15 August is celebrated as the Independence day on a grand scale at Bharat Mata Mandir. On the holiday, throughout India people celebrate with flag-hoisting. There are ceremonies and parades as well as cultural events. People play patriotic songs on loudspeakers and on radio channels in the country. The temple also celebrates the day with flag hoisting.
  • Republic Day: 26 January is the Indian Republic day. Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect. It replaced the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India. The temple too celebrates the day with much pomp and glory like the rest of the country.
  • Other Festivals: Along with these festivals, many other prominent national festivals are also celebrated here in the temple. People celebrate the festivals to honour the legendary and national heroes in the temple premises. 

How to reach Bharat Mata Mandir Haridwar?

Located at Motichur, Haridwar near the banks of the holy river Ganga. Bharat Mata Mandir can be reached by any means of transport. Here is a detailed list to help you with the same –

  • By Air: The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport. It is approximately located at a distance of 30 km from the temple. Tourists can hire private cabs or get buses to reach the temple from the airport.
  • By Train: The nearest railway station is Haridwar, at a distance of 7 km from the temple. The station links major cities of India.
  • By Road: A large number of state-owned and private buses for Haridwar are available.  From ISBT Kashmere Gate in Delhi, you can choose the bus to travel. Tourists can opt for Air-conditioned or deluxe luxury coaches to travel with comfort.

Where to stay nearby?

Places to stay near Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar
Hotel Ganga Lahiri is best to stay near Bharat Mata Temple in Haridwar

Some of the places where one can stay near Bharat Mata Mandir Haridwar are :

  • Radisson Blu Haridwar: It is a five-star hotel for a luxurious stay. It is for both business and leisure for tourists and devotees alike. They provide spacious rooms, excellent food, high-speed wireless internet, etc.
  • Ganga Lahiri: It is a hotel that provides pick-up from the railway station by cycle rickshaw. The hotel has a peaceful and pleasing interior. Along with a great view of Ganga.
  • Golden Tulip Haridwar: It is a four-star hotel at a 7.6 km drive from Haridwar Railway Station. This hotel boasts of excellent service in food. As well as cleanliness and is good for the best stays.

What are some temples nearby?

Temples near Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar
Situated near Bharat Mata Temple, Har Ki Pauri is the best place to watch the evening Ganga Aarti

Some of the temples near Bharat Mata Mandir Haridwar are:

  1. Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar: Chandi Temple is at the Neel Parvat Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The temple is dedicated in honour of Goddess Chandi. The temple is also one of the Panch Tirths present in Haridwar. The presiding deity, Chandi or Chandika is a form of Goddess Parvati. Also exists in close association with Mansa Devi.
  2. Har ki Pauri, Haridwar: Har ki Pauri is a religious bathing ghat in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Known to be one of the most important religious places among the Hindus. It translates to ‘Steps of Shiva’ and is on the banks of Ganga. It is at the point where it leaves mountains and enters the plains.
  3. Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar: Mansa Devi Temple is dedicated to the goddess Mansa. The temple is on top of Bilwa Parvat in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Also popular as ‘Bilwa Tirth’, this temple is among the panch tirth within Haridwar. Moreover, ‘Mansa’ means ‘wish’. It is a popular belief among the devotees that the goddess fulfils their wishes.
  4. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple:  The Neelkanth Mahadev temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. The presiding deity of the temple is ‘Neelkanth’ who is a form of Lord Shiva and has a blue throat due to the effect of consuming poison.
  5. Maya Devi Temple Haridwar: It is dedicated to Goddess Maya in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The presiding deity, goddess Maya is an incarnation of goddess Shakti. Moreover, the temple is among the three Siddha Peethas. It is quite pious among the Hindu devotees.

These temples are also a part of the Char Dham Yatra destinations within Uttarakhand.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bharat Mata Mandir –

Is there online booking available for Bharat Mata Mandir?

No, online booking is not available for the Mandir. The entry fee is free.

Where we can stay near Bharat Mata Mandir?

You can stay in Radisson Blu, Ganga Lahiri, and Golden Tulip Haridwar. All of these hotels are recommended for best stays.

What is the nearest airport to Bharat Mata Mandir?

Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun is the nearest airport. It is at a distance of 30 km from the temple.

How far is Haridwar from the temple?

Haridwar is around 7 km from the temple. You can easily get auto-rickshaws and cabs to take you to the temple from there.

What is the temperature in Bharat Mata Mandir, Haridwar?

The maximum temperature in summer can reach till 35°C. The minimum temperature that can fall down is 8°C in winter.

Is photography allowed inside the Bharat Mata Temple?

Yes, photography is allowed inside the premises without any charges.

Is parking space available near Bharat Mata Temple?

Yes, parking is available near the temple.

Is there any lift facility available inside Bharat Mata temple?

Yes, there is a lift facility for visiting different floors inside the temple.

How to reach Bharat Temple from Har ki Pauri?

Har ki Pauri is around 9 minutes walking distance from Bharat Mata Mandir and can be reached by walking or auto-rickshaws.