SRI SWAMIJI IN TIRUPATI

Sri Swamiji visited the holy shrine of Lord Venkateswara in Tirupati on 5th November 2004. After a nine hour drive from Mysore, giving Darshan to devotees in Bangalore, Palmer and Chittur, Sri Swamiji arrived in the temple town of Tirumala at 4 PM. Sri Swamiji was warmly received by the Sri Ajay Kallam, Executive officer of TTD, Mr.Dharma Reddy, Joint Executive Officer of TTD and Sri Brahmanandam, Secretary of Dharma Prachara Parishad. Hundreds of devotees awaited Sri Swamiji. Later Sri Swamiji gave a speech in the Asthana Manta pam and spoke about the importance of making pilgrimage to sacred places like Tirupati.

At around 6.30PM, Sri Swamiji visited the shrine of Lord Venkateswara. Sri Swamiji stood there for about 20 minutes while devotees filed past, having the sacred twin Darshan of Lord Balaji as well as Sadgurudeva.

Sri Ramana Dixitulu, the chief priest of Lord Balaji temple offered the temple Prasadam and Temple honors.

Sri Swamiji then went around the temple, visiting the Valli Devi shrine, Vimana Darshana (seeing the temple tower) and the Vimana Venkateswara (the small Venkateswara idol on the temple tower), Hundi, Hanuman pillars.

While Sri Swamiji walked out of the temple, it was slightly drizzling as if the Amrita from heavens were being sprinkled.

Sri Swamiji gave Darshan to Madambakam Sardinians, the elderly and erudite scholar on TT Devasthanams (he was one of the consultants for Datta Venkateswara temple in Mysore) and then spoke with Sri Ajay Kallam (EO of TTD) on the controversy raging about the thousand pillar hall.

Sri Swamiji left Tirupati in the early hours of 6th November and arrived in Mysore at 6 PM.

Sri Guru Datta

Sri Swamiji speaks in Asthana Mantapa. On the stage are (from Left to Right) Sri Brahmanandam, Secretary, Dharma Prachara Parishad, Sri Ajay Kallam IAS, Executive officer and Sri Dharma Reddy, Joint Executive officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
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The shrines of Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple on Tirumala Hills
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The Bangaru Gopura - the main temple tower
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The large piazza in front of the temple. The thousand pillar hall once stood here
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Sri Swamiji with Madambakam Srinivasacharyulu, erudite scholar in Vaikhanasa Agama Sastra
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Sri Swamiji with Tirupati devotees