Tirumala map, offering hair, marriage and food, shopping

Tirumala map:

Offering hair:

Tonsuring – the act of shaving your head to propitiate God - is a long standing ritual associated with Tirumala. As per the Vaishavite tradition, devotees offer their hair to the Lord which symbolizes effacing of the ego. Tonsuring used to be done at cottages itself in the past where a barber could be summoned, but new addition is a centralized system which has been put in place at Kalyana Katta, a huge building near the temple. Now, all the barbers sit there in along side each other once you enter the complex. The devotees can pay as per their discretion to the barbers after tonsuring. A bathroom has been provided next to the Kalyanakatta facilitate devotees to take bath. Alternately, a holy dip in the Pushkarini can also be taken, after which the devotees are then supposed to visit the temple for darshan, sell structured settlement payments.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam has a Publication Division. This division publishes books on religious treatises in various languages. They also stack audio, videocassettes on various religious functions. The prices of these books are subsidized. The books are available at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Book Stalls in the railway station, on G. Car Street, Tirupati and at RTC bus stand in Tirumala, phoenix dui lawyers.

Performing Marriages at Tirumala - Tirupati:

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam established a 'Purohita Sangham' (an association of priests) which conducts marriages and other sacred functions like naming ceremony, upanayanam (thread ceremony) etc. There is a fixed fee for each of the functions. Sangham Office is located within the precincts of India Coffee House in Tirumala. The Purohita Sangham performs rituals according to South as well as North Indian traditions.

Accommodations

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam has some cottages expressly for performing marriage functions. Some of the Religious Mutts in the Mada Streets also have the built marriage halls. Apart from this, there are some professional marriage agencies in Tirumala who perform these ceremonies on a turn-key basis.

At Tirupati, the Tirumala Tirupati Devsthanam has constructed some marriage function complexes on Tiruchanoor Road. Since, these halls are always in demand, it is advisable to book them at least four to six months advance. For more details the Deputy Executive Officer (Local Temples) in Sri Govindaraja Swami Temple at Tirupati (Phone No.: 24084) should be contacted. Office Timings are from 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.

Food & Shopping:

Food:

Sri Venkateshwara Canteen Complex

Vegetarian meals are provided free of cost to devotees, in the Sri Venkateswara Canteen Complex daily from 1000 hrs to 2300 hrs. A free meal coupon is distributed inside the temple after worshipping the Lord to all the devotees.

Shopping:

CD & Cassettes

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam produces, distributes and markets the cassettes in video & audio formats of Vedas, Sankirtanas, Pravachanams.

Handicrafts

In Tirupati works on Woodcarving, Paper pulps, Kalamkari are available along with Whitewood toys. Traditional Tanjore style Gold leaf Paintings which are done up at Madanapalli town are also popular in Tirupati outlets. These paintings have mythological themes as their motifs.

Publication

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, which has a publication department, publishes books & periodicals on Hindu religious treatises. Certain catalogue books are published in various categories such as Ithihas, Sthothras, etc.

Lord balaji prasadam, culture and vows

Prasadam:

Laddu

The entire Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams share of Anna Prasadams (Pulihora), Chitrannam, Sweet Pongal and Curd rice are distributed free to all pilgrims coming out after darshan.

Laddu Padi (Timings: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

Panyarams (Laddus) are sold on all days to pilgrims in the counter outside the temple. Tokens for Laddus can be obtained from bank counters erected in the 'Q' line for Laddus. One Laddu Token is issued per person in the Vaikuntham Queue Complex, on payment, for SarvaDarshan pilgrims. They have to collect their laddu after darshan from the counter outside the main temple, Consolidate School Loans.

Laddu Padi Timings : 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Arjitham Big Laddu Padi: Rs. 2500/- (30 laddus)

Rs. 1500/- (15 laddus)

Rs. 1000/- (10 laddus)

Five persons are allowed for Srivari Darshan. Laddus will be given after darshan. Laddu Padi tickets are sold at Vijaya Bank, Student loan consolidation.

Anna Prasadams

Cash payment is accepted at the Vijaya Bank counter for offering the following Anna Prasadams each 1/4 sole. The Prasadams are delivered against the counterfoil at the Prasadam counter.

Culture

Brahmotsavam

The term utsavam means "festival" or "joyous occasion" in Telugu. The most special utsavam in Tirupati is the Brahmotsavam! According to the legend (Varaha Puranam), the Creator, Sri Brahma Himself in honor of Lord Venkateshwara, first celebrated this utsavam and so it came to be known as Brahmotsavam! It is celebrated every year on Sharada Navaratri (September-October). Tirupati has its highest number of visitors during this special occasion. Sri Venkateshwara Jayanti occurs on the 9th day of this Festival.

Some of the other main utsavams that are celebrated in Tirupati are, Vasantotsavam (Spring Festival; March/April), Teppotsavam (Boat Festival; July/August), Pavitrotsavam (Kartikam, November/December) etc. In those years with Adhika Masam, (Adhika Aswayujam), Brahmotsavam is celebrated twice! Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanam makes elaborate arrangements during this time to cater to the pilgrims.

Kalyanotsavam

Kalyanam" means Wedding in Sanskrit. Performing or watching a divine wedding is considered to be very auspicious by the Hindus. It is believed to cleanse the family of all sins. This can be performed only by wedded couples accompanied by their family not exceeding 5 at an admittance fee of Rs.2500/-. It starts around 10AM3.30PM before it over after which all the participating families have a free view of the deity. Each of the couple are gifted with silk upper clothes and about 20 pounds of "Prasadams" OR a meal that is cooked only inside the temple's boundaries and worshipped for consecration before the Lord earlier.

Arjita Brahmotsavam

For those that not present during the biggest event of the year, the Brahmotsavams, a mini version is celebrated every day at Rs.500 per 5 persons starting at about 1 PM. The devotees performing this have a choice of selecting which particular vehicle they want to see their God on, such as the Lion, the Elephant, The Eagle or Others. However, the Float festival that is celebrated during the Brahmotsavams is not included in this ceremony. It has to be started at about 1:30PM in the afternoon.

Dolotsavam

Those who wish to see Lord Venkateswara and HIS Consorts in all their regalia, on a tastefully decorated float amidst the waves of the sacred temple tank, the Pushkarini, this Utsavam will be performed at Rs.750 per a family of 6 persons. The same can be substituted for the Swing Worship Or Unjal Seva also that has the Lord, HIS two consorts seated on swings and gently swaying to the accompaniment of Vedic hymns, music and lighting which exhibits their various moods likened to the cradling of The Lord by HIS Matrons when HE was a baby.

Vasanthotsavam

Vasanthotsavam is the festival of colors. This is of 3 day duration starting in Mid-April or 1st fortnight of May. The Lord and HIS consorts "play" and the devotees also spray colors on them. It costs Rs.3000 per a family of 10 persons, per day. On the scheduled day, the function starts at 2 PM in the afternoon.

Vows

Walking from foothills to the temple

Quite a lot of the pilgrims walk up the hills along the footpath constructed by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. This symbolizes fulfillment of vows to the Lord. There is a footpath from Alipiri to Tirumala which provides the following facilities for these pilgrims:

· Free transportation of luggage to Tirumala. Pilgrims will be given a token when they deposit their luggage at any of the choultries in Tirupati, or at the Toll Gate in Alipiri. They can collect their luggage at the Central Reception Office Counter at Tirumala by showing these tokens.

· Drinking water.

· Toilets.

· Shelters at various points along the route for resting.

· The security personnel patrol this footpath to prevent petty thieves from cheating orrobbing pilgrims.

· There is a constant relay of religious programmes all along the route.

· Medical aid around the clock at various points.

· Canteens.

Tonsuring

The objective behind tonsuring (shaving one's head for the Lord) is to demonstrate that he/she completely surrenders his/her ego at the feet of the Lord. Pilgrims can have their heads tonsured at the Kalyanakatta (opposite the Annanadanam Complex). There are seventeen sub-centers for tonsuring. Pilgrims can also request to be tonsured at the cottages where they are staying.

Angapradakshinam

During Angapradakshinam pilgrims prostrate, and then rolling around the temple they keep chanting the Lord's name. This symbolizes gratitude towards God. It is performed in the Vimana Pradakshinam, one of the pathways around the temple.

It is mandatory for pilgrims wanting to perform Angapradakshinam to take a dip in the Swami Pushkarini. Then they have to reach the main temple complex by 0200 hrs to begin.

Angapradakshinam is usually restricted to the weekends (Saturdays and Sundays). It is also regulated during peak season when there too many pilgrims.

Tulabharam

During the ritual of Tulabharam one offers coins, food items or such other things equivalent to one's weight to offer vows to the Lord. Tulabharam is usually performed for children. Pilgrims can weigh their offerings in the temple complex. The coins are deposited in the temple hundi and other items should be handed over to the temple authorities present.

The queue for Tulabharam is the regular queue that starts from the Vaikuntham Queue Complex or PC Queue Complex.

Niluvudopidi

Niluvudopidi is the ritual where one offers the Lord ornaments and every other adornment one has on his body. This is a vow taking ritual.

The objective is to sacrifice one's belongings to the Lord, with the philosophy 'what is mine is the Lord's'.