I recently read The Tirumala Temple by Dr. N.Ramesan. This book is published by TTD. I would like highlight some interesting facts from the book.
1. Ramanuja visited Tirumala/Tirupati thrice. On First occasion, he spent about a year with his uncle, Tirumalai Nambi learning the esoteric meaning of Ramayana. The second visit was for settling a dispute that arose between Saivites and Vaishnavites regarding the nature of the image set up in Tirumala temple. During the last visit, which was at the advanced old age of 102, Acharya installed the image of Govindaraja and laid the foundation of the present town of Tirupati.
2. The Tirumala-Tirupati region was saved from ravages of the Muslim invader because they took a south-western direction and did not march south of Warangal through the heart of the Andhra country.
3. In 1327 A.D. (as stated, some say 1310 A.D.), Malik Kaffur attacked SriRangam. The sanctum of the temple was walled up and all jewels are hidden. The processional deity (Utsava Moorthy) of Sri Ranganatha was smuggled out of Sri Rangam by Pillai Lokacharya and other devotees. After wandering in various places, they reached Tirumala. It was placed in Tirumala Temple along with Venkateshwara later date.
4. Gopanna was a Brahmin general of Kampana and Governor of "Senji". He went on a pilgrimage and found the idol of Sri Ranganatha of Sri Rangam worshipped along with that of Venkateswara. With the consent of the priests of Tirumala temple, he transfered the image first to Senji and then to Sri Rangam.
5. In all probability, the Ranganatha procession image was removed in or about 1368 A.D. Harihara II is mentioned in an inscription from Tirumala.
6. Maratha ruler Siavaji, passed through the Kallur pass, near Tirupati in 1676 A.D.while on his way for the conquest of Arni, Vellore and Ginjee (Senji).
7. In 1710, Carnatic Nawab adviser, Todar Mal, visited Tirumala and installed three statues of himself, his wife and his mother.
8. Safdar Ali who succeeded to Nawabi (about 1733 A.D), paid fifty thousand rupees from Tirumala treasury which was under his control and got rid of Marathas.
9. In 1744 A.D., Anwaruddin became the Nawab. Later Mohammad Ali, son of Anwaruddin who was championed by the English for the Nawabi, sent two lakhs of rupees from the treasury of the Tirumala temple to the English Commander Clive who was besieged at Arcot.
10. The revenues of Tirumala had for many years been paid to the ruler of the district within which it situated. The Nawab of Arcot, Mohammad Ali, who thus received nearly two lakhs annually, assigned this value source if income to the English in consideration of the assistance rendered by them in establishing his power in the Karnataka.
Here is just few facts. More to follow.
1. Ramanuja visited Tirumala/Tirupati thrice. On First occasion, he spent about a year with his uncle, Tirumalai Nambi learning the esoteric meaning of Ramayana. The second visit was for settling a dispute that arose between Saivites and Vaishnavites regarding the nature of the image set up in Tirumala temple. During the last visit, which was at the advanced old age of 102, Acharya installed the image of Govindaraja and laid the foundation of the present town of Tirupati.
2. The Tirumala-Tirupati region was saved from ravages of the Muslim invader because they took a south-western direction and did not march south of Warangal through the heart of the Andhra country.
3. In 1327 A.D. (as stated, some say 1310 A.D.), Malik Kaffur attacked SriRangam. The sanctum of the temple was walled up and all jewels are hidden. The processional deity (Utsava Moorthy) of Sri Ranganatha was smuggled out of Sri Rangam by Pillai Lokacharya and other devotees. After wandering in various places, they reached Tirumala. It was placed in Tirumala Temple along with Venkateshwara later date.
4. Gopanna was a Brahmin general of Kampana and Governor of "Senji". He went on a pilgrimage and found the idol of Sri Ranganatha of Sri Rangam worshipped along with that of Venkateswara. With the consent of the priests of Tirumala temple, he transfered the image first to Senji and then to Sri Rangam.
5. In all probability, the Ranganatha procession image was removed in or about 1368 A.D. Harihara II is mentioned in an inscription from Tirumala.
6. Maratha ruler Siavaji, passed through the Kallur pass, near Tirupati in 1676 A.D.while on his way for the conquest of Arni, Vellore and Ginjee (Senji).
7. In 1710, Carnatic Nawab adviser, Todar Mal, visited Tirumala and installed three statues of himself, his wife and his mother.
8. Safdar Ali who succeeded to Nawabi (about 1733 A.D), paid fifty thousand rupees from Tirumala treasury which was under his control and got rid of Marathas.
9. In 1744 A.D., Anwaruddin became the Nawab. Later Mohammad Ali, son of Anwaruddin who was championed by the English for the Nawabi, sent two lakhs of rupees from the treasury of the Tirumala temple to the English Commander Clive who was besieged at Arcot.
10. The revenues of Tirumala had for many years been paid to the ruler of the district within which it situated. The Nawab of Arcot, Mohammad Ali, who thus received nearly two lakhs annually, assigned this value source if income to the English in consideration of the assistance rendered by them in establishing his power in the Karnataka.
Here is just few facts. More to follow.
TTD has put up a description of the Ranganatha temple and Mallik Kaffur's attack on Sri Rangam at Ranganayaka Mantapa within the premises of the temple.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to see if the document mentions any date or year of Adi Sankara's visit to Tirumala. I think by this time, Tirupati was not built. It would be a very important pointer in dating Sankara too.