Venkatachala Kshetra (Tirumala) - Swayam Vyakta Kshetra and abode of Lord Venkateshwara

• Meditation:

आद्यं रङ्गमिति प्रोक्तं विमानं रङ्गसंज्ञितम् । श्रीमुष्णं वेङ्कटाद्रिं च साळग्रामं च नैमिशम् ।
तोयाद्रिं पुष्करं चैव नरनारायणाश्रमम् । अष्टौ मे मूर्तयः सन्ति स्वयंव्यक्ता महीतले ॥
- Swayam Vyakta Sthalams (Venkatachala is a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra)

कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पूर्वासन्ध्या प्रवर्तते ।
उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल कर्त्तव्यं दैवमाह्निकम् ॥
- Venkatesha Suprabhatam - verse 1 (Lord Venkateshwara is the presiding deity of Venkatachala)

► Vishnu: I meditate on Lord Venkateshwara abiding in Venkatachala.
► Varaha: I meditate on Lord Varaha abiding in Venkatachala.

• Sloka: Swayam Vyakta Sthalam (Venkatachala is a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra)
• Stotra: Sri Venkatesha Suprabhatam (Lord Venkateshwara is the presiding deity of Venkatachala)
(Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh)

• Greatness:

• Venkatachala is primarily a Vishnu Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Vishnu):
- Lord Vishnu abides in Venkatachala which is a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra (Where Lord Vishnu is self-manifested) [Srirangam, Srimushnam, Venkatadri, Salagrama, Naimisha, Thoyadri or Thotadri, Pushkara, Nara Narayana Ashrama]
- Lord Vishnu abides in Venkatachala which is also a Divya Desam (Glorified by Alvars) [Thiruvenkatam Divya Desam]
- Lord Vishnu manifested as Lord Venkateshwara and married Devi Padmavathy in Venkatachala.

• Venkatachala is also a Varaha Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Varaha):
- Lord Varaha appeared in Venkatachala before Lord Srinivasa (Venkateshwara).

• Venkatachala is also a Sant Sthalam (Place of Saints):
- Sri Annamacharya (1408 - 1503 CE) was an ardent devotee of Lord Venkateshwara and composed hundreds of devotional songs (Samkirtanas) in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.

• Sacred Geography:

☗ Front part of Seshachalam (of Eastern Ghats)
☗ Seven Hills:
(1) Sheshadri Hill
(2) Neeladri Hill
(3) Garudadri Hill
(4) Anjanadri Hill
(5) Vrishabhadri Hill
(6) Narayandri Hill
(7) Venkatadri
◼ Swami Pushkarini (Temple Tank)

• Puranic Events:

1. Presence of Lord Varaha in Venkatachala: (Skanda Purana - Venkatachala Mahatmya)
• Venkatachala Mahatmya: Lord Varaha appearing in Venkatachala.

2. Presence of Lord Vishnu in Venkatachala: (Skanda Purana - Venkatachala Mahatmya)
• Venkatachala Mahatmya: Lord Srinivasa appearing in Venkatachala and marrying Devi Padmavati.

• Temples (Summary):

• Vishnu:
- Sri Venkateshwara Temple

• Varaha:
- Lord Varaha Temple

• Devi:
- Devi Padmavathy Temple (Tiruchanur) (26 km)

• Places to See (Puranic Places mapping):

Presence of Lord Varaha in Venkatachala:
• Venkatachala Mahatmya describes Lord Varaha appearing in Venkatachala before Lord Srinivasa. (Skanda Purana - Venkatachala Mahatmya)
► Tirumala - Varaha Temple Venkatachala (Tirumala) is the place where Lord Varaha appeared before Lord Srinivasa. Venkatachala is a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra.

Presence of Lord Vishnu in Venkatachala:
• Venkatachala Mahatmya describes Lord Srinivasa appearing in Venkatachala and marrying Devi Padmavati. (Skanda Purana - Venkatachala Mahatmya)
► Tirumala - Venkateshwara Temple Venkatachala (Tirumala) is the place where Lord Vishnu manifested as Lord Venkateshwara and married Devi Padmavathy. Venkatachala is a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra.

• Puranic References:

• Skanda Purana - Venkatachala Mahatmya (About the marriage of Sri Venkateshwara and Devi Padmavathy)

• Location:

• Tirumala is located in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh.

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