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Vina Veenkateesham Na Naatho Na Naatha
Sada Venkateesham Smaraami Smaraami
Hare Venkateesha Praseeda Praseeda
Priyam Venkateesha Prayachcha Prayachcha
Shri Venkateeshwara of Tirupati has the reputation of being “the visible Lord who replies to any one who calls on Him (Pilichina palikee pratyaksha Divam)”. He is the Lord of the Seven Hills in the city of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. The story of Sri Venkateeshwara is narrated in the Padma Purana. According to this Purana, Sri Venkateeshwara is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Kali Yuga. His consort Alimelu Manga is none other than the goddess Maha Lakshmi.
History tells us that the temple of the Lord Venkateeshwara was built some 500 years ago Legend has it that a sage discovered the Lord’s image under an anthill on top of the Seven Hills and built a temple for the Lord. The temple was well supported by kings of several dynasties that ruled the South India. A lot is known about this temple from the writings about the money, land and gold that the kings gave to the temple.
Today, the temple is perhaps the richest in the world. Several thousand pilgrims lineup to visit the Lord everyday and offer Him anything and everything of value in their possession, including their hair. Even ladies shave their hair in gratitude of what they have received from the Lord.
