Tirumala
Tirumala, 1908
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts.Many units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Upper Tirupati
Tirupati, in the taluk of Chandra- giri in North Arcot District, Madras, is celebrated throughout Southern India for the temple on Tirumala, the holy hill, 2,500 feet high. This place, often known as Upper Tirupati, is 6 miles distant from Tirupati town and situated in 13° 41' N. and 79° 21' E. The shrine is dedicated to Venkateswaraswami, an incarnation of Vishnu, and is considered so holy that formerly no Christian or Musalman was allowed even to ascend the hill. Since 1870, however, European magisterial and police officers go up occasionally on duty, and visitors are sometimes allowed there as a special case, provided that they bring no low-caste servants, and have obtained the special permission of the District Magistrate and the fnahant or trustee. But no European has ever entered the temple itself, and there is no description on record of its interior. From all parts of India thousands of pilgrims annually flock to Tirupati with rich ofiferings to the idol. Up to 1843 the temple was under the management of Government, which derived a considerable revenue from these offerings ; but now they are made over to the mahant, who is also the head of a religious /naih (or monastery) situated in the town. During the first six years of British rule the income of the temple averaged upwards of 2 lakhs, but the amount is said to have decreased of late. The hill on which the temple stands possesses a number of the usual holy bathing-places, some of which are picturesquely situated.
