Friday 27 February 2009
Sunday 22 February 2009
Monday 16 February 2009
Tajmahal
The Taj Mahal the monument located on the banks of the Yamuna river in Agra, India, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. is considered to be the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Ottoman, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. Taj Mahal Building work began 
around 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The principal designer of the Taj Mahal is considered to be Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.
By using materials from all over India and Asia, the construction work carried out to Taj Mahal. To transport building materials during the construction, nearly 1,000 elephants were used. Valuable and semi-valuable stones of Twenty eight types were inlaid into the white marble. The crystal clear white marble was brought from Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the sapphire came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia.
A labour force of twenty thousand workers was recruited across northern India. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, inlayers from South India, stone cutters from Baluchistan, a specialist in building turrets, another who carved only marble flowers were part of the thirty-seven men who formed the creative unit.
The Taj Mahal beauty lies in the tomb, its interior and exterior decoration and its garden’s beauty The tomb: The white marble tomb, is the main attraction of the Taj Mahal, which stands on a square plinth consisting of a proportioned building with an arch-shaped doorway, topped by a large dome. Like most Mughal tombs, basic elements are Persian in origin.
Exterior decoration : The exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal are among the finest to be found in Mughal architecture. The decorative elements were created by applying paint or stucco, or by stone inlays or carvings. Islamic prohibition norms against the use of anthropomorphic forms adhered.
Interior decoration : The interior chamber of the Taj Mahal steps far beyond traditional decorative elements. The inner chamber is an octagon with the design allowing for entry from each face, though only the south garden-facing door is used. The interior walls are about 25 metres high and topped by a "false" interior dome decorated with a sun motif
The garden Mughal Garden complex is set around a large 300-meter square and the garden uses raised pathways that divide each of the four quarters of the garden into 16 sunken flowerbeds. A raised marble water tank at the center of the garden, halfway between the tomb and gateway, with a reflecting pool on North-South axis reflects the image of the Taj Mahal.
around 1632 and was completed around 1653, and employed thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The principal designer of the Taj Mahal is considered to be Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.By using materials from all over India and Asia, the construction work carried out to Taj Mahal. To transport building materials during the construction, nearly 1,000 elephants were used. Valuable and semi-valuable stones of Twenty eight types were inlaid into the white marble. The crystal clear white marble was brought from Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the sapphire came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia.
A labour force of twenty thousand workers was recruited across northern India. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, inlayers from South India, stone cutters from Baluchistan, a specialist in building turrets, another who carved only marble flowers were part of the thirty-seven men who formed the creative unit.
The Taj Mahal beauty lies in the tomb, its interior and exterior decoration and its garden’s beauty The tomb: The white marble tomb, is the main attraction of the Taj Mahal, which stands on a square plinth consisting of a proportioned building with an arch-shaped doorway, topped by a large dome. Like most Mughal tombs, basic elements are Persian in origin.
Exterior decoration : The exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal are among the finest to be found in Mughal architecture. The decorative elements were created by applying paint or stucco, or by stone inlays or carvings. Islamic prohibition norms against the use of anthropomorphic forms adhered.
Interior decoration : The interior chamber of the Taj Mahal steps far beyond traditional decorative elements. The inner chamber is an octagon with the design allowing for entry from each face, though only the south garden-facing door is used. The interior walls are about 25 metres high and topped by a "false" interior dome decorated with a sun motif
The garden Mughal Garden complex is set around a large 300-meter square and the garden uses raised pathways that divide each of the four quarters of the garden into 16 sunken flowerbeds. A raised marble water tank at the center of the garden, halfway between the tomb and gateway, with a reflecting pool on North-South axis reflects the image of the Taj Mahal.
Sensex Falls 3% (Feb/16/09)
The BSE Sensex extended losses to more than 3 percent on Monday after an interim budget failed to deliver on investor expectations on a stimulus plan for sectors such as autos and construction, while a higher borrowing plan send bond yields higher.
"The interim budget did not contain policy response despite the challenging econom
ic situation," said Jigar Shah, senior vice-president, Kim Eng Securities. Banks led the losses after acting Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee proposed an increase in government borrowing, sending bond yields higher. Traders said the budget was populist and aimed to woo voters ahead of general elections due by May. Mukherjee said the fiscal deficit had risen to 6 percent of gross domestic product in 2008/09 from a planned 2.5 percent, a rise that could shake investors increasingly wary of emerging markets.
He predicted a deficit of 5.5 percent of GDP in 2009/10 but implied this could rise as government spending may have to jump later this year to shield the economy from a global slump and stem job losses, as the government tried to woo voters ahead of a general election.
"This is a political budget but does not give much confidence on how it will help revive growth," said Rupa Rege Nitsure, chief economist at Bank of Baroda. Top lender State Bank of India fell 5.03 percent to 1,133.95 rupees and rival ICICI Bank dropped 4.25 percent to 415.90 rupees.
Bond yields rose with the 2018 bond yield climbing to 6.37 percent from 6.17 percent at the previous close on supply worries. Leading carmaker Maruti Suzuki dropped 2.4 percent to 614.90 rupees and top truck maker Tata Motors was down down 0.8 percent at 136.7 rupees.
Energy group Reliance Industries, which has the highest weight in the index, dropped 4.6 percent to 1,327.60 rupees. The 50-share NSE Nifty index was down 3.11 percent at 2,856.80.
(For Quotes and Interactive Charts of BSE Sensex click http://in.reuters.com/money/quotes/chart?symbol=.BSESN)
"The interim budget did not contain policy response despite the challenging econom
ic situation," said Jigar Shah, senior vice-president, Kim Eng Securities. Banks led the losses after acting Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee proposed an increase in government borrowing, sending bond yields higher. Traders said the budget was populist and aimed to woo voters ahead of general elections due by May. Mukherjee said the fiscal deficit had risen to 6 percent of gross domestic product in 2008/09 from a planned 2.5 percent, a rise that could shake investors increasingly wary of emerging markets.He predicted a deficit of 5.5 percent of GDP in 2009/10 but implied this could rise as government spending may have to jump later this year to shield the economy from a global slump and stem job losses, as the government tried to woo voters ahead of a general election.
"This is a political budget but does not give much confidence on how it will help revive growth," said Rupa Rege Nitsure, chief economist at Bank of Baroda. Top lender State Bank of India fell 5.03 percent to 1,133.95 rupees and rival ICICI Bank dropped 4.25 percent to 415.90 rupees.
Bond yields rose with the 2018 bond yield climbing to 6.37 percent from 6.17 percent at the previous close on supply worries. Leading carmaker Maruti Suzuki dropped 2.4 percent to 614.90 rupees and top truck maker Tata Motors was down down 0.8 percent at 136.7 rupees.
Energy group Reliance Industries, which has the highest weight in the index, dropped 4.6 percent to 1,327.60 rupees. The 50-share NSE Nifty index was down 3.11 percent at 2,856.80.
(For Quotes and Interactive Charts of BSE Sensex click http://in.reuters.com/money/quotes/chart?symbol=.BSESN)
Saturday 14 February 2009
US firms cannot replace laid-off workers by H1-B
Bailed-out US firms cannot replace laid-off workers by H1-B :
In what could be seen as a major blow to Indian IT professionals, the US Congress has prohibited banks and firms receiving federal bailout money from hiring people on H-1B visas in place of America
ns laid off by them due to the economic meltdown. The American Immigration Lawyers Association, which had earlier opposed the measure, yesterday described it as "disappointing".
ns laid off by them due to the economic meltdown. The American Immigration Lawyers Association, which had earlier opposed the measure, yesterday described it as "disappointing".It argued that this would prove to be counterproductive as it prevents the US companies to hire the best available global talent. The H1-B has mostly benefited Indian techies. The measure forms part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, popularly known as the stimulus bill. The Act finally passed by the Congress - both the House of Representative and the Senate - makes a provision of USD 787 billion for reviving the battered US economy.
As the banks have announced mass layoffs, the measure would effectively place a moratorium on the H-1B visa programme, Senator Bernie Sanders said in a statement. The Independent Senator from Vermont, along with the Republican Senator from Iowa, Charles Grassley, moved such a proposal in the Senate as an amendment to the stimulus bill. The measure, as finally approved by the Congress, would require the bailed-out banks to hire only Americans for two years unless they could prove they were not replacing laid-off Americans with guest workers.
Source - //in.news.yahoo.com/20/20090214/1425/tbs-bailed-out-us-firms-cannot-replace-l.html
Recover's take time - OBAMA
RECOVERY OF US ECONOMY TO TAKE YEARS - Obama :
The recovery of American economy, currently reeling under the worst ever economic crisis after the Great Depression, would take years not months, the US President, Barack Obama has said. Addressing a me
eting of top US corporate leaders, hours before the Congress finally passed the USD 789 billion stimulus package, Obama said this is the beginning of the hard work they all would have to do in coming years to bring the country's economic back on track.
"Passing this plan is a critical step, but as important as it is, it's only the beginning of what I think all of you understand is going to be a long and difficult process of turning our economy around," Obama said addressing an audience of top US business executives. "To truly address this crisis, we will also need to address the crisis in our financial sector to get credit flowing again to families and businesses.
We need to confront the crisis in the housing sector that's been one of the sources of our economic challenges," Obama said. The US president said a "comprehensive financial reform" in the way government relates to financial markets to deal with the complex challenges of the 21st century is need of the hour to ensure that a crisis like this can never happen again.
Source - /in.news.yahoo.com/20/20090214/1426/tbs-recovery-of-us-economy-to-take-years.html
eting of top US corporate leaders, hours before the Congress finally passed the USD 789 billion stimulus package, Obama said this is the beginning of the hard work they all would have to do in coming years to bring the country's economic back on track."Passing this plan is a critical step, but as important as it is, it's only the beginning of what I think all of you understand is going to be a long and difficult process of turning our economy around," Obama said addressing an audience of top US business executives. "To truly address this crisis, we will also need to address the crisis in our financial sector to get credit flowing again to families and businesses.
We need to confront the crisis in the housing sector that's been one of the sources of our economic challenges," Obama said. The US president said a "comprehensive financial reform" in the way government relates to financial markets to deal with the complex challenges of the 21st century is need of the hour to ensure that a crisis like this can never happen again.
Source - /in.news.yahoo.com/20/20090214/1426/tbs-recovery-of-us-economy-to-take-years.html
Thursday 12 February 2009
Wednesday 11 February 2009
Tuesday 10 February 2009
MAHABALIPURAM
From Chennai (Madras), Mahabalipuram is located 58 kms away, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, alon
g the Indian eastern coast. Known for its rocks carvings and monumental sculptures it has the famous shore temple, the only one to have survived the ravages of nature. Also known as the Seven Pagodas (temples), six now lie submerged in the sea. Mahabalipuram temples whose architecture was inspired by the Pallava art, were built during the period 830 - 1100 AD. A very rude cruel king Mahabali ruled here and in a severe battle king Mahabali was killed by Lord Vishnu and the place was named after the dead of Mahabali.
During the rule of King Narasimha Varman I, the name Mahabalipuram was
changed to Mamallapuram .There is a story in this connection. .King Narasimha Varman I was a great and courageous warrior and he was given the title Mamalla which means ‘the great wrestler’. After his name it was converted from Mahabalipuram to Mamallapuram considering the great king and his achievements.
Mahabalipuram has nearly forty monuments of different types including an "open air bas relief" which is the largest in the world. There are two hills in Mahabalipuram, about 400m from the sea whose both sides have 11 excavated temples, called Mandapas. Out of a big rock standing free nearby there is a "cut out" temple, called a "Ratha" which is exceptional to Mahabalipuram. The other hill smaller and standing about 200m to the south, are shaped five more rathas, and three big sculptures of a Nandi, a Lion and an Elephant. On the top of the bigger hill there is a structural temple, and a little distance the impressive beginnings of a Vijayanagar Gopura .
Five Rathas : The five Rathas of Pandavas include the Dharmaraja, the Bhima, the Arjuna, the Draupadi and the Sahadeva, . By two smaller rocks were sculptu
red into an elephant and a lion. Behind the Draupadi and the Arjuna, which stand on a common base, there is a Nandi.
The Shore Temple Shrines : There are 3 shrines in the Shore Temple, two of them are of Saiva and the third is of Vaishnava, with an image of Lord Anantasayi made of live rock. There are Vimanas over the Saiva shrines, but none over the third; it seems to have disappeared with time. Built by Narasimha Varman II Rajasimha, the maker of the Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram in the 8th century, this is one of the earliest structural temples in Tamil Nadu.
The Shore Temple occupies a most extraordinary site at the very margin of the Bay of Bengal so that at high tide the waves sweep into it and the walls. For this reason their sculptures, have been eroded by the winds and waves of thirteen centuries
Temple Of Sthalasayana Perumal North of the bigger hill there is the temple of Sthalasayana Perumal and to the west of the five Rathas there are three more rathas, two side by side. About 600 m north of Mahabalipuram, along the coast, is Saluvankuppam, where there are magnificent excavated temples and, near it, a rock Mandapa with tiger heads along its margin called the "Tigers Cave". Between Saluvankuppam and Mahabalipuram, less than 200m from the sea, stands another structural temple, the Mukunda Nayanar.
All the monuments are Pallava except that the original Sthalasayana Perumal temple was expanded in Vijayanagar times. To the Chola days belongs a Mandapa at the entrance to the township
The Archaeological Survey of India sent divers to begin underwater excavations of the area on February 17, 2005. As of 2001 India census, Mahabalipuram had a population of 12,049. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Mahabalipuram has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 66%. In Mahabalipuram, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Everything that makes Mahabalipuram memorable; tradition, history, piety, western annals, and current importance as a centre of tourism and for centuries it has been a centre of pilgrimage, and even today it attracts devotees and foreigners in large numbers
g the Indian eastern coast. Known for its rocks carvings and monumental sculptures it has the famous shore temple, the only one to have survived the ravages of nature. Also known as the Seven Pagodas (temples), six now lie submerged in the sea. Mahabalipuram temples whose architecture was inspired by the Pallava art, were built during the period 830 - 1100 AD. A very rude cruel king Mahabali ruled here and in a severe battle king Mahabali was killed by Lord Vishnu and the place was named after the dead of Mahabali.During the rule of King Narasimha Varman I, the name Mahabalipuram was
changed to Mamallapuram .There is a story in this connection. .King Narasimha Varman I was a great and courageous warrior and he was given the title Mamalla which means ‘the great wrestler’. After his name it was converted from Mahabalipuram to Mamallapuram considering the great king and his achievements.Mahabalipuram has nearly forty monuments of different types including an "open air bas relief" which is the largest in the world. There are two hills in Mahabalipuram, about 400m from the sea whose both sides have 11 excavated temples, called Mandapas. Out of a big rock standing free nearby there is a "cut out" temple, called a "Ratha" which is exceptional to Mahabalipuram. The other hill smaller and standing about 200m to the south, are shaped five more rathas, and three big sculptures of a Nandi, a Lion and an Elephant. On the top of the bigger hill there is a structural temple, and a little distance the impressive beginnings of a Vijayanagar Gopura .
Five Rathas : The five Rathas of Pandavas include the Dharmaraja, the Bhima, the Arjuna, the Draupadi and the Sahadeva, . By two smaller rocks were sculptu
red into an elephant and a lion. Behind the Draupadi and the Arjuna, which stand on a common base, there is a Nandi.The Shore Temple Shrines : There are 3 shrines in the Shore Temple, two of them are of Saiva and the third is of Vaishnava, with an image of Lord Anantasayi made of live rock. There are Vimanas over the Saiva shrines, but none over the third; it seems to have disappeared with time. Built by Narasimha Varman II Rajasimha, the maker of the Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram in the 8th century, this is one of the earliest structural temples in Tamil Nadu.
The Shore Temple occupies a most extraordinary site at the very margin of the Bay of Bengal so that at high tide the waves sweep into it and the walls. For this reason their sculptures, have been eroded by the winds and waves of thirteen centuries
Temple Of Sthalasayana Perumal North of the bigger hill there is the temple of Sthalasayana Perumal and to the west of the five Rathas there are three more rathas, two side by side. About 600 m north of Mahabalipuram, along the coast, is Saluvankuppam, where there are magnificent excavated temples and, near it, a rock Mandapa with tiger heads along its margin called the "Tigers Cave". Between Saluvankuppam and Mahabalipuram, less than 200m from the sea, stands another structural temple, the Mukunda Nayanar.
All the monuments are Pallava except that the original Sthalasayana Perumal temple was expanded in Vijayanagar times. To the Chola days belongs a Mandapa at the entrance to the township
The Archaeological Survey of India sent divers to begin underwater excavations of the area on February 17, 2005. As of 2001 India census, Mahabalipuram had a population of 12,049. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Mahabalipuram has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 66%. In Mahabalipuram, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Everything that makes Mahabalipuram memorable; tradition, history, piety, western annals, and current importance as a centre of tourism and for centuries it has been a centre of pilgrimage, and even today it attracts devotees and foreigners in large numbers
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR
ANDAMAN: Emerald Island – Floating in Splendid isolation in the Bay of Bengal is of over 572 islands, kno
wn as Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This Union Territory is stretched over an area of more than 700 kms from north and South with 36 occupied islands. These surging islands are covered with dense forests and endless variety of original and interesting flowers and birds. These along with silver sandy beaches on the edge of coastline and the excellent scope of water-sports, diving, carefree destination.
The Andamanese is a collective term to describe the peoples who are the aboriginal inhabitants of the Andaman Islands and Nicobar islands, located in the Bay of Bengal. The term includes Great Andamanese, Jarawa, onge, Shompens, Sentinelese and the extinct Jangil. Anthropologically they are usually classified as Negritos, represented also by the Semang of Malaysia and the Aeta of the Philippines. Port Blair is the chief community on the islands and the administrative centre of the Union Territory. The Andaman Islands form a single administrative district within the Union territory.
A total of 48,675 hectares of land is used for agriculture purposes. Paddy, the main food crop, is mostly cultivated in Andaman group of islands, whereas coconut and ar
eca nut are the cash crops of Nicobar group of Islands. Andaman Forests abounds in a plethora of timber aspects numbering 200 or more, out of which about 30 varieties are considered to be commercial. Area is 6408 sq km with a population of 356265 (2001 Census) with a annual rain fall of 31800 mm and climate will be max 30.5°c and it is 1191 kms away from Chennai;
Cellular Jail: It is located at Port Blair. The freedom fighters lodged here were brought from all over India and several prisoners spent more than 20 years of their life in solitary confinement The patriots who voiced against British were sent here, where many died .The jail now place of pilgrimage for all freedom loving people and has been declared as a National Memorial.
Ross Island: Once the seat of British power and capital of these Islands, it stands now as a ruin of the begone days with the old structures in debris. A small museum named ‘Smritika’ hold photographs and other antiques of the British relevant to these Islands. Ross Island is open for the tourists to visit during day time.
NICOBAR: Comprising 28 Islands within an area of 1844 sq kms the Nicobar Islands is separated from Andamans by ten degree channel. The Nicobars abound in coconut palms, casuarinas and pandanus. Great and Little Nicobar have dark crab-eating monkeys with long tails. Nicobar pigeons are in plenty. Magapode, a rare bird, is found in Grat Nicobar. The Southern most tip of India, ‘India Point’ is in Great Nicobar Island.
Car Nicobar: 270 by sea from Port Blair, comprising of 28 Islands with an area of 1841 sq kms and it is in abound in Coconut Palm, Casuarina and Pandanus.
Great Nicobar: 540 Kms by sea from Port Blair with an area of 400 sq km in the southern –most island in this group and is only 90 miles away from Sumatra. Government of India has undertaken the development of this Island in a big way and settling large number of people here.
wn as Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This Union Territory is stretched over an area of more than 700 kms from north and South with 36 occupied islands. These surging islands are covered with dense forests and endless variety of original and interesting flowers and birds. These along with silver sandy beaches on the edge of coastline and the excellent scope of water-sports, diving, carefree destination.The Andamanese is a collective term to describe the peoples who are the aboriginal inhabitants of the Andaman Islands and Nicobar islands, located in the Bay of Bengal. The term includes Great Andamanese, Jarawa, onge, Shompens, Sentinelese and the extinct Jangil. Anthropologically they are usually classified as Negritos, represented also by the Semang of Malaysia and the Aeta of the Philippines. Port Blair is the chief community on the islands and the administrative centre of the Union Territory. The Andaman Islands form a single administrative district within the Union territory.
A total of 48,675 hectares of land is used for agriculture purposes. Paddy, the main food crop, is mostly cultivated in Andaman group of islands, whereas coconut and ar
eca nut are the cash crops of Nicobar group of Islands. Andaman Forests abounds in a plethora of timber aspects numbering 200 or more, out of which about 30 varieties are considered to be commercial. Area is 6408 sq km with a population of 356265 (2001 Census) with a annual rain fall of 31800 mm and climate will be max 30.5°c and it is 1191 kms away from Chennai;Cellular Jail: It is located at Port Blair. The freedom fighters lodged here were brought from all over India and several prisoners spent more than 20 years of their life in solitary confinement The patriots who voiced against British were sent here, where many died .The jail now place of pilgrimage for all freedom loving people and has been declared as a National Memorial.
Ross Island: Once the seat of British power and capital of these Islands, it stands now as a ruin of the begone days with the old structures in debris. A small museum named ‘Smritika’ hold photographs and other antiques of the British relevant to these Islands. Ross Island is open for the tourists to visit during day time.
NICOBAR: Comprising 28 Islands within an area of 1844 sq kms the Nicobar Islands is separated from Andamans by ten degree channel. The Nicobars abound in coconut palms, casuarinas and pandanus. Great and Little Nicobar have dark crab-eating monkeys with long tails. Nicobar pigeons are in plenty. Magapode, a rare bird, is found in Grat Nicobar. The Southern most tip of India, ‘India Point’ is in Great Nicobar Island.
Car Nicobar: 270 by sea from Port Blair, comprising of 28 Islands with an area of 1841 sq kms and it is in abound in Coconut Palm, Casuarina and Pandanus.
Great Nicobar: 540 Kms by sea from Port Blair with an area of 400 sq km in the southern –most island in this group and is only 90 miles away from Sumatra. Government of India has undertaken the development of this Island in a big way and settling large number of people here.
Friday 6 February 2009
Tirumala Tirupathi
India the ancient country of the world possessed with plenty of historic/worship able places and tourist places in the north and also in the South. Among the South Indian famous places worth seeing are furnished here. Tirumala Tirupathi
: The Tirumala hills are the world’s second oldest rock mountains, situatetd 2820 ft above MSL, about 100 sq.m in area. The Sangam literature of Tamil such as Silapadikaram and Satanar’s Manimekalai, dated between 500 BC to 300 AD, mentions Thiruvenkagam (now known as Thirupathi) as the northern most frontier of Tamil kingdoms. The ancient and sacred temple of Sri Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak, Venkatachala of Thirupathi Hills, lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarani, called also the Lord of Seven Hills. The temple of Sri Venkateswara has acquired unique sanctity in Indian religious tradition . Sastras, Puranas and Alwar Hymns unequivocally declare that, in the Kali Yuga, one can attain mukti, only by worshipping Lord Venkateswara. The benefits acquired by a pilgrimage here mentioned in Rig Veda and ethics where the Lord is described as the great bestower of boons. The temple has its origins in Vaishnavism, an ancient sect advocates the principles of equality and love, and prohibits animal sacrifice. The sanctum which houses the awe-inspiring idol of the Lord of Seven Hills is situated in the main temple complex of Tirumala.
: The Tirumala hills are the world’s second oldest rock mountains, situatetd 2820 ft above MSL, about 100 sq.m in area. The Sangam literature of Tamil such as Silapadikaram and Satanar’s Manimekalai, dated between 500 BC to 300 AD, mentions Thiruvenkagam (now known as Thirupathi) as the northern most frontier of Tamil kingdoms. The ancient and sacred temple of Sri Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak, Venkatachala of Thirupathi Hills, lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarani, called also the Lord of Seven Hills. The temple of Sri Venkateswara has acquired unique sanctity in Indian religious tradition . Sastras, Puranas and Alwar Hymns unequivocally declare that, in the Kali Yuga, one can attain mukti, only by worshipping Lord Venkateswara. The benefits acquired by a pilgrimage here mentioned in Rig Veda and ethics where the Lord is described as the great bestower of boons. The temple has its origins in Vaishnavism, an ancient sect advocates the principles of equality and love, and prohibits animal sacrifice. The sanctum which houses the awe-inspiring idol of the Lord of Seven Hills is situated in the main temple complex of Tirumala.Features: Being a pilgrimage Centre, the floating population appears to be the main source of economy but it is not (Population: 4801800-Census 2001). Of late, Tirupathi is becoming the education hub for the nearby areas because of the presence of educational institutions and universities offering almost all fields of studies at all levels. Trade and Industry are burgeoning and business is flourishing. Revenue generated by travel sector is also high. Area 8700 sq. km with a rain fall of 82.5 mm. Climate max 32°c min 26°c.The sacred hill of Thirumala
Swami Pushkarini (Temple Tank) : It is very usual and highly probable to find a water tank either just beside or nearby every Hindu temple constructed during the ancient and medieval times. The waters of the tank were strictly for temple purposes only – like for the God’s “bath” that is a ritual/worship, cleaning and washing the temples inside and outsides, for use inside A bath in the Swami Pushkarini is believed to clean pilgrims of their sins and bestow temporal prosperity. Pilgrims bath here before entering the main temple and bath in the holy tank purifies one’s body and soul.
Offering to God: Pilgrim come here to see the Lord venkateswara, an avatar of Vishnu, who is said to fulfill the prayer pronounced in front of him. A large part of the pilgrims offers their hair to the God, a symbolic act of self-renouncement.
overhanging the city of Tirupathi is said to be the more popular place of pilgrimage in the world, drawing more devotes than Rome, Jerusalem or Mecca!
Thursday 5 February 2009
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