| Lord Venkateswara,
with the income of the temple, is actually maintaining the University called ‘The
Venkateswara University’ in which sciences and arts are taught. In addition, there is
an ‘Oriental Manuscripts Library’ at Tirupati, where research into ancient
manuscripts is carried on. The Temple is still very active and live, and is probably the
richest temple in Andhra Desa, and perhaps in the whole of India. Tirupati lies in the midst of seven peaks or groups of hills in the Eastern
Ghats Range, and lies in the North Latitude 13’41’ and East Longitude
79’24’. The Eastern Ghats break up into a number of parallel ranges in the
region south of the river Krishna. The central group is called Nallamalais in the Kurnool
District, and these meet the Eastern Range, round the group of hills at Tirupati. The top
of the Tirumala Hill is two thousand feet above sea level, and the great temple of Lord
Srinivasa or Venkateswara, as he is otherwise called, is on the top of the peak. The group
of hills is also called Seshachalam Hills and these seven peaks are said to represent the
seven hoods of Lord Adisesha the king of serpents. The consort of Lord Srinivasa is not
with him on the top of the hill, but is worshipped at Alamelumangapuram, at the foot of
the hills. The shrine of Lord Venkateswara stands over a ciuster of seven hills, which are
said to form the Meruparvatha |
