Tirumala Hills

About Tirumala Hills

About Tirumala Hills and its prominence

Tirumala is located 3,200 feet (980 m) above sea level and covers an area of approximately 10.33 square miles.

In ancient literature Tirupathi is mentioned to as Aadhi varaaha kshetra. The prunas associate the site with Lored Varaha, one of the Avatar of Lord Vishun. The Varaha shrine is said to be older than the main sanctum of Venkateswara.

The origins of the Tirumala Hills lies in a contest between Vaayu (God of Wind) and Adisesha(the first serpent). During Dwapara Yuga, Adisesha blocked Vayu from entering Vaikuntam as Lord Vishnu was in the company of His consort, Lakshmi. An incensed Vayu challenged Adisesha to a fight to decide the stronger between them, Vayu was tasked with trying to blow off Adisesha from the Holy Meru mountain while adisesha was asked to protect the peak with his hood. After a long time, Vayu appeared to yield and Adisesha lifted his hoods assuming that he had won the contest. Vayu then blew away one of the peaks. The peak landed near the Swarnamukhi river and is currently known as Seshachalam hill. A variant to the legend is that the contest created pandemonium on earth and Brahma, Indra and other gods pleaded with Adisesha to relent. When Adisesha obliged, the peak (Ananda hill) and Adisesha were blown off Meru and landed near the banks of river Swarnamukhi. When Adisesha was dejected with his defeat, the Gods converted Adisesha into the seven hills with the hood named as Seshadri hill or Seshachalam hill or Venkatadri hill. Another variant to the story is: Adisesha, fatigued by the contest was instructed by Lord Venkateswara to rest on Earth in a place that he chose for his stay in Kali Yuga

The seven peaks of the shrine represents seven heads of Adisesha. Tirumala is one of the 108 divya desams

And seven heads are named as Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabadri, Narayanadri and Venkatadri.

1.Vrushabadri Hill – Hill of Nandi, Vahana of Shiva

The first hill is known as Vrushabadri. In Kruthayuga, near Thumbura Theertha in Tirumala there lived a demon named Vrushabhasura who was a devotee of Lord Siva. As he was an asura, he had the inborn demonic quality in him and he used to  daily cut his head and offer the same to Lord. By Lord Siva’s grace, he would immediately get back his head. When Lord siva graced him and asked him to choose any boon, he said that he wanted to have a fight with Lord Siva. Lord Siva granted his wish and the fight between the devotee and the Lord Siva continued for many days. Finally Vrushabhasura was defeated. But Before dying as a mark of his attaining salvation at this place he asked Lord Siva to name this hill by his name. So this hill is called by his name as Vrushabadri.

2. Anjanadri – Hill of Lord Hanuman.

Kesari, the king of Vanaras (monkeys), married Anjanadri. They were childless for many years. So Anjanadri went to a hill near Akasa Ganga and did penance for several years. Later Vayu (wind god) gave a fruit to Anjanadri. As a result of eating that fruit given by Vayu she gave birth to Lord Hanuman. As Anjanadri did penance on this hill it is called as Anjanadri.

Read more at http://gotirupati.com/about-tirumala-hills/