SRIBHUVARAHA SWAMY TEMPLE-TIRUMALA:
The famous temple of Sri Varahaswami in Tirumala is to the
north of the Sri Venkateshwara temple, on the banks of Swami Pushkarini. The
presiding deity is Varaha Swami, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the form of a
boar that was staying on the hills when The Lord descended unto earth. He had
to take permission from Lord Varaha to stay here and grant him (Lord Varaha),
the privilege of first view by the visiting pilgrims and first Naivedyam
(sacred offering of food to Lord for consecration) in return. Thus it is
imperative that pilgrims visit Sri Varaha Swami first and The Lord, only later.
According to legend, Tirumala was originally the Adi Varahakshetra (place belonging
to Sri Adi Varahaswami). Lord Sri Venkateshwara took up residence here, with
the permission of Sri Varahaswami. According to Brahmapurana, Naivedyam (food
offered to God) should first be offered to Sri Varahaswami. Pilgrims should
visit Sri Varahaswami temple prior to Sri Venkateshwara temple. According to
Atri Samhita (Samurtarchanadhikara), Varaha Avatara is worshipped in three ways
as Adi Varaha, Pralaya Varaha, and Yajna Varaha. The idol of Sri Varahaswami in
Tirumala is that of Adi Varaha, as it resembles the description of the Adi
Varaha Murti in Vaikhanasa Agama texts. Lord Sri Venkateshwara took up
residence here, with the permission of Sri Varahaswami. According to
Brahmapurana, Naivedyam (food offered to God) should first be offered to Sri
Varahaswami. This tradition is in practice to this day at Tirumala and Lord
Varahaswami continues to receive the age old traditional worship. Even today,
all offerings are first made to Lord Varahaswami and then to Lord Sri
Venkateswara.
Temple Timings: Every day from 5:30 AM to 9 PM.
