Sapthagiri
| Sapthagiri | |
|---|---|
| Tirumlai Hills, Sapthagiri range | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Venkata |
| Elevation | 853 m (2,799 ft) |
| Coordinates | 13°40′59′′N 79°20′49′′E / 13.68306°N 79.34694°E / 13.68306; 79.34694 |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | Seven Hills |
| Native name | సప్తగిరి (Telugu) |
| Geography | |
Sapthagiri is located in Andhra Pradesh Sapthagiri Sapthagiri Location in Andhra Pradesh Show map of Andhra Pradesh | |
| Country | India |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| Rivers | Swarnamukhi |
| Settlement | Tirupati |
Sapthagiri, also called Tirumala Hill, is a hill range situated in the hilly town of Tirumala, near Tirupati in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is 853 m above sea level and is about 10.33 square miles (27 km2) in area. It comprises seven summits, representing the seven heads of Adisesha, thus earning the name Seshachalam. The seven peaks are named Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabhadri, Narayanadri, and Venkatadri. The hill is famous for the renowned holy Hindu Venkateswara swamy temple. The temple is on Venkatadri (also known as Venkatachala or Venkata Hill), the seventh peak, and is also known as the "Temple of Seven Hills". The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Venkateswara, an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. Lord Venkateswara is known by other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa.[1] The temple lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini, a holy water tank. The temple complex comprises a traditional temple building, with a number of modern queue and pilgrim lodging sites.
Seven Hills
[edit ]The seven hills, called as Saptagiri, represent the Saptarishi (seven sages) in Hindu mythology. Hence, one of the names of Shri Venkateshwara is Saptagirinivasa or Saptagirishwar. The following are the seven hills :
- Vrushabhadri – Hill named after an Asura Vrushabha who undertook tapa on Lord Srinivasa.
- Anjanadri – Hill named after Lord Hanuman. It is said that Hanuman's mother, Anjana Devi, did penance for 12 years here.
- Neeladri – Hill of Neela Devi. It is believed that hair offered by the devotees is accepted by Neela Devi, due to a boon [broken anchor ] granted to her by Lord Venkateshwara.
- Garudadri or Garudachalam – Hill of Garuda, the vahana of Lord Vishnu.
- Seshadri or Seshachalam – Hill of Shesha, the dasa of Lord Vishnu.
- Narayanadri – Hill named after the Lord Himself.
- Venkatadri – Hill of Lord Venkateshwara
See also
[edit ]
References
[edit ]- ^ "Tirumala Temple". Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
