Nestled in the lush Tirumala hills of Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam is one of India’s most revered and mysterious mandirs. This Mandir, home to Bhagwan Venkateswara (also known as Bhagwan Balaji), attracts millions of devotees annually. This sacred mandir has, over centuries, accumulated a remarkable aura of mystique, with many divine mysteries that continue to both inspire and perplex devotees. Here, we uncover ten astonishing aspects of this legendary mandir that keep the faithful returning for answers that remain as elusive as the deity’s gaze.
Real hair on the deity’s head
The murti of Bhagwan Venkateswara possesses hair that appears smooth, lustrous, and completely natural. According to mandir lore, while living on earth, the deity lost a part of his hair, leaving a small patch bare. A Gandharva princess named Neela Devi, moved by her devotion, offered her own locks to cover the deity’s loss. Impressed by her sacrifice, Bhagwan Balaji accepted this gift, granting her hair a permanent place on his head. To honor this act, it has become tradition for devotees to shave their heads as an offering, symbolising a deep spiritual bond with the deity.
Sacred offerings from a hidden village
Daily offerings made at Tirupati Balaji are meticulously prepared using ingredients sourced exclusively from a mysterious village around 22 kilometers from the mandir. Only residents of this village know its location, ensuring the utmost purity and sanctity of the items. This secluded settlement remains concealed from outsiders, adding an air of secrecy to the mandir’s rituals. The exact details of how this village functions and guards its connection to the mandir remain hidden, lending an element of enigma to the offerings presented each day.
The murti’s unique placement: Slightly off-center
In a surprising departure from typical mandir layouts, the murti of Bhagwan Venkateswara is not positioned in the exact center of the sanctum sanctorum but is slightly tilted toward the right. This arrangement is believed to optimise the flow of spiritual energy radiating from the murti, creating an intensified experience for devotees who come to offer their prayers. The precise reason behind this unusual positioning remains unknown, yet devotees and priests alike believe it serves to enhance the divine presence felt in the space.
The sound of sea waves in the mandir
In a stunning mystery that seems to defy the Mandir’s inland location, visitors who approach the back of Bhagwan Balaji’s murti often report hearing the unmistakable sound of ocean waves. Scientists have attempted to explain this auditory anomaly, but no rational reason has been established. For devotees, this phenomenon stands as yet another divine sign of the mandir’s spiritual depth and the deity’s connection to vast, mystical elements beyond human understanding.
Eternal flames inside the mandir
Within the mandir’s innermost sanctum, several oil lamps have been burning since ancient times. Curiously, there are no recorded details about who first lit these lamps or when. These flames are said to be fueled by the steadfast devotion of the faithful, creating a symbolic connection between the worshippers and their deity. The eternal nature of these lamps is a constant reminder to devotees of the divine energy they believe has been present at the site for thousands of years.
The deity who walked among his devotees
An extraordinary tale from the 19th century suggests that Bhagwan Venkateswara once appeared in physical form within the mandir grounds. When twelve men were sentenced to death by a regional king for a grave crime, their bodies were displayed on the mandir walls, a distressing sight that reportedly led to the deity’s manifestation. The Bhagwan is said to have appeared before onlookers, advocating mercy and reminding the people of divine compassion and justice. This tale remains widely revered among locals, instilling a belief that Bhagwan Venkateswara is not just an murti but a protector who directly influences his devotees’ lives.
The mysterious mist on the murti’s back
Another phenomenon that mystifies visitors and priests alike is the perpetual mist that appears on the back of the deity’s murti. Despite efforts to dry the murti, a fine layer of moisture seems to form, as though the deity himself were perspiring or surrounded by a veil of divine energy. This dampness is never fully explained or controlled, adding an almost living presence to the murti. Devotees regard it as a visible symbol of the deity’s life force, further solidifying the belief that Bhagwan Balaji is actively present in his stone form.
Flowers that resurface mysteriously in Yerpedu
In yet another phenomenon shrouded in mystery, flowers offered to the deity during the morning puja are later disposed of in a waterfall behind the murti. However, in a baffling twist, these same flowers are said to reappear about 20 kilometers away in the village of Yerpedu. The journey of the flowers is left unexplained, and devotees see this as yet another indication of the mandir’s supernatural attributes. The connection between Tirupati and Yerpedu remains one of the mandir’s many enigmatic features.
The murti’s miraculous resistance to camphor
The murti of Bhagwan Balaji is regularly anointed with camphor, a natural substance known to corrode stone over time. Yet, despite this practice, the murti shows no signs of erosion or damage. This resilience has become a topic of fascination for devotees and researchers alike, who see it as a testament to the supernatural quality of the murti. Many believe that the deity’s living essence within the murti renders it immune to earthly decay, further deepening the mandir’s mystical allure.
A living murti that perspires
Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of the Tirupati murti is its warmth. Despite the cool climate of the Tirumala hills, the murti maintains an elevated temperature of around 110°F, an enigma in itself. After each Abhishekham (holy bath), priests observe droplets of sweat on the murti, which they wipe away with a silken cloth. During the weekly Thursday ritual, when the murti’s jewelry is removed for the bath, the ornaments themselves are warm to the touch. This phenomenon, unexplained by science, strengthens the devotees’ conviction that Bhagwan Balaji is alive in his stone form, radiating divine warmth and presence.
The Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam stands not only as a place of worship but as a realm of mysteries that transcend logic and science. Each of these ten phenomena is more than an isolated event; together, they form an intricate tapestry of devotion, faith, and mystery that has drawn pilgrims for centuries.
(The story is based on the twitter thread by A Hindu)
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