Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala – Under Ramanuja

Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala – Under Ramanuja

Sri Ramanuja is said to have been born in the year AD 1017. According to tradition, he lived for about 120 years. Sri Ramanuja visited Tirumala once or twice during the early years of the 12^th century AD. The work Sri "Venkatachala lthihasa Mala" mentions of certain arrangements made by him for the Lord's worship in the temple. Ramanuja ensured that his regulations were carried out by appointing an Ekangi (Bachelor) to look after the temple administration.

It is said that the Ekangi was given the yellow robes of a sanyasi along with the image of Sri Rama, a seal with the mark of Hanuman for sealing the Lords treasury, and lock and key to pack up the lord's temple at night. Even up to the time of Ramanuja, the famous Vaishnava Scholar of 12'" century, the identity of the deity was still disputed until Ramanuja confirmed it to be Vishnu.