The temple gained most of its current wealth and size
under the Vijayanagara Empire, with the donation of diamonds and gold. In 1517,
Vijayanagara Emperor Krishnadevaraya, on one of his many visits to the temple, donated gold
and jewels, enabling the Ananda
Nilayam (inner shrine) roofing to be
gilded. Sri Krishnadevaraya had statues of himself and his consorts installed
at the premises of the temple, and these statues can be seen to this day. There
is also a statue of Venkatapathi Raya in the main temple.
The establishment of the Vijayanagara Empire in AD 1336
was a turning point in the religious and cultural history of South India. The
Temples and the Gods of this region passed through critical days during the
first three decades of the fourteenth century on account of frequent Muslim
invasions. The new Hindu empire offered them all the needed protection. Tirupati
was included in the kingdom of Vijayanagara from the time of its foundation and
continued as part of it till the time of its fall.
The rule of the Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu
dynasties of Vijayanagara constitutes the most brilliant epoch in the history
of the Tirumala Temple. Sri Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala reached its glory
during the reign of the illustrious emperor, Sri Krishnadevaraya of Tuluva
dynasty (1 509- 1529). Sri Venkateswara was the patron deity of this monarch.
On every important occasion Sri Krishnadevaraya visited Tirumala and obtained
the blessings of the god.
Under
Sangama Dynasty:
There are three earliest records belonging to the rein
of Bukka-I which is undated and fragmentary, registers the grant of a village
to the temple for a sandhi (offerings) twice a day in the name of Bukkarayan
sandhi. Maha Mandaleswara Mangideva, prominent feudatory, set up a golden
Kalasam on the Vimana of the temple in AD 1369 after gilding the sanctum. A
minister of Kumara Kampa gifted 28 Cows and a bull. In AD 1388 Mullai
Tiruvenkata Jeeyar instituted another festival in Tirumala temple that is Masi-Tirunal
in the name of Harihara raya. There are several inscriptions belonged to Hari
Hara-I. He instituted several festivals for Sri Venkateswara on his name in the
month of Masi and arrangements for its conduct by the head of Sri Vaishnava matha
through the payment by him of 100 panam each year.
Devaraya-I1 is represented by a half-dozen inscriptions,
during AD 5-12- 1429 he made of grant of three villages and gift of 200 panam
for certain daily offerings in the year AD 22-11-1433 he granted half share of
Raja Bhandaram (Royal Treasury) in the Village of Srinivasapuram yielding
probably 200 panam annually as in the case of other half belonging to the Sri
Bhandaram (Temple Treasury). This village is said to have been situated in
Kottala Sthalam a sub division of Vaikunta Velanadu. In addition, another
officer of the Devaraya-11, Mallanna is referred to in an inscription originally
appointed to administer the Mysore Country and later on transformed to the
Governorship of Chandragiri. He made arrangements for Neivedhyam and
Nityadiapam to Lord Venkateswara, he also constructed Tirumamani Mandapam in
front of the central shrine, and probably the renovation of the Ananda Nilaya
Vimanam over the Sanctum during 25"' August AD 1417.
Under Saluva
Dynasty:
The Saluvas appears to have been rising to power during
the last years of Devaraya-11. There were about 900 inscriptions belonging to
the Vijayanagara period. Of these, 169 belong to Saluva Narasimha Raya, who was
responsible for many important developments in Tirumala. Saluva Narasimha at
first Governor of Chandragiri and then emperor was great patron of the Tirumala
Temple. The thousand pillared Mandapam at Tirumala and the Kodanda Rama Temple
at Tirupati were erected during his period. Four tall four pillared pavilions
in the four corners of the outer Prakara were erected by Saluva Narasimharaya
in AD 1470, Another inscription mentions the Dolamahothsavam or Anna -Unjal
Tirunal instituted by Saluva Narasimha.
The inscription dated to AD 1482 states that
Narasimharaya gifted a village on the occasion of the Uttana Dvadasi in AD
1472, and he stipulated that the income from the village should be utilized for
the construction of Gopurams at Tirumala and Tirupati and Narasimharaya
Mandapam at Tirumala. Tirumala Temple was well developed under the Saluva
dynasty. During AD 1491, an inscription mentioned that practice of decorating
Sir Venkateswara with two round garlands resembling the sun and the moon on the
Ugadi and Deepavali days, another inscription on the same year stated that the
pathway leading to Akasaganga was being repaired on the day prior to that of
Tiruvadhayanam in the month of Margazhi.
An Inscription dated to AD 1495 states that
Narasimharaya issued an order authorizing Kandadi Ramanuja Aiyangar to carry out
necessary repairs to the Temple Jewels and gold and Silver Vessels and to be in
hereditary charge of the Jewellery store room. Another record during AD 1496
refers to the procession taken to the Navaluru Mandapam and refers to the
temple staff which included the Tiruppani pillai (reciters of Prabandhams),
Kanganippan (bearers of the Vahanams), lamp lighters, Vinnapam Sayvars, Supplier
of fire wood, Proclaimer, Dance masters, Time keeper, Dancers, Pipers,
Songsters, potters, Sculptors and Watchmen.
Under
Tuluva Dynasty:
The Tirumala Temple received liberal patronage during
the period of Tuluva Dynasty. Krishna Devaraya visited the Tirumala Temple
Seven times and presented to the god rich and costly jewels and ornaments as
well as villages, the bronze images in the Tirumala Temple of Krishnadevaraya
and his two queens Chinnadevi and Tirumala Devi. The most famous rulers of this
line, namely Sri Achutaraya was an ardent devotee of Sri Venkateswara and gave
rich presents and offerings to the Lord. Sri Krishnadevaraya is represented
nearly fifty inscriptions belonging to himself and his two queens Chinnadevi
and Tirumaladevi.
The inscriptions were issued between AD1513 - 1524 and
register personal offerings and direct gifts made during their frequent visits
to the Temple of Sri Venkateswara at Tirumala. Sri Krishnadevaraya's gifts to
the Tirumala temple also are generally recorded in the three South Indian
Languages namely, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. Sri Krishnadevaraya first visited
on 10-02-1513 AD along with his two queens. At that time, he presented a Kireetam
(Crown) of gold set with the nine kinds of gems and 25 Silver artis (plates) for
lighting of camphor Lamps. This is recorded in eight epigraphs of which two are
in Telugu, three in Tamil and Two in Kannada in scripts.
During the time of Sri Krishnadevaraya's Second visit to
Tirumala on 02-05- 1513, he visited without his queens, when he gave a number
of ornaments for the Lord and three small kiritams for the processional images
of Sri Venkateswara, Sri Devi and Bhudevi which again recorded in three
languages. Sri Krishnadevaraya visited Tirumala temple third time about a month
and half later (13-06-1513 AD) when he granted five villages to Lord
Venkateswara with donations of oil to serve for the expenses of his Nitya- Naivedya,
and the conduct of Utsava Mahotsavam in the Tamil month of Thai, which he
instituted for Sri Venkateswara for the merit of his father Naras-Nayaka
Vodayallu and his mother Nagajarnmamagaru.
The most important visit of Sri Krishnadevaraya is the fourth
Visit. A set of four epigraphs in four languages i.e., Telugu, Tamil, Kannada
and Sanskrit were issued, these introduces that Krishanaraya halt at
Chandragiri on 15 October 1515 AD. Presentation of Navarathna Prabhavali
(makara torana) for the Lord Tiruvengadanathan. This time, Sri Krishnadevaraya
paid his obeisance to Lord Venkateswara during his return to his capital of
Vijayanagara after pursuing Prathaparudra Gajapati as far as Kondavidu and
capturing the Udayagiri fortress on 6'h July 1514 AD.
This time King performed Kanakabishekam to the God, with
three thousand Varahas, presented some valuable ornaments to Lord Venkateswara,
and arranged for his daily offerings for which he granted Talapaka Village in
the Pottapinati sima. Of his two queens who accompanied him to Tirumala
Chinnadevl presented a Padakam (Pendent) and Kantamala (necklace) and gave
Mudiyur village in Thondaimandalam to serve for the daily offerings instituted
by the queen Chinnadevi. While Tirumala Devi presented a Padakam arranged for
similar offerings to the Lord Venkateswara.
For the fifth time Sri Krishnadevaraya visited Tirupati
and paid his respects to see God on 02-07-1517 which happened at the end of his
wars against the Gajapati kings. This time he presented Kantamala (necklace)
and a Padakam (pendent) for him and also 30,000 Varahas for gilding the Vimanam
over the sanctum, and the gilding was completed on 09-09-1518 AD this is also
recorded in Telugu (no 577 TT) together with the grant of tolls (sunkamu) from
Tirupati. According to the one inscription found at Kamalapuram Kadapa district
in the year 1922 mentions that, Sri Krishnadevaraya visited Tirumala Temple
with his first queen Tirumaladevi on 16th October 1518 AD.
And granted some land for the merit of (prince) Tirumala
Raya Maharaja. That is for the prosperity of his new born son in the year of
his birth. But unfortunately, his happiness in this respect was cut-off after
six years, the prince Tirumala Raya breathed his last. For the last time
Krishna Devaraya visited Tirumala and paid his respect to Lord Venkateswara on
17'" December 1521 AD and presented a Pitambara set with the nine kinds of
gems, a cap with pearls, diamonds, Emeralds and Sapphires embedded into it. And
two fly whisks set with the nine kinds of gems, a Padakam and two Varahas.
During his last visit he also presented a Navarathna
Padakam through his queen Tirumala Devi. Sri Krishnadevaraya was succeeded by
his brother Achutaraya (1529-1543). Achutaraya was confined to the palace at
Chandragiri during the period of his brother's rule. After the death of Sri
Krishnadevaraya, he came to Tirumala and coronated himself there. He too was a
great devotee of the Lord. Achutaraya visited Tirumala Temple in AD 1533 with
his queen Varadaji and son, Kumara Venkatadri and presented many valuable
jewels to the God. Achutaraya instituted special festival for the Lord of Seven
hills and his consort Alarmelmangai. Sadasiva Raya succeeded Achutaraya. It
appears that he had visited Tirumala on two occasions, on 3rd February 1554 AD
and again in July in same year and made some gifts to the Temple.
An inscription dated AD 1561 refers to the building of
Mandapam South of the Dhwajastambha of Tirumala Temple by Tirumalaraya, the
brother of Ramaraja. This is very impressive structure in two stages the back
of the southern part being at a higher level and containing an ornate swing
pavilion which is called Tirumalaraya Mandapam. Sadasivaraya issued nearly 150
inscriptions related to Tirumala. The earliest inscription is 21" July
1541 AD, which registering the gift of Muttur and another village to the Temple
by Sri Ranabattar, son of Yandalur Tirumalai-Josyar. Two visits of Sadasivaraya
to Sri Venkateswara Temple were mentioned in the inscriptions. The first was in
AD 1554 and the second in AD 1563 a few grants of the king to private
individuals also mentioned in the inscriptions. The latest date available for
Sadasivaraya is 29th January 1574AD) which registers the gifts of certain
Aravidu chief.
Sadasiva's reign was dominated by the chiefs of the
Aravidu and other allied families by reason of the united support that they
brought to him for his installation on the Vijayanagara throne at the hands of
Aliya-Ramaraya. The Aravidu family is represented in Tirumala epigraphs by ten
chiefs whose relationship to each other stands as the brother and nephews. They
have played a prominent part in the affairs of the Tirumala Temple during this
period.
Under
Aravidu Dynasty:
Aliya Ramaraya was the real ruler of Aravidu Dynasty. He
controlled the affairs of the state and dealt with the contemporary Sultans of
the Deccan. The Sultans combined their armies and invaded the Vijayanagara
Empire. Ramaraya faced them in the battle between two Villages namely Rakkasi
and Tangadi in AD 1565. In that battle Ramaraya was killed by an accidental
shot and the Vijayanagara armies were routed. Then Tirumalaraya from the
Aravidu clan began the rule of the empire in AD 1570. His name was associated
with the part of Unjal Mandapam in Tirumala Temple.
Muslim attacks started during the short rule of
Tirumalaraya. Tirumala raya was succeeded by Sriranga-I (AD 1572-1585). Six
inscriptions were found belonging to the Sri Rangaraya in the Tirumala Temple.
All the inscriptions reveal that gifts made by the private individuals. Venkatapatiraya
was the next ruler. He was the governor of Chandragiri and was also in additional
charge of Udayagiri and Kondavirlu. He was also a great devotee of Sri
Venkateswara and set up in the temple of Tirumala statues of himself, his father
Tirumalaraya and mother Vengalamba. The history of the Tirumala temple with the
Vijayanagara Kingdom may be considered to have commenced with the gilding of
Vimanam of Sri Venkateswara temple by Sri Mangideva Maharaya in AD 1359 and to
have ended with the memorial slab left by Sri Rangaraya Maharaya in the
Tirumala temple in AD 1665. It lasted for over three centuries.
Such great info. Thank you 😊
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