Posted on: 3 July 2013

"At Tirupetty (Tirupati), about fifty miles from Madras, there is an old temple much frequented by pilgrims, and very interesting to the student of Indian architecture. Pursuing the path up the hill, we go through three towers curiously carved. The hill is two thousand five hundred feet high, and has seven summits, on the last of which is the pagoda. Along the top are ruined houses, forming a quadrangle, with stone wall inclosure. A tower rises above these, and around is a broad belt of mango, tamarind, and sandal trees. It is said to be one of the oldest Dravidian temples."

Extract from:
India Illustrated with Pen and Pencil
By William Urwick and Edward Payson Thwing
Published by Hurst & Company, New York - 1891


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A mere hundred years ago Tirupathi, though attended to by many pilgrims, need introduction. And today?

Great.

Awesome

Supposedly, this is the last remains of Mount Meru ( from the myth of the origin). Vayu, the God of the winds has a dispute with Adisesha, the God of serpents, and he blows out the thousand peaks of Mount Meru. Adisesha tries to prevent this by covering the peaks with his thousand hoods/heads but this one peak blows away & lands here ,at Tirupati. More myths & realities in the brilliant - South Indian Shrines ( illustrated) - by PV Jagadisa Ayyar (foreword by lord Carmichael) , Madras 1920

The other Mount Meru temple of course stands at the Angkor Wat, Cambodia from 1220 AD. There you have the temple on Mount Meru & the walls that surround it, have Adisesha engraved all over. A moat, representing the oceans, surrounds the walls. Both Tirupati & Angkor Wat ( Temple Town - Khmer "Angkor" word finds its roots in sanskrit word "Nagara" or town) represent parts of the same story.

Ratnesh Sir, could U pls provide d download link for the book U mentioned above ??? Thanks :)

Cant see an ebook on search, Arindom but there are reprints available. worth investing in

ok Sir ...