How Tirumala Temple Survived Islamic invasion
๐น Many Temples, How Tirumala Temple Survived Islamic invasion even in South India were plundered, looted and idols destroyed when Islamic invasion happened. But few temples like Tirumala, Srisailam managed to survive through that period.
Srisailam was not easily accessible in those days because it was being in between hills and thick forest, and also it did not have much wealth to loot.Also, it came under rule of Maratha kingdom, when Chatrapati Shivaji was ruling.
๐น Tirumala temple was accessible through steps from Tirupati from both sides.
Initially Islamic invaders did not bother to take steps and loot Tirumala temple as there were many temples in Tirupati town and around, which were easily accessible.
But, Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah of Golkonda sent his army to invade Tirupati in late 17th century CE.
His army, under leadership of commander-in-chief, Ali, managed to destroy few idols and temples in tirupati.
๐น Venkatachala Vihara Satakamu, a telugu poem written around that time (1665โ1668 CE), by an unknown poet, describes this attack on Tirumala-Tirupati.
The loot happened not just in Tirupati, but also in neighbouring towns and villages.
From Verse 66, the poet is understood to be a Vaishnavaite. He says โ โHow can I utter the โkartaru-Mantraโ of the muslims, giving up the โGayatri Mantraโ and โremain sinfully with bare face devoid of the nAmam. How can I adore the Penugonda Babu (meaning the Nawab), discontinuing my prayers to you, the father of this entire universeโ.
๐น In verse 6 he asserts that if a Brahmana like himself possessed a weapon like the Disc (Sudarshan Chakra) of Venkateswara, he would surely wield it ferociously to strike, pierce, kill men and horses and make them pile on each other as corpses and drive the Turks up the Golkonda.
In Verse 9 he laments that his ears that have been magnificently tuned to listening to the Arava (Tamil) Prabhandams should not be subjected to the torture of having to hear the Muslim lore instead of the Tamil Pasurams of the Azhvars.
๐น In Verse 77, he wonders how Nellore town would bear the onset of the terrific soldiers of โSuratani Abdullaโ. He laments to the Bhagawan that different sacred mandirs have been profaned, the trees in the gardens have become the sport of the elephants, the holy worshipping places have become the resting place of the โSardaruโ (Sardar, the army chiefs) and the โPadmakaramuluโ (lotus ponds) have been contaminated by urination.
The poet wails โ โKavali, Kovuru, Duvvuru, Nelluru, Poluru, Manneru, Tallapaka, Utukuru, Oramupadu, Penu-Balapeta, Koduru, Kuruva , Mamanduru and Kalahasti have all been occupied by the muslim enemiesโ.
In verse 90 says โ โI entreat you, as your well-wisher, not to pay money to the mean-minded peopleโ.
๐น The army commander Ali was tricked by local people near the foothill, when his army tried to take steps towards Tirumala.
He was said that his army will have to cross Varahamurty idol at foorhill and even at entrance of hilltop.
Ali assumed it to be pig or boar and it being anethema to them, they returned to chandragiri fort and planned to attack from other side later.
The name of foothill being Alipiri, came from Ali-Phiri (Ali- returned)
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๐น They were preparing to attack from Srivari Mettu 2 days later, but meanwhile the Temple priests managed to mediate.
They took cue from the legend of Bhagawan Balaji in which He takes a loan from Kubera for his marriage to Sri Padmavati, and added their own version that the Bhagawan had undertaken to pay Kubera the interest amount, through the kings who hold sway over this part of the country and through levy of fees on devotees. This appears to have then resulted in an average annual income of two lakhs of rupees to the shrine.
Ali understood that if temple is destroyed, is a loss to Sultanโs kingdom. Priests agreed to pay jizya tax to sultan from temple income and save the tirumala temple.
๐น The poet, in a fit of anger, he calls the Bhagawan, names. โDo not call yourself Vishnu, you might soon become โKartaruโ. Not โKrishnaโ, but โBabayyaโ, because the Dakkinul (Dakkinis) Turks, โParasiluโ (Persian) will insult, abuse, strip and cudgel you. I have thus fore-warned you out of gratitude, since I ate your food and enjoyed other benefits fully; and I have no other thought except asking you to escape early in good timeโ. How Tirumala Temple Survived Islamic invasion | iiQ8 info
How Tirumala Temple Survived Islamic invasion
๐นIn the 98 verse, he realises that he had called the Bhagawan a coward besides other unacceptable words born out of frustration and helplessness. And pleads for forgiveness. He says, โArrogantly I have called you a coward, but you are supreme warrior; the ever-solicitous protector of bhaktas, appearing powerless but really the all-pervasive universal power of different forms inheriting even in the smallest atom and the pores of hair, seemingly inactive but one who can be most decisive. In my destressed mood, I blamed you only to exhort you for the good of the world to destroy the assailing Muslims, I repent for my thousand offencesโ.
๐นPriests, actually prepared a bond relating to the transaction between Bhagawan Balaji and Kubera, which is said to be preserved to this day.
The basis for preperation of one such bonds was the following extract from Chapter XI, Slokas 120-125, p352 of Sri Venkatachala Mahatmiyam โ Bhavisyothara Purana.
This loan transaction is vividly described in the Venkatachalamahatmyam.
There is nothing to prove that Loan will be repayed for ages through the governments ruling the country between Palar and the Swarnamukhi rivers.
๐นSrinivasa asked โ Tell me how the bond of debt should be drawn up by me.
Brahma said โ Srinivasa is the borrower, Kubera, the lender and the borrowing is for personal reasons of performance of His marriage in the Kali Yuga, during the month of Vaisakha, on the seventh day of the Sukla fortnight, in the year Vilambi.
Lord of wealth Kubera gives fourteen lakhs of Niskas bearing the Ramamudra, for earning interest and the Lord Chakrapani (Venkateswara) having agreed to pay the principal with interest.
It is agreed that Srinivasa the Sarngi shall repay to the King of the Yakshas (Kubera), at the end of thousand years commencing from the year of marriage.
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๐นThe first witness is the four-faced Brahma, the second, the three- eyed Siva and the third the Asvatha, the king of trees, know all these presents in eternity. Thus the loan bond was drawn up by Srinivasa in his own hand.
It is interesting to know that this third witness, Asvatha tree is believed to be the one near the Srivari Pushkarini.
Lord Venkateswara has promised that โHe will be protecting his devoteesโ till end of Kaliyuga by residing at Tirumala, but he did not ask governments to take control over his income.
How Tirumala Temple Survived Islamic invasion
๐ธ 1. Geographical Advantage
- Remote and elevated location: Tirumala is situated on top of the Seshachalam Hills (about 3,200 feet above sea level), in a densely forested and rugged region.
- It was not on any major military or trade route, which often spared it from direct confrontations.
- The climb up the seven hills and the natural terrain acted as a natural defense against large invading armies.
๐ธ 2. Relative Anonymity and Isolation
- Unlike temples like Somnath or Madurai Meenakshi, Tirumala was not as politically prominent during the early Islamic invasions.
- Its lesser political importance may have made it a less likely target for rulers who focused on economically or symbolically significant places.
๐ธ 3. Diplomatic Acumen & Local Support
- During times of threat, the temple administration and local rulers (like the Vijayanagara Empire) used diplomatic means and paid tributes to avoid destruction.
- Some Islamic rulers and governors in the Deccan Sultanates era adopted a pragmatic approach, avoiding unnecessary conflict with powerful local institutions like Tirumala.
๐ธ 4. Protection by Vijayanagara Empire (14thโ17th Century)
- The Vijayanagara Empire was a major Hindu bastion in South India, established partly in response to Islamic invasions in the north.
- The empire actively patronized and protected temples, especially Tirumala, seeing it as a symbol of Hindu resilience.
- Famous kings like Krishna Deva Raya made generous donations, and fortified the temple precinct.
๐ธ 5. Strategic Concealment of Deity & Treasures
- In periods of threat, the temple priests and devotees would hide the main deity (moolavar) or move it to a safe location.
- Temple treasures and jewelry were also concealed or buried to avoid looting.
๐ธ 6. Religious Tolerance in Certain Periods
- While some Islamic rulers were iconoclastic, others were more tolerant or politically motivated rather than religiously fanatic.
- Examples include Tipu Sultan, whose policies toward temples were mixedโhe patronized some while destroying others.
- There is no major record of Tirumala being desecrated by Tipu or others, suggesting either respect or successful negotiation.
๐ธ 7. Mythological and Popular Reverence
- The temple was deeply embedded in the cultural and spiritual life of the people.
- The strong emotional connection the locals had with Tirumala meant that any threat to it would have likely sparked mass resistance.
- This possibly discouraged some rulers from attacking it, fearing rebellion or loss of local support.
In Summary:
Tirumala Temple survived Islamic invasions due to a combination of natural geography, local resistance, diplomatic maneuvering, imperial patronage (especially by Vijayanagara), and its relative isolation from major military targets.
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เฐคเฐฟเฐฐเฑเฐฎเฐฒ เฐฆเฑเฐตเฐธเฑเฐฅเฐพเฐจเฐ เฐเฐธเฑเฐฒเฐพเฐฎเฐฟเฐเฑ เฐฆเฐพเฐกเฑเฐฒเฐจเฑเฐเฐเฐฟ เฐเฐฒเฐพ เฐฐเฐเฑเฐทเฐฟเฐเฐเฐฌเฐกเฐฟเฐเฐฆเฐฟ?
๐น 1. เฐญเฑเฐเฑเฐณเฐฟเฐ เฐชเฑเฐฐเฐพเฐงเฐพเฐจเฑเฐฏเฐ
- เฐคเฐฟเฐฐเฑเฐฎเฐฒ เฐเฐฒเฐฏเฐ เฐถเฑเฐทเฐพเฐเฐฒ เฐชเฐฐเฑเฐตเฐคเฐพเฐฒเฐชเฑ, เฐธเฐฎเฑเฐฆเฑเฐฐ เฐฎเฐเฑเฐเฐพเฐจเฐฟเฐเฐฟ เฐฆเฐพเฐฆเฐพเฐชเฑ 3200 เฐ เฐกเฑเฐเฑเฐฒ เฐเฐคเฑเฐคเฑเฐฒเฑ เฐเฐเฐฆเฐฟ.
- เฐ เฐฐเฐฃเฑเฐฏเฐฎเฐฏเฐฎเฑเฐจ เฐชเฑเฐฐเฐพเฐเฐคเฐเฐฒเฑ เฐเฐเฐกเฐเฐ เฐตเฐฒเฑเฐฒ เฐธเฐพเฐงเฐพเฐฐเฐฃ เฐฆเฐพเฐฐเฑเฐฒเฑเฐฒเฑ เฐเฐฆเฐฟ เฐฒเฑเฐฆเฑ.
- เฐ เฐฎเฐพเฐฐเฑเฐเฐเฐฒเฑ เฐชเฑเฐฆเฑเฐฆ เฐธเฑเฐจเฑเฐฏเฐพเฐฒเฑ เฐฐเฐพเฐตเฐกเฐ เฐเฐพเฐฒเฐพ เฐเฐทเฑเฐเฐ, เฐเฐพเฐฌเฐเฑเฐเฐฟ เฐธเฑเฐตเฐพเฐญเฐพเฐตเฐฟเฐเฐเฐเฐพ เฐฐเฐเฑเฐทเฐฃเฐเฐพ เฐฎเฐพเฐฐเฐฟเฐเฐฆเฐฟ.
๐น 2. เฐชเฑเฐฐเฐคเฑเฐฏเฑเฐ เฐฆเฑเฐทเฑเฐเฐฟเฐฒเฑ เฐชเฐกเฐเฐชเฑเฐตเฐกเฐ
- เฐธเฑเฐฎเฐจเฐพเฐฅเฑ, เฐฎเฐงเฑเฐฐเฐพ เฐตเฐเฐเฐฟ เฐชเฑเฐฐเฐฎเฑเฐ เฐเฐฒเฐฏเฐพเฐฒเฑเฐฒเฐพ เฐคเฐฟเฐฐเฑเฐฎเฐฒ เฐเฐฒเฐฏเฐ เฐฐเฐพเฐเฐเฑเฐฏเฐเฐเฐพ เฐ เฐคเฐฟ เฐฎเฑเฐเฑเฐฏเฐเฐเฐพ เฐเฐจเฐฟเฐชเฐฟเฐเฐเฐฒเฑเฐฆเฑ.
- เฐ เฐเฐฆเฑเฐตเฐฒเฑเฐฒ เฐเฐฆเฐฟ เฐฆเฐเฐกเฐฏเฐพเฐคเฑเฐฐเฐฒเฑเฐฒเฑ เฐชเฑเฐฐเฐงเฐพเฐจ เฐฒเฐเฑเฐทเฑเฐฏเฐเฐเฐพ เฐฎเฐพเฐฐเฐฒเฑเฐฆเฑ.
๐น 3. เฐธเฑเฐฅเฐพเฐจเฐฟเฐ เฐชเฐพเฐฒเฐเฑเฐฒ เฐฎเฐฆเฑเฐฆเฐคเฑ & เฐฐเฐพเฐเฐจเฑเฐคเฐฟเฐ เฐจเฑเฐชเฑเฐฃเฑเฐฏเฐ
- เฐ เฐชเฑเฐชเฐเฐฟ เฐธเฑเฐฅเฐพเฐจเฐฟเฐ เฐฐเฐพเฐเฑเฐฒเฑ, เฐเฐฒเฐฏ เฐจเฐฟเฐฐเฑเฐตเฐพเฐนเฐเฑเฐฒเฑ เฐธเฐฎเฐฏเฑเฐเฐฟเฐคเฐเฐเฐพ เฐฎเฐฆเฑเฐฆเฐคเฑ เฐเฑเฐฐเฐกเฐ, เฐเฐชเฑเฐชเฐเฐฆเฐพเฐฒเฑ เฐเฑเฐฏเฐกเฐ เฐตเฐเฐเฐฟเฐตเฐฟ เฐเฑเฐธเฐพเฐฐเฑ.
- เฐเฑเฐจเฑเฐจเฐฟ เฐเฐพเฐฒเฐพเฐฒเฑเฐฒเฑ เฐเฐธเฑเฐฒเฐพเฐฎเฐฟเฐเฑ เฐชเฐพเฐฒเฐเฑเฐฒเฑ เฐเฑเฐกเฐพ เฐเฐฒเฐฏเฐพเฐฒ เฐชเฐเฑเฐฒ เฐฎเฐฟเฐคเฐฎเฑเฐจ เฐตเฑเฐเฐฐเฐฟเฐคเฑ เฐเฐเฐกเฑเฐตเฐพเฐฐเฑ.
๐น 4. เฐตเฐฟเฐเฐฏเฐจเฐเฐฐ เฐธเฐพเฐฎเฑเฐฐเฐพเฐเฑเฐฏ เฐฐเฐเฑเฐทเฐฃ
- เฐตเฐฟเฐเฐฏเฐจเฐเฐฐ เฐธเฐพเฐฎเฑเฐฐเฐพเฐเฑเฐฏเฐ (14เฐต เฐจเฑเฐเฐกเฐฟ 17เฐต เฐถเฐคเฐพเฐฌเฑเฐฆเฐ) เฐนเฐฟเฐเฐฆเฑ เฐงเฐฐเฑเฐฎเฐพเฐจเฑเฐจเฐฟ เฐฐเฐเฑเฐทเฐฟเฐเฐเฑเฐเฐฆเฑเฐเฑ เฐเฐฐเฑเฐชเฐกเฐฟเฐจ เฐชเฐพเฐฒเฐจ.
- เฐ เฐธเฐพเฐฎเฑเฐฐเฐพเฐเฑเฐฏเฐพเฐจเฐฟเฐเฐฟ เฐคเฐฟเฐฐเฑเฐฎเฐฒ เฐเฐฒเฐฏเฐ เฐเฐพเฐฒเฐพ เฐชเฐตเฐฟเฐคเฑเฐฐเฐฎเฑเฐจเฐฆเฐฟ, เฐเฐจเฑเฐ เฐคเฑเฐตเฑเฐฐเฐเฐเฐพ เฐฐเฐเฑเฐทเฐฟเฐเฐเฐพเฐฐเฑ.
- เฐถเฑเฐฐเฑ เฐเฑเฐทเฑเฐฃเฐฆเฑเฐตเฐฐเฐพเฐฏเฐฒเฑ เฐตเฐเฐเฐฟ เฐฐเฐพเฐเฑเฐฒเฑ เฐญเฐพเฐฐเฑ เฐตเฐฟเฐฐเฐพเฐณเฐพเฐฒเฑ เฐเฐเฑเฐเฐพเฐฐเฑ, เฐเฐฒเฐฏเฐพเฐจเฑเฐจเฐฟ เฐฌเฐฒเฐเฐเฐพ เฐเฐพเฐชเฐพเฐกเฐพเฐฐเฑ.
๐น 5. เฐฎเฑเฐฒเฐตเฐฟเฐเฑเฐฐเฐนเฐพเฐฒ เฐฐเฐนเฐธเฑเฐฏ เฐฐเฐเฑเฐทเฐฃ
- เฐฆเฐพเฐกเฑเฐฒ เฐชเฑเฐฐเฐฎเฐพเฐฆเฐ เฐเฐจเฑเฐจเฐชเฑเฐชเฑเฐกเฑ, เฐชเฑเฐฐเฐงเฐพเฐจ เฐตเฐฟเฐเฑเฐฐเฐนเฐพเฐจเฑเฐจเฐฟ เฐเฑเฐเฑเฐเฑเฐเฐพ เฐฎเฐฐเฐฟเฐฏเฑเฐเฑเฐ เฐชเฑเฐฐเฐฆเฑเฐถเฐพเฐจเฐฟเฐเฐฟ เฐคเฐฐเฐฒเฐฟเฐเฐเฑเฐตเฐพเฐฐเฑ.
- เฐฆเฑเฐตเฐพเฐฒเฐฏ เฐเฐญเฐฐเฐฃเฐพเฐฒเฑ, เฐงเฐจเฐพเฐจเฑเฐจเฐฟ เฐฆเฐพเฐเฑเฐตเฐพเฐฐเฑ เฐฒเฑเฐฆเฐพ เฐจเฑเฐฒเฐเฐฟเฐเฐฆ เฐชเฐพเฐคเฐฟเฐชเฑเฐเฑเฐเฑเฐตเฐพเฐฐเฑ.
๐น 6. เฐเฑเฐจเฑเฐจเฐฟ เฐเฐธเฑเฐฒเฐพเฐฎเฐฟเฐเฑ เฐชเฐพเฐฒเฐเฑเฐฒ เฐธเฐนเฐจเฐเฐเฐพ เฐเฐเฐกเฐเฐ
- เฐ เฐเฑเฐฐเฐนเฐพเฐจเฐฟเฐเฐฟ เฐฒเฑเฐจเฑเฐจ เฐชเฐพเฐฒเฐเฑเฐฒเฑ เฐเฐจเฑเฐจเฐพ, เฐเฑเฐเฐคเฐฎเฐเฐฆเฐฟ เฐชเฐพเฐฒเฐเฑเฐฒเฑ เฐชเฑเฐฐเฐเฐฒ เฐตเฐฟเฐถเฑเฐตเฐพเฐธเฐพเฐฒ เฐชเฐเฑเฐฒ เฐเฑเฐฐเฐตเฐเฐเฐพ เฐเฐเฐกเฑเฐตเฐพเฐฐเฑ.
- เฐเฐฆเฐพเฐนเฐฐเฐฃเฐเฐฟ: เฐเฐฟเฐชเฑเฐชเฑ เฐธเฑเฐฒเฑเฐคเฐพเฐจเฑ เฐเฐฒเฐฏเฐพเฐฒ เฐชเฐเฑเฐฒ เฐฎเฐฟเฐถเฑเฐฐเฐฎ เฐตเฐฟเฐงเฐพเฐจเฐพเฐจเฑเฐจเฐฟ เฐ เฐจเฑเฐธเฐฐเฐฟเฐเฐเฑเฐตเฐพเฐฐเฑ. เฐคเฐฟเฐฐเฑเฐฎเฐฒเฐจเฑ เฐงเฑเฐตเฐเฐธเฐ เฐเฑเฐธเฐฟเฐจเฐเฑเฐฒเฑ เฐเฐงเฐพเฐฐเฐพเฐฒเฑ เฐฒเฑเฐตเฑ.
๐น 7. เฐญเฐเฑเฐคเฑเฐฒ เฐตเฐฟเฐถเฑเฐตเฐพเฐธเฐ & เฐธเฐเฐเฑเฐญเฐพเฐตเฐ
- เฐคเฐฟเฐฐเฑเฐฎเฐฒ เฐเฐฒเฐฏเฐ เฐชเฑเฐฐเฐเฐฒ เฐฎเฐจเฐธเฑเฐธเฑเฐฒเฑเฐฒเฑ เฐเฐพเฐขเฐฎเฑเฐจ เฐญเฐเฑเฐคเฐฟ เฐญเฐพเฐตเฐจเฐคเฑ เฐจเฐฟเฐเฐกเฐฟ เฐเฐเฐฆเฐฟ.
- เฐฆเฑเฐจเฑเฐจเฐฟ เฐงเฑเฐตเฐเฐธเฐ เฐเฑเฐธเฑเฐคเฑ เฐชเฑเฐฐเฐเฐฒเฑเฐฒเฑ เฐคเฐฟเฐฐเฑเฐเฑเฐฌเฐพเฐเฑ เฐฐเฐพเฐเฐฒเฐฆเฐจเฑเฐจ เฐญเฐฏเฐ เฐชเฐพเฐฒเฐเฑเฐฒเฑเฐฒเฑ เฐเฐเฐกเฑเฐฆเฐฟ.
โ เฐธเฐเฐเฑเฐทเฐฟเฐชเฑเฐคเฐเฐเฐพ เฐเฑเฐชเฑเฐชเฐพเฐฒเฐเฐเฑ:
เฐคเฐฟเฐฐเฑเฐฎเฐฒ เฐเฐฒเฐฏเฐ เฐญเฑเฐเฑเฐณเฐฟเฐ เฐชเฑเฐฐเฐพเฐงเฐพเฐจเฑเฐฏเฐ, เฐตเฐฟเฐเฐฏเฐจเฐเฐฐ เฐฐเฐเฑเฐทเฐฃ, เฐชเฑเฐฐเฐเฐฒ เฐญเฐเฑเฐคเฐฟ, เฐฎเฐฐเฐฟเฐฏเฑ เฐฐเฐพเฐเฐจเฑเฐคเฐฟเฐ เฐตเฑเฐฏเฐตเฐนเฐพเฐฐ เฐถเฑเฐฒเฐฟ เฐตเฐฒเฑเฐฒ เฐเฐธเฑเฐฒเฐพเฐฎเฐฟเฐเฑ เฐฆเฐพเฐกเฑเฐฒเฐจเฑเฐเฐเฐฟ เฐธเฑเฐฐเฐเฑเฐทเฐฟเฐคเฐเฐเฐพ เฐฎเฐฟเฐเฐฟเฐฒเฐฟเฐเฐฆเฐฟ.
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