- Source: Sapthagiri
Sapthagiri which is also called Tirumala Hill is situated in hill town of Tirumala, near Tirupati in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. This hill is 853 m above sea level and is about 10.33 square miles (27 km2) in area. It comprises seven peaks, representing the seven heads of Adisesha, thus earning the name Seshachalam. The seven peaks are called Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabhadri, Narayanadri, and Venkatadri. The hill is famous for the famous and one of the most holy Hindu deity Venkateswara swamy temple. The temple is on Venkatadri (also known as Venkatachala or Venkata Hill), the seventh peak, and is also known as the "Temple of Seven Hills". The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Venkateswara, a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. Venkateswara is known by other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa. The temple lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini, a holy water tank. The temple complex comprises a traditional temple building, with a number of modern queue and pilgrim lodging sites.
Seven Hills
The seven hills, called as Saptagiri, represent the Saptarishi (seven sages). Hence, one of the names of Shri Venkateshwara is Saptagirinivasa or Saptagirishwar. The following are the seven hills :
Vrushabhadri – Hill named after an Asura Vrushabha who penanced on Lord Srinivasa.
Anjanadri – Hill named after Lord Hanuman. it is said Hanuman's mother Anjanadevi did penance (Tapashcharya) for 12 years.
Neeladri – Hill of Neela Devi – It is believed that hair offered by the devotees is accepted by Neela Devi. It is because of boon granted by Lord Venkateshwara to Neela Devi.
Garudadri or Garudachalam – Hill of Garuda, the vahana of Lord Vishnu.
Seshadri or Seshachalam – Hill of Shesha, the dasa of Lord Vishnu.
Narayanadri– Hill named after the Lord Himself.
Venkatadri – Hill of Lord Venkateshwara
See also
Sacred mountains of India