Tirumala - Tirupati City Map Poster

About Tirumala - Tirupati

The temple is believed to be the place where Vishnu appeared as an avatar of light and hence it is called "Tirupati" which translates to "The Holy Abode of Lord Sri Venkateswara". According to another legend, once a demon named Tarka, who was granted a boon that he could be killed only by a human being. He grew arrogant and started harassing people. The gods prayed for help in killing the demon. Pleased with their prayers, Shiva asked his wife Parvati (Durga) to destroy him; she agreed but only on condition that Shiva would marry her again after she had killed Tarka. When Tarka came out from his hiding place at night for harassing womenfolk, Parvati took the form of Mohini - an enchantress - luring him into marriage proposals; then cut off his head with her sword when he least expected it . After this incident ,the name Tirumala was given because mohini means beautiful woman in Sanskrit language .