The Priests of Tirumala - Softcover

Basavaraju, Sridhar V.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1517021022 ISBN 13: 9781517021023

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015

Synopsis

The Temple of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh, India, is the world’s wealthiest and most visited temple. People flock here from all parts of the world to catch a fleeting glimpse of the self-manifested icon of Lord Venkateswara and submit their woes at his lotus feet.

As the pilgrims stand for hours waiting for their chance to draw near, groups of pious priests and temple servants move about unhindered.

Who are these privileged people?

Rather than discussing the Lord Venkateswara, the topic of most books on the Tirumala Temple, this unique book focuses on those who perform the worship, revealing the remarkably efficient ancient system of checks and balances regulating rituals performed by the families of priests and functionaries who have been dedicating their lives to the temple throughout generations stretching back a thousand years.

The Priests of Tirumala is organized into three main sections that tell the fascinating stories of the Mirasi Archaka families, Jiyangar matham, and Acharya Purushas. The book offers a wealth of painstakingly collected details on the temple’s history about the way rituals are conducted by different functionaries inside the sanctum—bringing to light the inner workings of this intriguing institution like never before.

About this title

About the Author:

Sridhar V. Basavaraju is a medical doctor born, raised, and working in the United States. His book The Priests of Tirumala was written due to personal interest in discovering the stories of those conducting the thousand-year-old system of worship at South India’s Tirumala Temple, the wealthiest and most visited temple in the world.

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1517021022
• ISBN 13: 9781517021023
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 134