It is Other way:
It would be interesting, if I say, because other temples were invaded (Sri Rangam, Madurai Meeanakshi in 1323) Tirumala Tirupati becomes famous.
Sri Rangam was very famous in those days. When Malik Kafur invaded Sri Rangam in 1323. The temple was defended and according to the Tamil tradition some 13,000 Sri Vaishnavas devotees of Srirangam, died in the fierce battle.
Everyone looked for Safety:
They found Sri Rangam or Kanchi or Madurai were no longer safe. The idol of Sriranganathar was taken through villages of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. They finally went to the hills of Tirumala Tirupati, where they remained until the temple was rebuilt in 1371.
Power of Balaji:
This is the power of Thiruvengadam Hills that it fulfilled the wishes of Gods and redeveloped their temples (of Sri Ranganathar, Meenakshi, Sudareswar) within 48 years. That is the reason, his devotees believe their wishes will be manifested within 48 days.
Journey through Seven Hills:
Earlier Tirumala Tirupati was inaccessible in the past due to its location in the Eastern Ghatts. Early kings of Chola, Pallava, Pandya were liberal in providing grants and free comforts to pilgrims as they have to negotiate hardship in travelling.
Political Importance & Formation of Hindu Kingdom:
Because of Ranganathar idol kept in Tirumala Tirupati for 48 years (It is called Ranga Mandapam -now, without Ranganathar, at South West Corner of the Temple), this tiny temple of Tamil country, become political importance. Till then the pilgrims were from Tamil country. Now Tamils could meet Telugu and Kannada speaking Pallavas, Chalukyas and Hoysalas because of Ranganathar.
Hoysalas try to liberate Maduarai but their king Ballala was killed in a battle. Finally Vijayanagara Emperors liberated, Kanchi, Sri Rangam and Madurai. They (Bukkaraya’s Son Kumara Kampanna and Saluva Narasimharaya’s grand father) used to frequent Tirupati in those 48 years of Sri Rangnathar’s stay in Tirupati. (It took 200 years to rebulid the present day Sri Rangam by Vijayanagara Kings, Maduari and Thanjavur Naickers.)Later Krishna Devaraya and his successors patronised this temple with lot of Jewels, Gifts and Grants and endowment of villages.
This too will pass:
After the destruction of Hampi in 1565 in Talikota war, its importance deteriorated. However Vijayanagar Kings of Arvaitu Dyanasty patronised the temple for another 95 years till 1660. No one dared to venture.
Low Profile:
It is sad to write here that, this country was ruled by many, region by region, part by part in those days and they had vested interests.
After the extinct of Vijayanagara Empires, the invaders of Shaivite faith (Hindus), administrators of Muslim Sulatns and East India Company (Christans)even negotiated the Ghatts in a hard way to take away the treasures. They demanded two lakh rupees every year for not destructing it. Even the documents of village endownments donated by the noble kings were destroyed and thrown in the river. East India Company also did not want to loose the Golden Goose by extracting two lakh rupess revenue every year.
That was the first time, after 1660, temple started charging money (to stay live) from devotees for doing archanas, gifting vastras, offering hairs etc.
To sum up:
Tirupati is a very very small temple, but over 2000 years old. It was inaccessible in the past due to its location in the Eastern Ghatts. Temples, have their life cycle, become famous in certain points in time.It has earlier become centre of attraction from 14th to 17th century and again gone unnoticed. Since a century earlier, now it has again become popular.
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I am adding a foot note, for those who are interested in the chronology of Temple Building”
Adding the chronology of Tiruvengadam Temple Building:
1.The idol is stated to have buried inside an ant hill. It was discovered by some cowherds and reported it to the King Tondaiman in the first century BC or AD. He built a temple to house the idol. Whether the temple was of cut stone, brick in mud or wood, we are not told.
2.Account of the Temple found in Tamil classic Silappadhikaram states that the idol on the hill represented Vishnu (Sengan Nediyon). The description states that the Sun and the Moon illumined the deity shows that there is no covering at the top or that the covering was of a pavilion type.
3.Alvars who flourished in the 8th and 9th centuries, who sang the glories of the lord referred only the sanctity of the Hill, not the temple.
4.The present temple would have built later during the Pallava regime and the temple is not built at one and the same time.
5.Garbhagraham and ante chamber was built at the end of 9th century or early 10th century. There was a pass.
6.Some reconsecration of the deity done by Sri Ramanujan ir 1130. At that point in time there was no Gopuram. There was a pass.
7.Between 1330 till 1370, Sri Ranganathar idol of Sri Rangam was kept here as there was no safe place other than the Hill they found after the attack of Malik Kafur on Sri Rangam.Till this time there is no account of Telugu or Kannada or other pilgrims to this temple. Attack on Sri Rangam, Kanchi and Madurai brought Telugu Speaking Pallavas, Kannada Speaking Chalukyas and Hoyslas together on the hills to see Sri Ranganathar and to liberate Tamil Country.
8.The extension of the temple structures even extends upto the 15th and 16th centuries. Endowmenting the villages started from Saluva Narasimha of Vijayanagara Empire in 1480 followed by the famous emperor Krishna Devearya and Achuta Raya.
9.Pushkarni steps are constructed by Tirumala Iyengar in 16th Century.After the defeat in Talikota in 1565, the Aravidu dyansty of Vijayanagara Empire lasted another 95 years and they patronsied the temple till 1660.
10.After 1660 invaders found the way to negotiate the hills through passess in Eastern Ghatts and taken their pound of wealth from this Golden Goose for not destructing it. This continued upto East India Co.
All the above points are based on the publications and research done by the TTD.SARVAM SRI NARAYANAYETHE SAMARPAYAAMI Penned by Na Ra Mohan.
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