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According to ancient Tamil sources Sri Kalahasti has been known as the ‘Kailas of the South’ for slightly more than two thousand years and the small river on whose banks it sits, the ‘Ganges of the South.’ Kailas is perhaps India’s most revered spiritual symbol. It is the abode of Shiva, from whose head, according to legend, the Ganges is said to flow. Shiva, ‘that which is auspicious at all places, times and in all circumstances’ is a symbol of the Self and the Ganges flowing from his head represents the spiritualized or awakened mind. A mind sourced in Spirit is a river of immeasurable power and life-giving goodness. The claim that Kalahasti is the ‘Kailas of the South’ simply means that the small hill near the temple is to be taken as the spiritual equivalent of the Himalayan Kailas. Likewise, the small river flowing in a northerly direction beside the temple is to be taken as the mighty Ganges.              ...

Tirupati (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam) Tirupati  is the home of Lord Balaji (Lord Venkateswara), God of 7 hills. Its the most sacred place of Lord Balaji. Tirumala hills have seven peaks and the temple is situated on the seventh peak, Venkatachala. Tirupati is situated on the foothills of Tirumala. The seven peaks of Tirumala are symbolic of the seven hoods of Adisesha, the serpent under whose hoods Vishnu is said to reside. The Vedas and the Upanishadas  mention the benefits of a pilgrimage to the site so it is unsurprising that the temple is among the richest pilgrimage centers in India. According to legend, Vishnu was disconsolate when Lakshmi left him and so he married Padmavati, one of her incarnations. Since Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity) had left him, Vishnu was left with no money for his own wedding. So, he borrowed what he needed from Kubera. Devotees making offerings at Tirumala believe that...