Was Tirupati Balaji Temple an old Buddhist

temple?
WasTirupati Balaji an old Buddhsit Temple? Why sudden affection of, Devi
Worshippers, Jains and Buddhists to this famous temple? Where were they for this
many centuries?

1.First I would like to clarify that, this question refers to Tirupati Balaji where Lord
Venkateswara resides. Tirupati in Tamil means, Pati of Tiru, Husband of Mahalakshmi.
There are innumerable Tirupati Temples in all worlds - starting from Vaikundam to over
108 divyadesams and many other temples in this planet. For example, In Tiru va Ranga
Tirupati (Sri Rangam) Lord Rangnathar resides and is the largest functioning Hindu
temple in the world as on today.

2.Temples, have their life cycle, become famous in certain points in time.

3.Tirupati is a very very small temple. (Think how it was 1000 years before, with one
small mandap) It was inaccessible in the past due to its location in the Eastern Ghatts. It
has earlier become centre of attraction from 14th to 17th century and again gone
unnoticed. A century earlier, there was only one priest takes care of day to day poojas to
the Lord. In 1970s, we were worshipping the lord in 10–20 minutes.

4.Early kings of Chola, Pallava, Pandya and Vijayanagara Kings were liberal in providing
grants and free comforts to pilgrims as they have to negotiate hardship in travelling.

5.Sri Rangam was very famous in those days. This tiny temple, become political
important when Malik Kafur invaded Sri Rangam in 1323. The temple was defended and
according to the Tamil tradition some 13,000 Sri Vasihnavas devotees of Srirangam,
died in the fierce battle. 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. It took 200 years to rebulid the
present day Sri Rangam by Maduari and Thanjavur Naickers.

6.Vijayanagara Emperors liberated, Kanchi, Sri Rangam and Maduarai. They used to
frequent Tirupati in those 48 years of Sri Rangnathar’s stay in Tirupati. Later Krishna
Devaraya and his successors patronised this temple with lot of Jewels, Gifts and Grants.
After the destruction of Hampi in 16th Century, its importance deteriorated.

7.Later the invaders(Hindus), administrators of Muslim and East India Company

(Christans) did not want to loose the Golden Goose (for not destructing for treasures) by
extracting two lakh rupess revenue every year.

8.That is the first time, temple started charging money (to stay live) from devotees for
doing archanas, gifting vastras, offering hairs etc.

Running a Temple is not Easy. And keeping it operational for over 10

centuries in times of political stability is a no joke. Here is the contribution,
not only from Kings, Riches and from a hungry poor who wanted to see his
God rich and identify himself with the God. Here comes the people claiming
that Temple is an old Buddhist Temple. Where were these people in those of
days of distress?

In another view, check the chronolgy of events in History:

1.At some point in time, between 3rd and 7th Century- Saivism, Vaisnavism were
competing with the exotic relgions of Buddhism and Jainism.

2.If we analyse, people were fed up with Tantric rituals of Hinduism and at that point in
time, Buddhism and Jainism packaged well with non-animal sacrifices, no image
worship. But later abuses had crupt into…

3.Mahayana Buddhism, not only copied Hindu image worship but also developed all
tantrik forms.

4.The Jains seem to have been held in no better esteem by the public.

5.Mahendraverma (Pallava) and Nedumaran(Pandya) changed their faith from Jainism

to Saivism it must have been a sad commentary on that religion. And the king Mahendra
did not stop with that. He wrote the Parihasana severely ridiculing both Jainism and
Buddhism. Hieun Tsang who visited in 642AD himself felt despondent about the future
of Buddhism as it was in a decaying state. So was Jainism.

I found several claims - including Devi Worshippers. Balaji is Bala Tiripurasundari.

Since the temple is famous, I invite all to come worship the Lord in their mind thinking
of their Ishta Devata. Hill Venkatadri offers Grace to every one who comes with Bhakti
and Devotion.