7 Hills of Tirumala
SESHADRI HILLS
Seshadri is named after Adishesha, the divine serpent on whom Lord Vishnu rests.
Story Behind The Hills:
During Dwapara Yuga, Vayu (Wind God) reached Vaikuntam to visit Lord Vishnu. Adishesha did not allow him inside as Lord Vishnu was taking rest with his consort Lakshmi Devi. Vayu was not ready to go back without visitng Lord Vishnu and they started arguing with each other. Lord Vishnu himself came to them but they still continued the argument that one is better than the other. Finally Lord Vishnu told Adishesha that he should hold the Anandha Shikara one of the peaks of Meru Mountain and Vayu should try to blow off Adishesha from Meru Mountain. Whoever wins will be declared stronger than the other. So Adishesha held The Meru Mountain tightly by coiling around it and Vayu tried to move it. Vayu used all his power to blow away the mountain but he could not move it. After some time out of curiosity Adishesha wanted to see what Vayu is doing and lifted his head. In a fraction of a second Vayu moved Anandha Shikara along with Adishesha and dropped it at banks of river SWARNAMUKHI.
According to Bhavisya Purana the hill is called Seshadri or Seshachalam.
Written By : BHANUSHREE.N
NEELADRRI HILLS
The first devotee who gave her hair to God is Neeladevi. Lord Srinivasa named this hill by her name as Neeladri.
When Lord Srinivasa was hit by a Shepard on his head, a small portion of his head got bald. There was no growth of hair over that place and this was noticed by Gandharva Princess Neeladevi. She felt such a handsome face should not have any defect. Immediately she cuts a portion of her hair and implants it on his sclap with her powers. As hair is considered the beautiful aspect of women, LordSsrinivasa notices her sacrifice and he said all the hair given to him by devotees in Tirupathi belongs to Neeladevi.
Giving our hair to god is the symbol of leaving our ego. Many devotees give their hair to Lord Vishnu. The daily quantity of hair collected is over one ton
Written by Nischal Aditya
GARUDADRI HILLS
Garudadri is one the seven hills of Tirumala and it means the “Hill of the Eagle”.
Garuda is a Hindu demigod who is primarily depicted as the mount (vahana) of the Hindu God Vishnu. He is God of Strength and Vigilance. He is described as the King of Birds. In human-form, he has an eagle-like nose, beak and legs, his eyes are open and big, his body is the color of emerald, and his wings are golden-yellow
The story of Garudadri goes this way – Lord Vishnu took the form of a White Board, to save the earth from the cofinement of the terroizing demon Hiranyaaksha. Delighted with the release from the powerful control of the demon, Mother Earth requested Lord Vishnu to stay with her. Lord Vishnu obliged to Mother Earth’s request and thus ordered Garuda, to bring down a portion of the heavens to the earth, to stay.
The portion that Garuda brought down is called as ‘Garudadri Hills‘. This symoblizes the Anahat or the Heart Chakra.
Article by – Gautham.S.
ANJANADRI HILLS
Among the different ranges in Tirumala, Anjanadri is one of the most popular and a forefront synonym of Tirumala Hills.
Kesari was an Asura King. He did penance for many years to obtain a son who would be immortal. Lord Shiva appeared before him, and said: “You are not fortunate enough to have an immortal son, but your wish will be fulfilled through your daughter”. Kesari’s daughter Anjani did penance for many years and was blessed with Hanuman as a son. Hanuman is an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Hanuman received the boon of immortality from Mother Mahalakshmi Herself. Brahma named the hill after Anjani as Anjanaadri.
There you will find an auspicious, divine spring known as Swami Pushkarini, which cleanses all the sins. There is a water fall by name “Akasha Ganga” to its north at a distance of about two miles.
Later Vayu (wind god) gave a fruit to Anjanadri. As a result of eating that fruit given by Vayu she gave birth to Lord Hanuman. As Anjanadri did penance on this hill it is called as Anjanadri.
Raama-Duut Atulit Bala-Dhaamaa
Anjani-Putra Pavan-Sut Naamaa
Meaning: O Lord, you are the Messenger of Sri Rama possessing incalculable Strength. You are known as Anjani-Putra (son of Anjani) and Pavana-Suta (son of Pavana, the wind-god)
Harshita Prashant,7 years
VRUSHABADRI HILLS
Sapthagiri also known as Tirumala Hill is in the town of Tirumala near Tirupati. It is in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh state in India. The hills are famous for the Tirupathi temple. The name Sapthagiri means 7 hills. It represents seven sages (Saptharishi) or seven heads of Adisesha.
The names of the seven hills are
- Vrushabhadri – Hill of Nandi
- Anjanadri –Hill of Anjaneya
- Neeladri – Hill of Neela Devi
- Garudadri – Hill of Garuda
- Seshadri – Hill of Adi Sesha
- Narayandri–Hill Sage Narada
- Venkatadri – Hill of Venkateshwara
Vrushabhadri is named after the demon Vrishabasura. He was said to have been a great devotee of Lord Siva. As a demon, he was cruel and wicked. Devotees of Lord Vishnu complained to him. Vishnu came in the form of a hunter and fought with him. Using his Sudarshana chakra, he slayed the demon Vrishabasura. Before his death, the demon asked Lord Vishnu to name one of the seven hills in Tirumala in his name. Granting his wish, one hill was named Vrushabhadri or Vrushabhachala. 
Another story of Vrushabhadri goes like this. In a different period of time, there lived a demon called Vrishabasura in the holy spring of Tumbura on the hill. He was a great devotee of Lord Narasimha Swamy. The demon had a unique power to slay himself and offer his head for worship. After that a new head would grow back on him. At the same time was very cruel towards sages, yogis and others. They asked Lord Vishnu to defeat the demon. Lord Vishnu appeared before the asura and he challenged him to a fight. There was a fierce fight. At the end, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshana chakra to kill the Asura. Before dying, Vrishabasura asked Lord Vishnu to forgive him and name one of the Tirumala hills in his name.
Assignment by Adhvik Nair
NARAYANADRI HILLS
Tirumala is located 3,200 feet (980 m) above sea level and covers an area of approximately 10.33 square miles. In ancient literature, Tirupathi is mentioned as AadhiVarahakshetra. The Puranas associate the site with Lord Varaha, one of the Avatarsof Lord Vishnu. The Varaha shrine is said to be older than the main sanctum of Lord Venkateswara.
According to Puranas The Seven heads of Adishesa are the Seven Hills of Tirumala. The Seven peaks are called Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrishabhadri, Narayanadri and Venkatadri.
Narayana Maharshi wanted to do Penance to see Lord Vishnu. He asked Lord Brahma to show him an appropriate place where there won’t be any disturbances for his Penance. Lord Brahma showed him a place where he did Penance for Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu was pleased by his prayers and appeared before Maharshi. Narayana Maharshi asked Lord Vishnu to give a boon so that the hill will be popular by his name. So, this hill is called by his name as Narayanadri.
As per the names given by the devotees, it may also be called ‘Gnanaadri’ because it represents divine knowledge or/and Chintamani because it fulfils all the desires of the devotees. Situated in the forests, on the peak of the Narayanadri hill range, SriVariPadalu is an important pilgrimage of Tirumala. It is believed that this is the place where Lord Narayana first set his feet when he came down from Vaikuntam.
SrivariPadalu”, in English means “Lord Venkateswara’s Feet”. The prints on the stone have now been enclosed in a glass box. From here, one can get a bird’s eye view of the whole Tirumala Temple complex.
Written by – Myra Desai
VENKATADRI HILLS
The hill is famous for one of the most Holy Hindu deity Venketeswaraswamy temple.
The Venkata hill is part of the Seshachalam hill, located in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Also known as Venkatadri or Venkatachalam, it is one of the seven peaks of the Tirumala Hill located in the Temple Town of Tirumala.
The popular Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is located on this hill. It is dedicated to the Hindu God Venkateswara. Lord Srinivasa resides on this Hill. The hill Venkatadri got its name form ‘Ven’ which in Sanskrit means ‘Sin’. And ‘Kata’ which means that which burns. So Venkatadri means a place which will burn all sins.
Madhava, a sinner suffering from leprosy was cured as he joined pilgrims going to Tirumala on a pilgrimage. The pilgrims were singing ‘Govinda Govinda’ as they moved on their way. These words were like magic to Madhava’s soul. He felt a burning sensation and he realised that the dreaded disease had left him.
The Venkachala Purana said-
VENKAAROMRITHA BEEJASTHU KATAMAISHWARYA MUCHYATHE
AMRITHAISHWARYA SANGHATVAT VENKATADRIRITHI SMRITHAHA
According to another interpretation, ‘Ven’ means immortality; and ‘kata’ means riches;
Thus the hill is said to impart mundane weal as well as the other worldly redemption.
Hence, it is called Venkatadri or Venkatachala.
By – SIRIGOWRI RAJIV GOWDA
