Varahaswamy Temple

The Sri Varahaswamy Temple, also called Bhu Varahaswamy, stands on the Tirumala hills at Tirupati, beside the Venkateswara Temple. It is believed to be older than that shrine; the hills are therefore known as Adi Varaha Kshetra, the first field of Varaha. Varaha is Vishnu's boar avatar, who slew the asura Hiranyaksha and lifted the drowned earth on his tusks.

The Skanda Purana tells how the boar rested by the Swami Pushkarini tank. The hunter Vasu tracked him to an anthill, and Varaha spoke through him to order King Tondaman to raise a temple. Another legend says Varaha granted this land to Venkateswara in return for the right of first worship, so pilgrims worship Varaha first.

The rock shrine follows the Vaikhanasa Agama and was renovated in 1535 by Pedda Tirumalacharya. Varaha Jayanti is celebrated beside the tank each year.