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Before visiting Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala, it is mandatory to have a darshan of Bhuvaraha Swamy. According to the divine agreement mentioned in the Venkatachala Mahatma, Bhuvaraha Swamy, the owner of the land, gave a place to live to Lord Venkateswara. That is why it is believed that only those who have seen Bhuvaraha Swamy first will get the full benefits of Venkateswara darshan. Millions of devotees from all over the world yearn to have a darshan of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala. But there is an important tradition that it is mandatory to have a darshan of Lord Bhuvaraha Swamy before having a darshan of this great god. The special nature, importance and mythological background behind this are clearly explained in our religious scriptures and the holy book called Venkatachala Mahatma. Here is the information given by renowned astrologer and architect Dr. Basavaraj Guruji in his Nityabhakti program. Before Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy came to this land, especially the Tirumala hills, this area was known as Adi Varaha Kshetra. According to the Puranas, after killing the demon Hiranyaksha, Lord Adi Varaha Swamy resided in these sacred hills. Later, when Sri Venkateswara Swamy came to earth in the Kali Yuga for the welfare of humanity and the establishment of Dharma, there was no suitable place for Him to live. When Lord Venkateswara Swamy came to the Tirumala region, he was deeply impressed by the enchanting atmosphere, pleasant serenity and divine sanctity there and decided to settle there. On this occasion, Lord Venkateswara Swamy requested a place for His residence from Sri Bhuvaraha Swamy, the original owner of the land. Then a unique divine agreement was made between Bhuvaraha Swamy and Lord Venkateswara Swamy. Since Lord Venkateswara did not have any worldly wealth at that time, Lord Bhuvaraha imposed a condition. The condition was: “Your devotees who come to see me, must first see me and then see you, only then will they get the full benefit of your darshan. Also, the first worship and the first offering should always be yours.” Lord Venkateswara happily agreed to this agreement. According to this divine agreement, even today, devotees who undertake a pilgrimage to Tirumala must first visit the Sri Bhuvaraha Swamy temple, have his holy darshan, and only then have the darshan of Lord Venkateswara. Devotees firmly believe that only by following this ritual properly can they get the full benefit of the darshan of Lord Venkateswara. We undertake these holy pilgrimages to get rid of the karmic effects we have carried in our lives from previous births and in the present life, to get rid of difficulties, and to receive proper guidance and enlightenment from the Lord. The first darshan of Bhuvaraha Swamy completes the purpose of our pilgrimage and fulfills our resolutions. Since Bhuvaraha Swamy is the original landowner of Tirumala Kshetra, it is an unwavering devotion and belief that the full grace of Lord Venkateswara Swamy cannot be obtained without his blessings. Based on this belief, millions of devotees follow this ancient tradition with devotion. Guruji explained that it is not just a ritual, but a symbol of a divine vow made with the Supreme Lord.