Using references from a dozen Puranas, the Kamba Ramayanam and Annamacharya's works, a committee formed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has claimed to establish that Japali Theertham near the famous Akasha Ganga waterfall in Tirumala Hills was where Lord Hanuman was born in Treta Yuga. The announcement was made on Wednesday.

The experts on the committee said that they were engaged in four months of intense research to ascertain the veracity of what several anthologies in the Puranas, among others, say.

Besides epigraphic evidence and geographic evidence, they also relied on other literary sources to draw conclusions.

Speaking to the media today, one of the committee members said that the story of Hanuman's birth was detailed in the Venkatachala Mahatyam and the Skandha Puranam, among others. They also studied the Varaha Purana and the Brahmanda Purana.

The committee said that Hampi is not to be seen as Hanuman's birthplace going by what the Puranas say.