The Supreme Lord

The Tirumala temple, perched atop the sacred Venkatadri Hills, is a sanctuary of profound significance, dedicated to Lord Sri Venkateswara, also known as Srinivasa, Balaji, and other divine epithets. The temple, located in Tirupati, is often referred to as the richest in the world, witnessing a staggering daily influx of around 70,000 pilgrims. The devout belief resonates that there is no place equivalent to Venkatadri in the vast expanse of the universe, and Lord Sri Venkateswara stands unmatched among all deities.

The presiding deity is revered in accordance with the Vaikhanasa Agama system of worship. Controversies once surrounded the identity of the idol, with some speculating it to be a form of Subramanya or the Mother Goddess. However, rigorous examination and scholarly discourse have unequivocally established that the idol is a manifestation of Lord Vishnu. This revelation has put an end to debates that spanned across various theological perspectives.

The devotees affectionately refer to the Sri Venkatesvara shrine as the Lord’s Svaymvyaktakshetra, emphasizing that this sacred space, recognized as the yajnakshetra or holy sacrificial altar, was revealed by the Lord Himself. According to legend, the yajna, personifying as Vishnu, brought wealth beyond the Seven Hills, symbolizing the Tirumala shrine as the representation of that divine prosperity. The worship rituals follow the Vaikhanasa Agama system in Tirumala, while in the temples of Tirupati, the Pancharatra Agama is observed.

Drawing inspiration from Vedic traditions, particularly the Taittiriya Samhita’s Mahavedi episode, the founder seer of the Tirumala temple established a sanctified space. Sri Ramanujacharya’s influence on the sanctification of this temple is widely acknowledged. The spiritual essence of the temple is encapsulated in the profound words of the Mahanarayanopanishad, affirming the omnipresence of the divine across various forms and manifestations. Sri Venkateswara, in his role as Yajna-Vishnu, embodies the divine cosmic sacrifice, symbolizing the eternal truth conveyed through sacred scriptures.