Lord Venkateswara, a revered Hindu deity, is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is worshipped as the presiding deity of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Lord Venkateswara is also known by several other names, including Srinivasa, Balaji, Venkata, Venkata Ramana, Tirupati Timmappa, and Govinda.
The name "Venkateswara" translates to "Lord of Venkata," with "Venkata" referring to a hill in Andhra Pradesh where the deity is believed to reside. The term "Isvara" signifies "Lord" in Sanskrit. Additionally, "Venkata" is interpreted as "destroyer of sins," with "ven" representing sins and "kata" meaning destruction. This highlights the deity's role in absolving devotees of their sins.
The Legend Associated with Lord Venkateswara
The legend surrounding the Venkateshwara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and is a fascinating tale of divine love and devotion.
According to the legend, Sage Bhrigu was tasked with determining the most worthy deity to receive a special ritual. To make his decision, Bhrigu decided to test the patience and humility of the three principal gods of the Hindu pantheon: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
First, Bhrigu visited Lord Indra, the king of the gods, in his heavenly abode. However, Indra was so engrossed in the dance of the celestial nymphs, known as apsaras, that he failed to notice the sage's arrival. This disregard angered Bhrigu, who cursed Indra to be known as an egoistic soul throughout the universe.
Also Read - Lord Vishnu - His Avatars, Significance and Symbolism
Next, Bhrigu visited Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, who was deeply immersed in his duties. Brahma was simultaneously chanting the Vedas, meditating, creating the world, and spending time with his consort, Saraswati. Bhrigu's arrival went unnoticed by Brahma, further frustrating the sage.
Undeterred, Bhrigu then went to Lord Shiva, the god of destruction, who was in deep meditation with his wife, Parvati. Despite being disturbed by Bhrigu's arrival, Shiva remained calm and composed. However, Bhrigu, feeling ignored, cursed Shiva to be worshipped only in the formless lingam.
Finally, Bhrigu visited Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, who was resting on the serpent Shesha with his consort, Lakshmi, at his feet. When Bhrigu arrived, he first saw Vishnu's feet and felt slighted by what he perceived as a lack of respect. In a fit of anger, Bhrigu kicked Vishnu on his chest, where Lakshmi resided. However, instead of reacting with anger, Vishnu gently massaged Bhrigu's foot and treated him with great hospitality. This act of humility and devotion from Vishnu pleased Bhrigu, who declared Vishnu as the most worthy deity to receive the ritual.
Lakshmi, feeling insulted by Bhrigu's actions, left Vishnu and settled on earth in the city of Karavira, where she began meditating on Vishnu. Vishnu, missing his beloved consort, descended to earth and settled on the Seshachalam hills, where he sat in meditation inside an anthill, chanting Lakshmi's name.
The legend further recounts how Vishnu, in his form as Srinivasa, later met and married Princess Padmavati, the reincarnation of Lakshmi. To fund their lavish wedding, Srinivasa borrowed a large sum of money from Kubera, the god of wealth, promising to repay the debt at the end of the Kali Yuga, the current age in Hindu cosmology.
This intricate and captivating legend is not only a story of divine love and devotion but also serves as a powerful metaphor for the importance of humility, patience, and devotion in the path of spirituality.
About Lord Venkateswara
Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is the main deity of the Tirupati temple. The deity is believed to be self-manifested, appearing without human intervention. In ancient times, the local people in Tirumala worshiped the deity as Shakthi, which was supported by lion images in the temple. Some stories suggest that Lord Venkateswara was worshiped as Goddess Maa Bala Tripurasundari or Shakti during the Brahmotsavam festival.
Regarding Lord Venkateswara's appearance, he is said to resemble the deities in other Vaishnava temples. He is also associated with the powers of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti, and Skanda, which adds to his divine significance. Sage Annamacharya praised Lord Venkateswara as the 'Supreme Lord' who takes various forms to fulfill the desires of his devotees.
In the 12th century, Ramanuja, a revered philosopher, visited the Tirupati temple to resolve a dispute between Saivites and Vaishnavites. He standardized the temple rituals according to the Vaikhanasa Agama tradition and introduced the recitation of the Naalayira Divya Prabandham. Ramanuja's efforts led to the establishment of the Tirupati Jeeyar Matha, which oversees the temple rituals to this day.
The deity of Lord Venkateswara is considered as old as the "Shila thoranam" in Tirumala and is worshiped by devotees from various backgrounds. Emperors like Krishnadevaraya and countless other devotees have paid homage to Lord Venkateswara, highlighting his universal appeal and significance.
Also Read - Why Lord Venkateswara's Eyes Are Covered in Tirumala?
Representation of Venkateshwara by Five Deities
According to the Vaikhanasa Agamas, Venkateshwara is represented by five deities (berams), collectively known as the Pancha beramulu in Telugu (pancha means five; beram means deity). These five deities are placed in the Garbha griha under Ananda Nilayam:
- Moolavirat (Chief deity) or Dhruva Beram: This deity is the main source of energy for the temple, depicted in a standing posture with four arms holding shanka, chakra, in Varada posture, and in the Kati posture. Adorned with Vaishnavite ornaments and jewels, including vajra kiritam (diamond crown), Makarakundalas, Nagabharana, Makara Kanti, Saligrama haram, and Lakshmi haram. The deity's consort, Lakshmi, is depicted on the chest as Vyuha Lakshmi.
- Bhoga Srinivasa or Kautuka Beram: A small one-foot silver deity gifted to the temple in 614 AD by the Pallava queen, Samavai. Bhoga Srinivasa is placed near the left foot of Moolavirat, always connected to the main deity by the holy Sambandha Kroocha, and receives daily sevas on behalf of Moolavar.
- Ugra Srinivasa or Snapana Beram: This deity represents the fearsome aspect of Venkateshwara and remains inside the sanctum sanctorum. It is carried out on a procession only once a year, on Kaishika Dwadasi, before sunrise, and receives daily abhishekam on behalf of Moolavirat.
- Malayappa Swami or Utsava Beram: This processional deity is always flanked by the idols of his consorts, Sridevi and Bhudevi. Malayappa receives veneration on all festivals and special occasions.
- Koluvu Srinivasa or Bali Beram: Representing the guardian deity of the temple, Koluvu Srinivasa presides over its financial and economic affairs. Daily Koluvu seva is held in the morning, where the previous day's offerings and accounts are presented to the deity. Panchanga sravanam is also held, notifying the particular day's tithi, sunrise and sunset time, and nakshatra to Venkateshwara.
Divine Miracles of Lord Venkateswara
About thirty-five years ago, something incredible happened at the Tirumala Tirupati Temple, where Lord Venkateswara is worshiped. It was November 7, 1979, around midnight, and everyone in Tirumala was fast asleep. The temple was quiet and peaceful.
Suddenly, the huge bronze bells in front of Lord Venkateswara's shrine started ringing on their own! The loud sound of the bells echoed through the temple, waking up everyone nearby. Security guards, temple staff, and even the priests were amazed to see the bells ringing by themselves, without anyone touching them.
The bells continued to ring for almost five minutes before stopping by themselves. This miraculous event left everyone stunned and amazed. Some people tried to explain it, but no one could come up with a reasonable explanation. It was truly a miracle!
After the last prayer of the day, the temple doors, including the ones to the shrine, are closed until the next morning. No one is allowed to enter the shrine during this time, except Lord Venkateswara. This miracle of the bells ringing by themselves remains a mystery, reminding us of the divine presence and power believed to be within the temple walls.
Also Read - Why isn't Tulsi Offered to Lord Ganesha During Worship?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q. What are the names of the wives of Lord Venkateswara?
A. Lord Venkateswara has two wives - Goddesses Lakshmi and Goddesses Padmavathi, the daughter of Aakasha Rajan.
Q. Why are lord Venkateswara's eyes closed?
A. It is believed that the eyes of Lord Venkateswara radiate cosmic energy. Hence, devotees are not supposed to directly look into his eyes and this is the reason they remain covered.
Q. What is Lord Venkateswara's mantra for success?
A. Lord Venkateswara’s mantra for success is mentioned under:
ll ऊँ नमो वेङ्कटेशाय कामितार्थ प्रदायिने…प्रणतः क्लेशनाशाय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः ll
(Om Namo Venkatesaaya Kaamitaartha Pradhaayine Pranatah Klesa Naasaaya Govindaaya Namo Namaha..)
Meaning: “I pay homage to You, O’ Lord Venkateswara – the Bestower of all success and prosperity; and offer my salutations to You, O’ Govinda – the destroyer of all evils and sufferings”
Q. What are the Lord Venkateswara 10 avatars?
A.The important thing to learn here is that Lord Venkateswara is Lord Vishnu himself and not an incarnation. However, when we talk of the avatars of Lord Vishnu, there are dashavatara including Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, and Kalki (who is yet to be born).
Q. Why is Tirumala Balaji so powerful?A. it is believed that Lord Vishnu manifested himself as Tirumala Balaji temple to guide his devotees in this Kaliyuga and direct them towards salvation.
Q. How many types of Darshan are there in Tirumala?
A. There are around 7 types of Darshan in Tirumala list of which is provided below:
|
Darshan Types |
Cost |
|
Sarvadarshanam - free |
Free |
|
Special entry Darshan (Seegrha Darshan) |
Rs. 300/person |
|
Divya Darshan (For People who come by walk) |
Free |
|
Special Darshan for Physically Disabled & Aged |
Free |
|
Infant Darshan |
Free |
|
Arjitha Sevas |
Varies to seva |
|
VIP break darshan |
Varies accordingly |
