Stone becomes a shrine in this striking granite sculpture of Sri Venkateshwara, the Lord of Tirupati.

The 5-foot-high statue presents the sanctum of the temple, with the iconic Kirtimukha and Makara Prabhavali, supported by granite pillars framing the icon of Balaji.

The Lord appears in an exquisite Sringaar (ornamentation), with multiple floral garlands, jewels, and a Kiritamukuta crown adorning him, along with the conch and discus.

Shesha as his armlets and the legendary Gandabherunda or two-headed eagle as his crest, add to the glorious beauty of Venkateshwara.

Fine etchings all over the sculpture are work of tedious, focused weeks after the statue has been sculpted roughly.

One can imagine the bliss of the artist when amidst the heavy granite sand in the air, Sri Venkateshwara finally appeared from the stone!