Millions find the opportunity to visit the shrine but a far greater number is that of those who find satisfaction for their spiritual ambition and the accomplishment of the ‘desired’ just in lighting an incense stick before a calendar image of the deity. Not ultimate, even in such devotion a devotee finds fulfilment of one’s spiritual desire and even worldly ambition. Unlike any of his manifestations enshrining a temple anywhere, in India or abroad, this image represents Lord Vishnu rendered broadly in South Indian art idiom specific to Tirupati temple-deity known across the world as Venkatesvara, or Venkatachalapati, popularly known as Balaji or Tirupati Balaji.

The Venkatesvara temple is revered as one of the holiest shrines in India. Mythically, Shesh-sayi – reclining on the coils of the great serpent Shesh, is one of the two most usual forms of the images of Lord Vishnu. Tirupati temple-image represents him as standing, the other usual posture of his image. However, Tirupati Balaji also synthesizes elements of Lord Vishnu’s other form and hence the shrine’s sanctity is doubled. It seems the sires of ancient days who built the Venkatesvara temple had not selected the site for the temple at random.

The selection was well considered. The undulating Eastern Ghats around Tirupati resemble the great serpent Shesh, or Adishesh, the seven hills corresponding to its seven hoods giving to Tirumala yet another name : Sheshachala, or the abode of Adishesh. This unique situation of the temple – in the midst of the hilltop at Tirumala mountain range of the Eastern Ghats, some 849 meters above sea level, combines with the visible image also the invisible element of Shesh-sayi form. At the foot of the temple, the hill is situated in the town named Tirupati.

A myth in the Padma Purana explains how Lord Vishnu transformed in the South as Venkateswara or Balaji. During a yajna performed by Manu, there emerged a dispute as to who among the Great Trinity was supreme and was entitled to 'agrapuja'. One of the performing priests the great sage Bhragu was requested to decide the issue. Before he reached a conclusion he decided to talk to all three gods. He could find passage into Shiva’s abode but busy with his consort Parvati, Shiva did not pay heed to him.

Brahma was only rude not showing even the courtesy to receive him. However, the sage lost his temper when on visiting Vishnu, he found him sleeping. The enraged sage kicked him on his chest. Vishnu got up, but instead of reacting angrily, he was apologetic for untimely sleeping. He also declared that he shall maintain on his chest Bhragu's foot-mark as 'Shri-vatsa' for reminding him of his duty towards saints and his subjects. However, Lakshmi, who was with him, felt insulted.

She hence immediately deserted him and re-emerged in South as Padmavati. Unable to bear separation Vishnu also left Baikuntha and came to Sheshachala. Long after it was reported to the king that milk from udders of all cows was stolen when in the course of grazing they passed across a spot. When the king’s men could not find the thief the king himself went after them. To his utter surprise, he saw that the milk flowed from their udders when they passed a particular spot.

The place was dug and to his great delight there emerged from under the earth a stone image of Srinivasa. He built on the spot a temple and installed the deity image in the temple now known as Venkateswara or Balaji. As is evident from various inscriptions Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas and kings of Vijayanagara dynasty offered worship at the temple. This affirms the temple's existence at least as early as at least the 9^th century. An excellent work of art this brass image has been cast in exact pursuance of the norms of modelling as revealed in the image of the four-armed Lord Venkateswara enshrining the Balaji temple at Tirupati.

The deity’s upper hands are not discernible, through the attributes carried in them – lotus on the right side, and conch on the left, have been elaborately cast. The normal right hand is held in ‘varad’ while the normal left, is held back. A figure with moderate height, neck, almost merged with the torso, the deity-image has been cast with a towering crown – the characteristic South Indian form of a Vaishnava headgear, and Vaishnava ‘tilaka’ mark reaching the very tip of the nose, typical of Balaji icon.

The large size garland, stretching almost a ‘prabhavali’ – fire-arch, like, on sides and over the head, and entire ornamentation, especially multi-laced semi-circular girdle suspending over the waist and large ‘kundalas’ designed like large flowers, are also typical of Balaji imagery. The deity image has been raised over a circular lotus podium, an inverted larger lotus, towards the bottom, and a smaller one on the top.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet.

Divine Splendor of Venkateshwara Balaji"s Iconography: Exploring the Symbolism and Significance of the Hindu Deity"s Form

Lord Venkateshwara Balaji is the presiding deity of the world-famous Tirupati temple situated in the Andhra Pradesh state. He is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who took this special form just to be merciful upon the fallen souls of Kali Yuga and save them from drowning in the ocean of nescience. He is considered an important deity in the Vaishnava community. He is the destroyer of sins. Whoever approaches Him and worships Him with love and devotion, certainly gets His causeless mercy and attains the highest perfection of life.

Where to place Tirupati Balaji idol at home?

Lord Venkateshwara is very merciful and has come to this material world to relieve people from the miseries and pangs of material existence. The Vedic scriptures such as the Skanda Purana glorify the Lord and mention the benefits of worshiping the deity of Lord Venkateshwara. Since He is the Supreme Lord, only by His mercy and sweet will can anyone come to the platform of performing loving devotional service. If you want to attract His mercy, you must bring into your home, a beautiful deity of Lord Venkateshwara, and install it on the altar.

Although the standards of deity worship are not as strict as those followed in the temples, there are some things you need to keep in mind. If you have enough space in your home, you must install the deity where there are no unnecessary distractions. Avoid keeping it in your bedroom. However, if there is no other option, you can place it in a corner of your bedroom.

Why is Balaji’s face covered?

The beautiful transcendental form of Lord Venkateshwara Balaji is unique in so many ways. He stands bearing four arms holding a conch shell (Panchajanya) and a disc (Sudarshan Chakra) in His upper hands. While His lower arms are in different mudras to bless His devotees. He is elaborately decorated with several ornaments that look immensely beautiful. But there is something very interesting about His eyes. His forehead bears a white huge mark or Tilak known as Urdhva Pundra that covers most parts of His eyes. The reason behind this is often given that the devotees who come to take the Darshan of Lord Balaji cannot withstand the effulgence coming out of His glorious eyes and therefore the white mark or mask covers His eyes.

Where is real Tirupati Balaji and how old is the deity?

The original or real deity of Lord Venkateshwara Balaji is established in the Tirumala Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. It is believed to have been self-manifested. As far as the deity is concerned, it is believed to have appeared at the beginning of Kali Yuga, which means around 5,000 years ago. The Tirumala temple is famous all over the world and thousands and lakhs of devotees visit to take the blessings of the Lord and be situated in transcendental ecstasy seeing the beautiful form of the Lord.