Tirumala Tirupati Sri Venkateswara Description

Tirumala Tirupati Sri Venkateswara Description, History

The origin of Lord Venkateswara on the Tirumala Hills is shrouded in Mystery. It is believed to be extremely ancient, as even the Rig Veda (Verse X.155.1) makes an indirect reference to the Temple and its deity.

It is not surprising to learn, then, that there is no known sculptor of this Idol. The self-manifest Idol is 8 ft tall and stands right in the centre of the Sanctum, directly under the golden dome and above the well known Ananda Nilayam Vimana.

Puranas Reference to Tirumala Hills

The greatness of the Tirumala Temple and the sanctity of the Theerthas found on Tirumala are mentioned in the Varaha Purana, Padma Purana, Garuda Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Markandeya Purana, Skanda Purana, Brahmottara Purana, Harivamsa, Brahma Purana, Vamana Purana, Adhithya Purana and Bhavishyottara Purana.

The Varaha Purana, Vamana Purana, Bhavishyottara Purana, Brahma Purana, Brahmanda Purana and Padma Puranas related that Sri Venkateswara made the Hill His abode 28 Mahayugas or 7,77,60,000 year ago.

Where 1 MahaYuga = 43,20,000 human years.

Description of the Idol

There are many aspects of Lord Sri Venkateswara which are iconic. For instance, the Tall crown of God, the Kireetam is made of gold and diamonds with a large emerald set in the front. There is a white mark on the forehead, with a red Kasturi thilakam, a mark made of musk and camphor and another unusual white mark of camphor on the chin. His right hand is held is Varada hasta, the gesture of granting boons to devotees.

The left hand is placed on the waist, with the conch, sankha, and the discus, chakra held in the other two hands. The hand on the waist is supposed to have held a bow at some time.

The typical jewellery of the God includes gold bracelets and armlets; gold chains and strings of medallions, pearls and flowers; the Kaustubham jewel; the golden thread across the shoulder; and the images of His consorts, Goddess Sri Devi and Bhu Devi on the Left and Right of the Chest. The feet are sheathed in layers of gold.

The smiling countenance of the God – reassuring and paternal knowing and forgiving – immediately relieves the devotee of the stress of life and transports him or her to the realm of the single, supreme truth. It really takes only a second – even for those who are not true believers to feel that finality, the source of the beginning and the end of all life. Worries are lifted from the shoulders of the devotees as they walk out, carrying the warm light of divine affection within them.