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The
deity worshipped at Tirupati is Venkatachalapati.
The Garbha Gruha or
sanctum is where the main idol of Lord Sri Venkateswara resides.
The idol stands majestically in the Garbha Gruha, directly beneath a gilt
dome called the Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana.
The image is that of a 10 ft high Sthanaka or standing figure of Vishnu on
a lotus pedestal. The image is said to be a personification of perfection
itself. This
exquisitely-wrought idol called the Mulaberam, is believed to be
self-manifested, as there has been no known sculptor possessing the
capability to sculpt idols so proportionately and beautifully. Further, no
human being is known to have installed it in the shrine.
Ordinarily,
the Lord wears a gold kiritam which has a large emerald embedded in front.
On special occasions, he is adorned with a diamond kiritam. On his
forehead, the Lord has a thick double patch of upwrought namam drawn with
refined camphor, which screens his eyes. In between the two white patches
is a kasturitilakam.
His ears
are bedecked with shining golden makara kundalas. The fist of His raised
right hind hand is implanted with a gem-set chakra, and the corresponding
left fist with the sankhu. The slightly outstreched front right hand, has
its fingers pointing to His lotus feet, as the only recourse to His
devotees to attain oneness with Him and enjoy eternal bliss. His front
left hand is akimbo to assure His devotees of protection, and to show that
the samsara sagara is only hip-deep if they seek His refuge.
His body is
clothed with a pitambaram tied with gold string, and a gold belt to which
are attached tiny, jingling gold bells. He is adorned with precious
ornaments. He has a yajnopavita flowing down cross-wise from His left
shoulder. He bears Sri Lakshmi Devi on His right chest and Sri Padmavathi
Devi on His left chest. He bears Nagabharanam ornaments on both
shoulders.
Lakshmi forms an integral part of this image, which is decorated
with flowers and ornamented with several precious jewels.Included in
the jewelry are a Lakshmi-garland, a necklace with 108 images of Lakshmi,
a Salagrama garland, with salagrams encased in gold, an exquisitely carved
Dasavatara belt around the waist, the Suryakatari, a golden sword that
hangs from this belt.
His lotus
feet are covered with gold frames and decked with clinging gold anklets. A
strong curved belt of gold encompasses his legs.
The
Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana was covered with gilt copper plates and
surmounted with a golden vase, in the thirteenth century, during the reign
of the Vijayanagara king, Yadava Raya.
Venkatachalapati
is the only moolavar in the sanctum and this is said to be the only Eka
Murthy Temple for Vishnu in India. There are other processional deities in
the temple. Bhoga Srinivasa, a silver replica of the mula vigraham is said
to have been made and consecrated in the year 966 AD. The donor is said to
have been a Pallava Queen and inscriptions related to this endowment are
found in the temple.
Malayappan
Swamy is the processional idol or the Utsava Murthy. This image in a
standing posture again is a replica of the mula vigraham. This image is
flanked by Sri Devi and Bhu Devi. Inscriptions describing this image date
back to the 14th century AD.
Ugra
Srinivasa and Koluvu Srinivasa (Durbar Srinivasa) are two other images in
the sanctum. There is also an image of Krishna, along with images of Rama,
Sita, and Lakshmana. Chakkaratalwar or the Sudharshana Chakram is also
featured in the sanctum sanctorum.
Pilgrims
are not allowed to enter the Garbha Gruha (beyond Kurasekara path) |
