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 The Deity

The deity worshipped at Tirupati is Venkatachalapati. 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. 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, two gold sculptured plaques of Lakshmi and Padmavathi on the chest.

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.