Venkateshvara

(“the Lord of Venkata [Hill]”) Presiding
deity of the Venkateshvara temple near
the town of Tirupati in the state of
Andhra Pradesh; the temple is north
and east of Madras. Venkateshvara is a
local deity who has been assimilated
into the larger pantheon as a form of the
god Vishnu. The temple is in the
Tirumalai hills, a cluster of seven hills
believed to represent the seven cobra
hoods of Shesha, the mythic serpent
who serves as Vishnu’s couch.
Venkateshvara’s image is unusual, in
that his forehead is covered with a plate.
The two branches of the Shrivaishnava
community, the Tengalais and the
Vadagalais, each wear distinctive sectarian markings, and this plate conceals
these markings on the image and thus
allows both communities to claim him
as their own.
Venkateshvara is also famous for
having the single richest temple in
India. People come to Tirupati from all
over the country, largely because of the
popular belief that any wish made in the
deity’s presence will invariably be granted.
Aside from significant monetary
offerings, it is also very common for pilgrims to have their heads shaved, as a
sign of their visit and to make an offering of the hair, as well. In the time since
independence the temple’s wealth has
been administered by a trust, which has
been particularly attentive in fostering
publishing, educational institutions,
and in helping to build Hindu temples
outside India.