Lord Balaji, also known as Sri Venkateswara, is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu and is the main deity of the Tirupati Balaji Temple in Andhra Pradesh, India. Here are ten lesser-known facts about Lord Balaji:
The temple at Tirupati is considered one of the most ancient and sacred in India and is visited by millions of devotees every year. Tirupati is one of the most visited pilgrimage centre in India, famous for its landmark temples, mostly dedicated to the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The destination holds several legendary tales to tell, that fascinates tourists from across the world.
Lord Balaji is also known as “Kaliyuga Vaikuntham” and “Srinivasa”. It is said that Lord Balaji appeared because of Lord Bhrigu Lord Vishnu came to earth. Because Sage Bhrigu hit him on his chest and Vishnu did not react, Lakshmi left vaikunth in protest. To find her, Lord Vishnu arrived at Tirupati and started living under an anthill.
The temple at Tirupati is known for its “laddu prasadam,” a sweet made of flour, ghee, and sugar that is distributed to devotees.
The temple is said to have been built by the Pallavas in the 9th century AD and later expanded by the Cholas and Vijayanagara kings.
Lord Balaji is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who took on this form to alleviate the sufferings of humanity in the Kali Yuga.
It is believed that the temple has the power to fulfill all the wishes of the devotees.
The temple is also known for its “Srivari Hundi” which is a donation box where devotees drop their offerings. It is said that the hundi never remains empty and is always full of offerings.
Lord Balaji is also known as “Ek Anantha Sayana” which means Lord who sleeps on the serpent Anantha. It is also believed that Lord Balaji appeared in the form of a hill, Venkatachala, in order to marry Padmavathi, an incarnation of the goddess Lakshmi.