Venkateswara is described by Devi Bhagvatham (an important scripture for the followers of Saktism) as a Devi or Goddess. Lord Venkateswara is also called Venkata, Balaji, Srinivasa or Venkata. Venkateswara is called an avatar of Lord Vishnu. The meaning of Venkateswara is ‘Lord of Venkatata’ – meaning the ‘destroyer of sins’ Venkata in Sanskrit means Ven (sins) and Kata (power of immunity).
Lord Venkateswara’s abode is in Tirumala at Vaikuntam. His mount is the Garuda and he uses the Chakra or Shankha as weapons. Padmavathi, Bhudevi and Lakshmi are his two consorts. Venkateswara is affiliated or is the form of Lord Maha Vishnu. The presiding deity of Tirumala Venkateswara Temple (located in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India) is Lord Venkateswara.
Wealth in huge amounts is donated by devotees at the Tirumala Venkateswar Temple each year. According to legends, once a ritual was to be conducted. The dilemma for the pontiffs and sages for the Yagna was ‘the ritual should be done for which deity’. One of the Saptarishis, Sage Bhrigu was called for discussion, after which he conducted a test with Indra (but he was too mesmerized in dance of the Devdasis), then Brahma (he was too busy in meditation and chanting Vedas) and Shiva (was busy in his Rudradhyanam).
Lastly Bhrigu went to Vishnu (who was resting on the bed of serpents and Lakshmi at his feet). Bhrigu first saw Vishnu’s feet and feel insulted and kicked Vishnu to awaken him. On awakening Vishnu treated Bhrigu with great hospitality and began massaging his feet in service. Bhrigu now pleased with Vishnu, ordered the sages to perform the rituals for Lord Vishnu only.
