Description of the Idol

The idol of the Lord is a majestically beautiful and superbly executed one. The full majestic divine grace and undoubted compassion of the Lord is clearly manifested even to the uninitiated when the Lord gives darshan draped in all his clothes and ornaments or on Friday the Abhisheka day when these are removed and the Lord's full glory is revealed in all its pristine purity. The most arresting feature of the Lord is the permeating aura of an over powering sense of divinity, that is so utterly compassionate, that pours out love and desire to help if only one turns to Him. His facial expression with long and dark eyes in 'Sama drishti' and with an eternal smile is extraordinarily tranquil and beautiful, reflecting a sense of complete love and serenity that envelopes all living creatures in its benevolence.

The Lord's figure is richly adorned with flowing locks of curly hair rest on his shoulders. The nose is delicately carved and is neither prominent nor flat. The mouth of Lord is also exquisitely shaped. The chin and the ears are carved proportionately. The ears have beautiful ear ornaments. The chest or the Lord is magnificent in cut and size and should if measured be between 36 to 40 inches in width. While the waist would be between 24 to 27 inches. The neck is conch like and the body in the posture of a lion and exquisitely shaped. The belly is also beautifully modeled. The Lord's image has 4 arms; the upper 2 being carved to hold the chakram and the conch, the chakram and the conch are not integral parts of the main idol. The upper right arm holds the sudarsana chakra, the upper left arm holds the Panchajanya, the conch of Lord Vishnu which is blown by him in times of war. The lower right hand of the Lord is in the Varada Hasta pose, while the lower left hand is in the Katyavalambita pose. Actually the fingers of the left hand rest on the left thigh, with the thumb of the hand almost parallel to the waistline. While this idol itself is not exactly standing in the tribhanga pose the body near and below the waist has taken a slight tilt to the left and the knee themselves are bent and open slightly outwards giving the idol peculiar grace and charm. Mother Lakshmi is carved on the right chest of Lord in the sitting pose and is an integral part of the mulamurthi. The yagnopaveetham and a set of 4 necklaces or ornaments of the neck can also be clearly made out on the idol. The arms have armlets. The figure is depicted as wearing a dhoti from the waist downwards, while the upper portion is not covered by any dress or vastram. There is however a Katibandham or waistband and this waistband is about 2 inches thick.

The legs and feet of the Lord are beautifully shaped, strong and lissome. Both the knees are bent and open slightly outwards, giving the stately figure, charm and grace. The feet are models of perfection and have ornaments near the anklets.

The Lord's image has shoulders marks resembling 'scars made by the constant wearing of the bow and pack of arrows'. If ever any proof is required that temples are live institutions, the Lord at Tirumala is a verifiable truth. It must be made clear here that the external manifestation of the Lord at Tirumala is only that of Lord Vishnu, but He being a Sarvabhutantaratma, can be worshipped and is being worshipped Siva by Shivites, as Skanda by those who worship Subramanyaswami, as divine mother by those who worship Devi or sakthi.

The Lord of Tirumala is not a mere sectarian God, though the outward form is undoubtedly that of Lord Vishnu. He is Vishnu, Siva, Rudra, Brahma, Maheswari, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, Skanda or any other form to any devotee who conceives of the Lord in that aspect.

All the upacharas or the services rendered to this idol are in effect rendered to the eternal Lord. This is the real secret of the Lord of seven hills.

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