Apr 01, 2011

Significance of Symbols of Tirupati Balaji

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Tirupati Balaji, Lord Venkateswara is one of the richest in the temples of the world. He is considered as the ‘Kaliyug Avatar’ of Lord Vishnu of the Hindu trinity Gods.
Tirupati is located at the foot of the hills of Eastern Ghats in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, southern state of India. The actual temple of Balaji is on top of the hills, particularly seven hills and the place is called Tirumala. If you observe the Lord and his ornaments, decoration, you would be amazed and attracted to it instantly.
Description of Lord Balaji from the popular images
Lord Balaji is shown or visualized having a tilakam on forehead, ‘Shanku’ / ‘Conch’ on the left shoulder, ‘Cakra’ / ‘Disc’ on the right shoulder, ‘Bhudevi’(Goddess Earth) and ‘Sridevi’ (Goddess of Wealth) at the heart, left hand in receiving posture, right hand in an bestowing posture, both hands are decorated with ‘adisheshu’ / snake and coins / prosperity pouring in at the feet. Lord Venkateswara is adorned with multitude of ornaments. Let’s look at the meaning / philosophy / practical view behind this, so that we are fully embodied into Balaji.
Tilakam on Balaji’s forehead consists of two things – one ‘V’ or ‘U’ shape and the second of ‘bindu’ with tail as dropping into the ‘V’ or ‘U’ shape. The ‘V’ / ‘U’ shape implies the capacity to hold, a container, a field to nurture. The ‘bindu’ with tail and dropping into ‘V’/’U’ signifies the “Life Force’ being dropped into the container / field to get nurtured. In fact it symbolizes the human sperm. Both the ‘V’/’U’ shape and the dropping ‘bindu’ together signifies that Balaji holds the life and the humanity. Further, when everyone who wears or sees the ‘tilakam’, (s)he is reminded about the core of humanity and Life. This keeps focus on Life eternity, enjoy Life, save Life, develop Life and everything related to Life is in front of you for taking Action that sustains Life. That’s another reason why the tilakam is on forehead which is the centre of ‘agna cakra’ in the human body and usually the main attraction in the human structure.
‘Shanku’ / Conch
In its traditional / religious sense ‘Shanku’ / Conch is considered as the instrument to blow signalling the arrival of auspicious time, event, person, etc. In Mahabharat, Krishna blows his ‘Shanku’ named ‘Panch Janya’ in the beginning of ‘Kurukshetra’ the epic war between ‘Pandavas’ and ‘Kauravas’ the brothers.
Now, what is the answer, if one asks the question why only ‘Shanku’ / Conch, why not anything else to blow the sound signalling the time, event. Conch is the natural shell which was used as body by a living creature in the ocean. It has the capacity to produce the reverberating waves of sound with thumping force that can generate alertness in the minds of everyone who listens to it. Why not anything else which is made of something by humans? The simple reason is to indicate that to use the vast resources available in the nature and particularly deep inside the oceans. Further signifying that use the natural resources after their life is over, rather than taking the life of the creatures for the human use.
Next question that can arise is why the ‘Shanku’ on left shoulder and why not right shoulder? This is interesting. Usually, in Hindu tradition left is used for denoting the “given” things, thus ‘Shanku’ is part of natural “given” things and hence Balaji follows it to have it on his left shoulder.
‘Cakra’ / Disc
Balaji is considered as ‘Kaliyug Avatar’ of Lord Vishnu and thus uses the ‘Cakra’/ Disc as his weapon / instrument. There is a deeper meaning / philosophy behind using ‘Cakra’. Cakra is nothing but a wheel which is the original technological invention. If there is no wheel, there is no progress. You name anything; it would have an association with the wheel directly or indirectly. Further, wheel symbolizes the cyclic nature of things and the nature itself. Thus using ‘Cakra’ signifies the use of technology and discovering the nature to its core. Next question is having ‘Cakra’ on the right shoulder. Majority of the human beings are ‘right handed’ and use right hand in their daily use. Thus, it is implied use of technology in daily life. Further, right signifies the efforts put in to create our own destiny. Hence, usage of technology in a right way human beings create their destiny. This we can easily identify with the current age where we have reached a stage of potential extinction of human race with the nuclear arms race.
Bhudevi / Sridevi
If we need to carry out anything, what do we need? We need money and other raw materials. It is expected that with the grace of “Goddess of Wealth” / ‘Sridevi’ you have plenty of money. Other raw materials are available from the “Goddess Earth” / “Bhudevi’. Balaji having these two goddesses at his heart generate and bestow wealth to all who seek his blessings.
Balaji Symbolization
With Shanku, using the Oceanic resources with, Cakra, Technology having the Earth resources and money generate wealth to enjoy life blissfully and sustain the Life for eternity.

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