Description: Balaji or Venkateshwara is the presiding deity at Tirumala and a form of Vishnu. The black stone idol is always depicted standing within an elaborate prabhavali (arch). Venkateshwara is beautifully bedecked with jewellery and floral garlands, wearing the white karpura namam (camphor Vaishnavite symbol) on his forehead. Two of his hands, which are behind are bare, but have the shankhu (conch) and chakram (discus) superimposed on them. The hands in the front are in varada (blessing) and katyavilambita (indicating protection to his devotees) mudra. Seated at his feet is Lakshmi, his consort, also equally richly decorated. She holds lotuses in her upper two hands, while her lower hands are in abhaya (protection) and varada (blessing) mudras. The artist has created this composition in an almost sculptural three-dimensional style where the figure, decorations, jewellery and the architectural elements all stand out in relief from the canvas, mimicking the original idol in Tirumala.
