Venkatachalapathy (Balaji)
Sri Venkatachalapathy, also known as Lord Balaji or Srinivasa, is worshipped in Tirumala or Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India, by millions of devotees as the supreme form of Lord Vishnu.
With devotion and collective effort, Sri Venkatachalapathy is now being brought to Ottawa. Through Vedic worship, cultural learning, and service, the temple will become a vibrant home for Sanatana Dharma in Canada—serving children, youth, and families for generations to come.
Sri Venkatesha Mangalam
श्रियः कान्ताय कल्याणनिधये निधयेऽर्थिनाम् ।
श्रीवेङ्कट निवासाय श्रीनिवासाय मङ्गलम् ॥ 1 ॥
shriyah kantay kalyananidhaye nidhaye̕rthinam .
shrivenkat nivasay shrinivasay mangalam ॥ 1 ॥
Sthala Puranam
According to sacred texts such as the Varaha Purana and Venkatachala Mahatmya, Lord Vishnu manifested as Sri Venkateswara and chose to reside on Venkatadri, one of the Seven Hills of Tirumala, to bless devotees during the age of Kali Yuga.
The Seven Hills are believed to be the transformed body of Adisesha, the divine serpent on whom Vishnu reclines. In a cosmic contest with Vayu, the Wind God, Adisesha tightly coiled around a sacred peak to prove his strength. Eventually, for the welfare of the world, Adisesha released the hill, which then settled in present-day Tirumala. The hill formed from his hood became Venkatadri, where the Lord chose to dwell eternally.
The Lord appeared near the sacred tank Swami Pushkarini and took residence on Venkatadri Hill, removing sins and granting moksha to all who seek refuge in Him.
The Story of Srinivasa Kalyanam
In another sacred tale, the great sage Bhrigu set out to test who among the Trimurtis—Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu—was supreme. When Sage Bhrigu reached Vaikunta, Lord Vishnu did not rise to greet him. Offended, the sage struck the Lord on His chest. In response, Vishnu gently asked if Bhrigu's foot was hurt, displaying His boundless humility and compassion.
However, Goddess Lakshmi, who resides on His chest, was deeply offended by the act and left Vaikunta. She took birth on Earth as Padmavati, the daughter of King Akasa Raja, who found her in a lotus flower during a sacred ritual and adopted her.
Lord Vishnu, incarnated on Earth as Srinivasa, wandered in search of Lakshmi. One day, while hunting in the forest, He saw Padmavati and instantly recognized her as His divine consort. With the blessings of both families, the celestial wedding—Srinivasa Kalyanam—was arranged.
To celebrate the wedding in a manner worthy of the divine couple, Lord Srinivasa borrowed wealth from Kubera, the god of riches, with a vow to repay it over time. Even today, devotees believe that their offerings at Tirumala contribute toward repaying this eternal debt.