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ARCHAMURTHI
The
holy black granite icon of Lord Venkateswara, six feet in height is
revealing in standing posture with four hands, the upper two holding
Sudarsana Chakra and Sankhu, while the right lower called Vaikunta
or Varadahasta, pointing to the
sacred feet, and the left lower one called Katihasta placed on the
knee signifying that for those who have trust in him, the
samsarasagara is only knee deep, and if they take refuge at his
feet, he will confer mukti by lifting from the abyss of eternal woe.
Grand symbols, and grander is the interpretation too.
This Mula Virathas many more marvels and mysteries concealed in
Himself. A close look reveals that He combines in Himself both the
aspects of Siva and Vishnu. The Nagabharanas and Jata in Mritam are
the characteristic symbols of Siva, but here Venkatesa is adorned
with them. This goes to prove that he is both Hari and Hara. Yet,
there is another proof that the Brahma aspect standing for creation
is present in the Dharn bera, but it is unmanifest. Thus this
majestic
image combines in itself the Vyakta-Vishnu, visible with Mahalakshmi
on the right breast and Srivatsa symbol on the left along with conch
and disc, the Vyaktavyakta-Siva represented by Nagabharana and jats,
and the Avyakta-Brahma, but unmanifest. This singularity of the
archamurthi thus presents all the three facts, and succeeds in
convincing all sections of people that He is Trinity in unity,
displaying inseparable oneness among the Trio-Brahma, Vishnu and
Siva. Yet there is another belief that this enticing icon was that
of Balatripurasundari Devi, called Bala shortly, and hence 'Balaji',
widely used and popularly known to the Northerners. That 'ji' to
Bala, of course, signifies reverence.
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