Editing Venkateswara (section)

== Literature ==
Venkateswara finds his mention in the [[Puranas]], mainly in [[Padma Purana]] and [[Skanda Purana]] (as a form of Vishnu). Other Puranas also mentioned him as an avatar of Vishnu.<ref>{{cite book |first=Ludo |last=Rocher |year=1986 |author-link=Ludo Rocher |title=The Puranas |publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag |isbn=978-3-447-02522-5 |url={{google books URL|n0-4RJh5FgoC}} |access-date=28 July 2018 |archive-date=14 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814163755/https://books.google.com/books?id=n0-4RJh5FgoC |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last1 = Dimmitt | first1 = Cornelia | first2 = J. A. B.  |last2 = van Buitenen | title = Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit Puranas | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=re7CR2jKn3QC| publisher = Temple University Press (1st Edition: 1977) | year = 2012 | isbn =978-1-4399-0464-0  }}</ref> Additionally, ''Sri Venkatachala Mahatmyam'' a text glorifies the deity and has hymns related to his worship.<ref>{{cite web | title=Shri Venkatachala Mahatmyam | url=https://archive.org/details/VLvl_shri-venkatachala-mahatmyam-vol-1-by-varaha-tirumala-tirupati-devasthanam-tirupati | page=1- |publisher=Varaha Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam}}</ref>

[[File:Lord Balaji only at Parashakthi Temple.jpg|thumb|upright|Venkateswara being worshipped as Balaji]]

''[[Skanda Purana]]'' extols the significance of worshipping this deity:<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-02-25 |title=The Glory of Śrī Veṅkaṭeśvara [Chapter 18] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc370697.html |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>
{{Blockquote|text=If people wish for perpetual happiness and kingdom in heaven, let them joyously bow down at least once to the Lord residing on Veṅkaṭādri.

Whatever may be the sins committed in the course of crores of births, all of them perish by visiting Venkateswara.

If anyone remembers Veṅkaṭeśa, the great Lord, on account of his association with other people, or out of curiosity, or due to covetousness or on account of fear, he shall not be miserable here or hereafter.

One who glorifies and worships the Lord of Devas on Veṅkaṭācala shall certainly attain Sārūpya with Viṣṇu. There is no doubt about it.

Just as a well-kindled fire reduces firewood to ash in a moment, so also a visit to Veṅkaṭeśa destroys all sins.|title=[[Skanda Purana]]|source=Chapter 18.<ref>{{cite web | title=Skanda Purana [Venkaṭācala-māhātmya] | url=https://archive.org/details/skandapurana0000drgv | author=G. V. Tagare | year =1950 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House}}</ref> }}