Early Azhwar saints, including Poigai Alwar and Peyalwar, have described Lord Venkateswara (Tirupati Balaji) as a combination of Shiva and Vishnu (Hari-Hara) in their hymns.
Here are the key details regarding this description: - *Hari-Hara-Samaikya Murti:* In some of the older *pasurams* (verses) of the Azhwars, the Lord of Tirumala is described as having attributes of both Vishnu and Shiva. - *The Specific Verse:* While sometimes attributed to Poigai Alwar, the specific verse describing this synthesis is often noted in Peyalwar's *Moondram Thiruvanthathi* (verse 63). It describes the Lord with matted hair (Shiva's *Thazh sadai*), a tall crown (Vishnu's *Neen mudi*), an axe (Shiva's *Mazhu*), a Chakra (Vishnu's discus), an encircling snake, and a golden waist band. - *The Interpretation:* The verses highlight the lord of Tirumala as "two forms in one" (Hari-Hara), signifying that Vishnu is the *Antaryami* (inner self) of Shiva. - *Context:* This portrayal emphasizes that the Supreme Brahman is one and appears to devotees in the form they choose to worship, or a blend of both. *Later Reinterpretation:* While the early Azhwars (Poigai, Bhoothath, and Pey) described this combined form, later Vaishnava Acharyas, particularly Ramanujacharya, focused on identifying the Tirumala deity strictly as Vishnu. Ramanujacharya established the idol's identity as Vishnu, subsequently reducing the emphasis on the Shaivite attributes. However, the historical hymns of the early Azhwars (collectively part of the *Naalayira Divya Prabandham*) still hold these descriptions of the combined form of the Lord. On Sat, Feb 14, 2026 at 10:50 AM Kalyan Chakravarthy wrote: > वेङ्कटेश्वर -- He is श्रीनिवास (at Tirumala-Tirupati) rather than वेङ्कटेश्वर -- ईश्वर (here) means शिव । The ईश्वर in वेङ्कटेश्वर is not a reference to शिव. It means Lord. वेङ्कटेश्वर - Lord of the (mountain) Venkata. We see extensive usage of the word वेङ्कटेश्वर by Vaishnavas. In the main सुप्रभातम् - श्री वेङ्कटेश दयिते तव सुप्रभातम् In the स्तोत्रम् - विना वेङ्कटेशं न नाथो न नाथः सदा वेङ्कटेशं स्मरामि स्मरामि । हरे वेङ्कटेश प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रियं वेङ्कटॆश प्रयच्छ प्रयच्छ ॥ In the प्रपत्ति (repeating several times) - श्रीवेङ्कटेशचरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये The above is sung everyday morning in Tirumala during सुप्रभात seva. The सुप्रभात is composed by a Sri Vaishnava Acharya - Prativadi Bhayankara Sri Anantacharya. The Bhagavad Gita also uses the words related to ईश्वर for कृष्ण. भगवान् कृष्ण referring to Himself as महेश्वर - भोक्तारं यज्ञतपसां सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम्। सुहृदं सर्वभूतानां ज्ञात्वा मां शान्तिमृच्छति।।5.29।। यो मामजमनादिं च वेत्ति लोकमहेश्वरम्। असम्मूढः स मर्त्येषु सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते।।10.3।। अर्जुन addressing भगवान् कृष्ण as परमेश्वर - एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर। द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपमैश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम।।11.3।। अर्जुन addressing भगवान् कृष्ण as विश्वेश्वर - अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं पश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम्। नान्तं न मध्यं न पुनस्तवादिं पश्यामि विश्वेश्वर विश्वरूप।।11.16।। भगवान् कृष्ण referring to Himself as ईश्वर - उत्तमः पुरुषस्त्वन्यः परमात्मेत्युदाहृतः। यो लोकत्रयमाविश्य बिभर्त्यव्यय ईश्वरः।।15.17।। यस्मात्क्षरमतीतोऽहमक्षरादपि चोत्तमः। अतोऽस्मि लोके वेदे च प्रथितः पुरुषोत्तमः।।15.18।। There are several such examples of the word ईश्वर used in a Vaishnava context. श्रीकृष्णार्पणम् On Monday, 9 February 2026 at 12:28:36 pm Subrahmanyam Korada wrote: नमो विद्वद्भ्यः This विष्णुभक्त tries to avoid शिव at every step -- 1. वेङ्कटेश्वर -- He is श्रीनिवास (at Tirumala-Tirupati) rather than वेङ्कटेश्वर -- ईश्वर (here) means शिव । 2. वीश -- Before the Matric system was introduced there used to be a different system (in Andhra) -- वीश is 1400 grams - पदलम् is 700 grams . This person wanted वंकायलु ( Brinjal ) of one वीश - but there is problem - the word ईश means ईश्वर -- so he asked the vendor for two पदलम्s of वंकायलु । The vendor shot back - you mean a वीश ? -- the same two पदलम्s -- you mean a वीश ? -- give me the same two पदलम्s . The poor vendor could not get the point (Philosophy) - weighed a वीश !! 3. शिवकोडि -- name of a village near मुंगण्ड (मुनिखण्ड , East Godaavari Disttrict , Andhra Pradesh) which is the birth place of Jagannathapanditaraya and myself). He had some work in that village and enquired someone - how to reach विष्णुकोडि ? -- the person shot back - do you mean शिवकोडि? there is no विष्णुकोडि as such ! - the same विष्णुकोडि , which way? -- go straight for one kilometre then turn right - there will be शिवकोडि , I do not know what your probelm is ! 4. Stone in rice -- Generally it is thrown away . Rather this man thought - good chance! I am able to get him -- crushed the stone between the teeth. धन्यो’स्मि Prof of Sanskrit (Retd) IIT , Hyderabad Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx AS RECEIVED FROM ANOTHER GROUP K RAJARAM IRS 14226 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZorZY_5kihqEPri7%2BABqT6nTsuwMWYNmy_4uWDsdjoBnvw%40mail.gmail.com.
