Is Lord Balaji the same as Lord Krishna, or is he Vishnu?

 Yes , Lord Balaji was Lord Vishnu. Tirupati balaji temple located in chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the richest temple of india.

Story of lord Balaji :

once there was a debate among the sages as to who among the trinity should get the fruit of their sacrifice.

For this work, sage Bhrigu was appointed. sage Bhrigu went to lord Brahma but Brahma was busy with his wife Saraswati so he didn't notice Bhrigu. in fit of anger, Bhrigu cursed Brahma that he would not be worshipped on the earth.

Then Bhrigu went to lord shiva but shiva also busy with his wife Parvati. When Bhrigu disturbed shiva then shiva got angry. Seeing this, Bhrigu cursed shiva that he would be worshipped in form of ling.

After visiting shiva and Brahma, Bhrigu visited to vaikuntha the abode of Vishnu where lord vishnu was sleeping and didn't notice Bhrigu. In fit of anger , Bhrigu kicked on the chest of lord vishnu in front of goddess Lakshmi the wife of Vishnu.

Vishnu waked up and hold the foot of Bhrigu and asked that is he in pain by kick. Happy with Vishnu’s humble, Bhrigu said you deserve the fruit of yagya.

But goddess Lakshmi got angry with Vishnu and leave vaikuntha because Vishnu didn't punish Bhrigu for his action.

Goddess Lakshmi hide on earth and started penance. Lord vishnu searched everywhere but he cannot find her. So in grief and solitude he took shelter in an ant hill.

Seeing this incident, lord Shiva and Brahma took form of cow and calf and took shelter on the kingdom of king yadav naresh. When cowherd used to take cow to graze then cow used to gave milk to Vishnu.

Once the cowherd saw the incident then he throwed an axe toward cow. to save cow Vishnu appeared but axe hit on vishnu's head.

In fit of anger, Vishnu killed the cowherd. Vishnu cursed the king that he would become the danav in next birth but when king ask sorry to Vishnu then Vishnu gave boon to king that he would marry his daughter that’swhy he took incarnation of lord srinivas or Balaji. It is said that lord Balaji took loan from kubera for marriage and promised that he would pay in the end of kaliyug.

What are some unknown facts about the Tirupati Balaji Temple?

 Hare Krishna!

When we search for ‘Top secrets/facts about Venkateswara swamy', we get a list of 10 or 12 facts (which are not actually facts). Let's see about those in this answer.

1. Flowers offered to the Lord, after removing are thrown behind the mulamurty without seeing that side which appear somewhere else. Also, archakas do not see behind the deity that day after throwing (similar to some sampradayam that is followed after one's death)

How far is it true? It is not at all! Because there is a flower well(poola bavi) inside the temple itself which was meant for throwing the nirmalyam (flowers offered to the Lord and other deities) of the temple. But as so many flowers are offered in temple, that well was almost full. So, they are throwing somewhere else in a good place where no one steps on the flowers. Even that has become a problem for TTD as flowers are decorated twice everyday. There are many temples under TTD and flowers of that temples. So, they are doing innovative things with nirmalyam like paper weights, photo frames, etc. Having all these proofs how can we say that they throw flowers behind the mulamurty? Comparing it with some sampradayam followed after one's death is not at all correct.

2. Secret village from which milk, butter milk, flowers, etc are brought to Tirumala and no outsider is allowed to that village except that villagers

TTD has Goshala and gardens. Milk and milk products are from Goshala and flowers from TTD gardens & Anantalwar garden. But flowers are also offered by many devotees. There are different sources of flowers for alankaram. For pushpayagam, flowers are offered by many. During brahmotsavam, Malayappa is decorated with the garland of Andal sent from Tamilnadu (probably Srivilliputtur). As said by one of the archakas at Tirumala temple, there is no such village.

3. The main deity is not in the middle of the garbhalayam!

Some say that the mulamurty is not in the middle of the garbhagriham but slightly to the right corner! No, he is in the Brahmasthanam (middle of the garbhagriham)!

4. The Lord has real hair and nails😅

His mulamurty is not like of ours. It is divine. Does that mean archakas cut his nails, if it grows!?? No, it is not. He is Avyaya, Achyuta. He doesn't have all those like our human body. It is totally wrong.

5. The temple was closed for 12 years!

No, the temple was not closed for 12 years. Vyasaraya tirtha performed pooja for that 12 years in the temple and that is the reason there is a small room type construction to the North of pushkarini where he did sandhyavandanam, etc.

6. Chandanam is applied to the chin of the Lord

Anantalwar went to Tirumala with his wife to grow a garden there and offer garlands to alankarapriya Venkatachalapati. But he didn't want to take the help of others. Only he and his wife wanted to do. Though his wife was pregnant then, she helped him. Venkateswara felt pity on them and went to help as a child. Even after Anantalwar refused his help, silently he helped. After knowing this, Anantalwar got angry on that child and ran towards him. He threw the crowbar on the child and later he got to know that it was Venkateswara! Then he applied karpooram to his mulamurty. So, it is actually paccha karpooram that is applied to chin of the Lord and not chandanam.

7. The upper body of the idol is covered with saree and the lower body is covered with a dhoti and this alankaram is done daily.

No, it is not true. Vastralankaram is not done daily to the main deity. It is done only on Fridays. It is not done with a saree. Two clothes with different measurements are used for vastralankaram.

8. Sound of ocean that is being heard at the back of the mulamurty is also not true.

I don't know why and who told all these. Maybe, because of devotion many believe these as true. But those facts which are believed to be true are not true. The reason I posted this is just to clear some misconceptions but not to hurt any devotee who feels these as true..

Om Namo Venkatesaya!!!

What are the miracles of Tirupati Balaji temple?

 Many miracles and mysteries are believed to exist in Tirupati Balaji temple. Some of these miracles are:

• The hair on the idol of Lord Venkateshwara is real. This hair never gets tangled and always remains soft.
• There is a stick on the right side of the temple door. It is believed that an attempt was made to kill the child form of the Lord with this stick.
• A lamp is always lit in the temple.
• If you listen to the idol of Lord Venkateshwara by putting your ear on it, the sound of the waves of the sea can be heard.
• The idol of Lord Venkateshwara sweats.
• The temperature in the temple is always kept low.
• The items offered in the temple such as flowers, fruits, curd, ghee, milk, butter etc. come from a village. Outsiders cannot enter this village.

Tirupati Balaji Temple is built on Tirumala mountain in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.