The Abode of Śrī
Śrīnivāsa means 'one in whom Śrī (Lakṣmī) eternally dwells' — śrī + nivāsa (abode). This name emphasizes the inseparable unity of the Lord and Lakṣmī: She is never apart from Him, always present within His chest (marked by the Śrīvatsa symbol) or residing in His heart as the embodiment of divine grace.
The Tirumala Deity
At Tirumala (Tiruveṅkaṭam), Śrīnivāsa stands as the presiding deity. His upper hands bear the cakra and śaṅkha; the lower right hand is in varada-hasta and points devotees toward His divine feet, while the lower left hand rests near the hip in kaṭi-hasta. The icon should therefore not be described as displaying twin outstretched abhaya and varada gestures.
Other Names
The deity at Tirumala bears several names: Veṅkaṭeśvara, Veṅkaṭeśa, Śrīnivāsa, Bālājī (in North India), Govinda (celebrated in the daily Suprabhatam). Veṅkaṭeśa refers to His being the Lord (Īśa) of the Veṅkaṭa hills. These hills are praised by Nammāzhvār, Tirumaṅkai Āzhvār, and Vedānta Deśika among others.
Significance
Vedānta Deśika's Dayā Śatakam is his celebrated hymn centred on the compassion of Tiruveṅkaṭamudaiyān. Śrī Stuti is a hymn to Śrī Mahālakṣmī associated with Kāñcī, and should not be listed as a hymn composed specifically for Śrīnivāsa; a work entitled Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa Stotram is likewise not one of the standard works attributed to Vedānta Deśika. The Viṣṇu Sahasranāma and the later Veṅkaṭeśa Suprabhātam are widely recited in connection with Tirumala.