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During Dvapara Yuga, Adisesha resided on earth as Seshachalam Hills after losing a contest with Vayu. According to Puranas, Tirumala is regarded as Adivaraha Kshetra. After killing Hiranyaksha, Adivaraha resided on this hill. Sri Venkatachala Mahatyam is the widely accepted legend over Tirumala Temple.

During Kali Yuga, Narada advised Rishis, who were performing Yajna, to decide who could be given the fruits of yagna among Trimurtis. Bhrigu was sent to test Trimurtis. The sage who had an extra eye in the sole of his foot visited Brahma and Shiva and went unnoticed in both these locations. At last, he visited Vishnu, and the lord acts as if he had not noticed Bhrigu. Getting angered by this act, sage Bhrigu kicked Vishnu in the chest, to which Vishnu did not react and instead apologized to the Sage by massaging his feet. During this act, he squashed the extra eye present in the sole of Bhrigu's foot. However, Lakshmi finds it an insult and left Vaikuntam onto Earth to Kolhapur and started meditating.

Vishnu bore human form as Srinivasa, left Vaikuntam searching for Lakshmi, reached Tirumala Hills, and started meditating. Lakshmi came to know about the condition of Srinivasa and prayed to Shiva and Brahma. Shiva and Brahma then converted themselves into Cow and Calf, and Goddess Lakshmi had handed over the cow and calf to Chola king ruling over Tirumala Hills at that time. The Cow would provide milk to Srinivasa daily while it was taken for grazing. One day Cowherd saw this and tried to beat the Cow with staff, but Srinivasa had borne the injury. Getting angered by this, Srinivasa had cursed the Chola king to become a Demon as dharma says Kings should bear servants sin. The king prayed for mercy. Srinivasa said to him that the King should take the next birth as Akasaraja and perform a marriage of his daughter Padmavati with Srinivasa.

Srinivasa went to his mother Vakula Devi on Tirumala hills and stayed there for a while. After the curse, Chola king took rebirth as Akasaraja, and he had a daughter named Padmavati, who was born in the Padmapushkarini situated at present-day Tiruchanur in Andhra Pradesh. Srinivasa married Padmavati at present-day Narayanavanam in Andhra Pradesh and will return to Tirumala Hills. After a few months, Goddess Lakshmi had come to know about the marriage of Srinivasa with Padmavati and went to Tirumala hills to question Srinivasa. It is said that the Srinivasa turned into Stone right when Lakshmi and Padmavathi encountered him. Brahma and Shiva appear before the confused queens and explain the main purpose behind all this - The Lord's desire to be on the 7 hills for humanity's emancipation from the perpetual troubles of Kali Yuga. Goddesses Lakshmi and Padmavathi also turn into stone deities expressing their wish to be with them always. Lakshmi stays with Him on His Chest on the left side while Padmavathi rests on His Chest's right side.

The main temple is a masterpiece of South Indian Architecture with its five-storied main Rajagopuram facing the south and three other gopurams on the other three sides. The Vimana is in the Nagara style and old Mukhamantapa is extended to a great extent to suit the present day needs. There are several temples of Alwars attached to the Prakara on all sides. The whole spacious compound has been paved with stone and flower trees are grown in an order as if to feast the eye of the pilgrims. There are other shrines in the temple such as Anjaneya Swamy, Mount Garuda, image of saint Dwaraka and image of Sri Tallakapaka Annamacharya.