106 DIVYA DESAM- 2. TIRUPATHI. PART-I

Venkatadri samam sthanam brahmande

nasti kinchana /

Venkatesa samo devo na bhuto na

bhavishyati //

Tirumala- the abode of lord Venkateswara is the most ancient temple in India. In Kali Yuga one can attain immediate salvation by worshipping Lord Venkateswara.

This shrine is unique in its sacredness. Sri Ramanuja ascended Tirumala on his knees as he thought it sacrilegious to climb on foot the hills in which our lord rested- such is the esteem this temple is held by all vaishnavas.

Sri Venkatachala Mahatmiam  contains puranic details from 12 Mahapuranas.

After the Pralaya kalpa preceding the great deluge, Narayanan revealed Himself in the form of white boar-Sweta Varaha, rescued the earth and recreated it, re established the universe. He decided to stay sometime in the earth to protect good over evil.

He revealed Himself in the previous incarnation as Varahaswamy on the bank of varaha theertham- the northern portion of pushkarini. This is the oldest temple than Lord Venkatesawara. Mudal mariyathai is given to this temple before any one get the glimpse of Venkateswara.

The meritorius benefits acquired by a pilgrimage to Tirupathi are described in Puranas and the lord is described as the great giver of boons.

Lord’s Manifestation at TIRUMALA:

BRAHMA PURANA:

Lord Vishnu wanted a change from His usual abode of Vaikunda for  sometime and asked Narada about a suitable place. Narada suggested the place near Seshachala.

There was a tussle between Shesha and Vayu about their respective strength. Shesh encircled the mountain meru and asked Vayu to move it. While Shesha was gasping for breath, Vayu moved into the body of Shesha and blew the part of its body and the hill. The hill travelled fast but Meru interjected and requested Vayu to leave it there.

Ashamed of his defeat Shesha did penence thinking of Vishnu and the lord appeared before him and granted a boon by which the lord stayed on his head and he being in the shape of a hill. That is Sheshachala. This place coincided with Narada’s preference.

BAVISHYA PURANA:

Once number of Rishis assembled at a place  on the bank of Ganga to do Yagam .

Narada appeared and asked the rishis to which God they want to offer the sacrifice to please Him. The rishis approached Brigu Maharishi. He travelled all over and met Brahma first but Brahama was deeply engrossed in chanting vedas and Narayana and Saraswathi- did not notice him. He then went to Siva-there he saw Siva dancing with His consort parvathi- did not notice him.

He then went to lord Vishnu and found similarly engaged with Lakshmi. Angered Brigu kicked Vishnu on His chest. Vishnu immediately got up, massaged the foot of Brigu and removed the third eye of anger from him and requested him whether he has hurt him. pleased with this attention Brigu went back to the rishis and asked them to offer the Havis to lord Vishnu.

Meanwhile Lakshmi unable to bear the insult done by Brigu left Lord and came to Kolhapur and stayed there.

unable to bear the separation, the lord wandered and came to Sheshachalam hill and settled down in an ant-hill.

At the request of Godess Lakshmi Brahma and Sivan took the form of Cow and Calf and Lakshmi herself in the form of Milk Maid andsold the cow and calf to the local king.

The celestial cow, every day came to the ant-hill and emptied her udder thus nurishing the lord.

Suspecting foul play, the king and the cowherd followed the cow and saw this incident and angered beat the cow with a stick. TheLord received the blow and cusrsed the king but moved by the prayer he promised to marry his daughter.

Lord approached Vakula Devi-who was deputedby Lord Varahaswamy to look after Srinivasa-requested her to approach the king for the marriage of his daughter.

on the day of Vaiska Sukla Dasami, the wedding of Lord Venkatesawara and padmavathi was celebrated with splendour, attended by devas and kings.

to be continued in next blog.

R.Jagannathan.