Tanniramudu Significance
During the 11th century, there lived a great devotee of the Lord on the “Sri Sailapurna” hills. He dedicated his entire life to the services of the Lord and in His Aradhana. He is known as Tirumala Nambi.
Being an ardent devotee of the Lord, Tirumala Nambi used to bring water from Papanasam situated at a distance of 8 kilometres from Tirumala for the puja. One day a fowler approached and demanded for water to quench his thirst after addressing Tirumala Nambi as “Thatha”. He refused to give water as it is intended for the Abhishekam of the Lord.
Thereafter the fowler following Tirumala Nambi pierced the pot with a stone and drank the water which oozed out of the pot. Nambi was saddened by this act as the water was lost. The fowler then discharged an arrow at the hillock nearby and water came gushing from the place hit by the arrow.
The new fountain became popular as Akasaganga. The fowler commanded that the water for the Lord’s puja should thenceforth be brought from Akasaganga and disappeared. Sri Nambi who is also known as Sri Sailapurna was convinced that the fowler was none other than Lord Srinivasa.
Sri Sailapurna performed various kainkaryams such as Akasaganga Theertha Kainkaryam, Thomalaseva, Mantrapushpa Kainkaryam, Saathumurai, Thirumanjanam and Vedaparayanam. Hence he was also called “Uthama Purusha” or “Acharya Purusha” of Tirumala Temple.
Even today, the decedents of Nambi are carrying out the fete in memory of Nambi on the last day of Adhyayanotsavams.
Tirumala Nambi’s Seva to Lord
One day, Yamunacharya was pensive thinking whether he would ever have the opportunity to serve Tirumala Swamy with flowers, water, incense sticks, etc. That time, Tirumala Nambi set out to fulfil the wish of the Acharya. He used to bring water from Papavinashanam Falls, interpret Pasuras, and do flower seva as much as he could.
Swamy disguised as Young Tribal Boy
Tirumala Swamy wished to announce to the world that he is pleased with the service of Nambi. One day while Tirumala Nambi was bringing water from Papanasanam for temple rituals, Srinivasa in the guise of a young tribal boy blocked his way and asked for water.
Tirumala Nambi shooed him away by saying that the water is for the rituals of the Lord. But the boy followed him and made a hole in the pot and drank the leaking water from the pot.
When Tirumala Nambi noticed this, he turned back looked at the boy, and shouted at him. He was getting ready to bring water again from the thirtha. The boy told him, “Grandpa, don’t you worry! Look at the valley, there is pure water there.”
He shot an arrow into the ground with his bow. Water jutted out of the hole. Nambi collected the water and looked for the boy. But he was nowhere to be seen.
Nambi Reached Temple
When Nambi reached the temple, Swamy told him that he was fully satisfied with the water that he had brought from Akash Ganga. Since the Lord himself addressed him as, “tata”(Grandpa) he is also called ‘Tatagurudu’.
To commemorate this event, even today, “TannirAmudu Utsav” is being celebrated in Tirumala on Nambi’s birth star, Swati in the month of Mesha.
Sri Ramanuja ordained this. That day, the descendants of Tirumala Nambi would be welcomed and honoured reverentially in the temple.
