Tag: govinda

AdiVaraha Kshetra

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AdiVaraha Kshetram

It is essential to know the names of the Seven Hills – Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabadri, Narayanadri, and Venkatadri – that is the abode of Lord Venkateswara, the famous Kaliyuga Avatara of Sri Mahavishnu who descended from the Vaikunta to protect his devotees.

AdiVaraha Kshetra

He is the world-famous and richest god and is referred to as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam. This kshetra is called Adivaraha Kshetra. Here in this Vaishnavite temple, pujas, and worship of God are done according to the Vaikhanasa Agama Sastras. The god is also known as Balaji, Venkatesa, Srinivasa, Govinda, etc. in other regions of India.

About the geographical conditions, the hills are at a height of 853 meters (2799 feet from sea level) and the temple has been constructed as per Dravidian Architecture. Here the god is manifested as Swaymbhu Avatara residing in the sanctum sanctorum.

Goddess Lakshmi stays with him on the left side of his chest, while Padmavathi rests on the right side in a Vimana Prakaram called Ananda Nilayam. The hills appear to start from the Western Ghats and are spread to the Eastern Ghats in a serpent shape, with Srisailam at its head and Tirumala at its tail.

The climate is very pleasant with abundant rains during monsoons and cold during winters. There are rich forests on these hills with a variety of flora and fauna.

Ananda Nilayam Tirumala

During summers, due to heat, the branches of dry trees catch fire easily and so, a lot of wild serpents and different kinds of animals may turn into ashes. Hence, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has taken necessary steps to control the fires when they happen as well as protect the species of animals, whether in the Zoo Parker on the ghat road area by putting fences as much as possible.

Venkatadri Samasthanam Brahmande Nasti Kinchana
Venkatesha Samo Devo Na Bhuto Na Bhavishyati ||

Festival of Kshetrapalaka

In Tirumala, Maha Sivaratri is celebrated as the festival of kshetrapalaka. Rudra, the kshetrapalaka is enshrined on the bank of Gogarbha Tirtha in the southeast corner at a distance of two kilometres from the temple of Lord Srinivasa. It is an age-old tradition to worship Lord Rudra with namaka chamaka and abhisheka on the day of Maha Sivaratri.

Establishing Mada Veedhi (Mada Streets)

Today we have the four mada streets around the Tirumala temple. But it was not so in Sri Ramanuja’s times. At that time, the Brahmotsavams were being held at Tiruchanoor. Sri Ramanuja established the four mada streets around the temple so that the standard route was available for the celebration.

From the very next year, the utsavams were shifted to Tirumala where they have been happening ever since.

Rituals

Several rituals are ascribed to Sri Ramanuja. These include the Friday Tirumanjanam (ritual bath with milk and water), the application of an upward mark made of (swetha mrutthika) earth to symbolize His Eternal Connection to us, first aradhana to the Lord’s divine weapons and conducting temple festivals with the processional image of the Lord for his devotees to celebrate and Sayanotsavam to Lord Krishna during Dhanurmaasam.

Creating Tirupati

In 1130, Sri Ramanuja is believed to have built a temple at the foot of the Tirumala hill with the help of a Yadava king and installed Sri Govindarajaswamy there. He also created a town around the temple called Govindaraja Pattana (also referred to as Govindapattinam), later known as Ramanujapuram and known as Tirupati from the 13th century.

Though there were many changes brought in the Tirumala temple activities due to changes in time, the principal tenets, sevas, rituals, and regulations for the smooth run of temple affairs brought by Srimad Ramanujacharya are continuing even today in Tirumala temple without any deviation.

Tirupati is a sacred pilgrimage centre, a marvel to behold. It is the holy place of mysterious powers and countless boons. It is an axe that cuts down the jungle of sins. Puranas sing praise of this place as ‘Kaliyuga Vaikuntha’. In modern times, the famous name Tirumala refers to the upper part of the hills, and the town below is known by the name, ‘Tirupati’.

But earlier, both the hilltop and town below together were commonly known as Tirupati.

Glory of Lord Venkateswara - Tirupati Balaji

Glory of Lord Venkateswara – Tirupati Balaji

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Glory of Tirupati Balaji

Lord Sri Venkateswara is the supreme God. Devotees across the world throng the holy shrine in Tirumala throughout the year to offer their vows on fulfillment of their wishes. A glimpse of God even for a few seconds will make them forget their travails of the journey.

Bhakta Sulabha

Generally, it is believed that God is in his heaven quite far away from this world and it is very difficult to reach Him unless one follows an austere course of conduct involving shama, dama, niyama, pratyahara, pranayama, etc., and performs yajnas, yagas and vratas.

This may be true of God in his Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Antaryamin forms, but not in the case of Archavatara. God assumes the form of an image or idol for the sake of humanity and comes within their reach.

Lord Vishnu reclines on Adi Sesh in Vaikuntha as His three consorts—Sri Devi, Bhu Devi, and Neela Devi gladly press His feet. He has come down to Seshadri on the earth as Lord Venkateswara. He answers the prayers of devotees who worship Him sincerely and wholeheartedly.

Hence, He is befittingly called Bhakta Sulabha or Bhakta Varada. It is believed that Brahma, Rudra, Indra, Maruth, Arka, and other angels and saints throng the temple of Tirumala to witness the underlying treasure and energy unveiled in the form of Tirupati Balaji – Lord Venkateswara.

Divine Significance of the Locale

Every part of Tirumala is miraculous and invested with divine significance. Though Tirumala is known for its beautiful natural surroundings, it is not proper to visit Tirumala for a pleasure trip to enjoy its scenic beauty. In doing so, we miss the spiritual significance of Tirumala.

It is assumed that the angels and saints have become the boulders, brooks, waterfalls, trees, and animals on Tirumala to be close to the Lord and stay blessed either in the animate or inanimate form. That is why, we should regard every part of the locale with great reverence.

The entire hill is a boon-giver. One can perceive it if one opens one’s “third eye”, the inner eye of wisdom with all one’s devotional fervour.

Kundalini Shakti

There are seven hills in Tirumala, namely—

  1. Seshadri,
  2. Neeladri,
  3. Garudadri,
  4. Anjanadri,
  5. Vrushabhadri,
  6. Narayanadri, and
  7. Venkatadri.

They are regarded as the incarnation of thousand-hooded Adi Sesha. Adi Sesha, the serpent bed of the Lord, is a symbol of Kundalini energy.

The seven hills are symbols of its awakening from muladhara chakra through swadhishthana, manipuraka, anahata, vishuddha, ajnya to sahasrara leading to the explosion of wisdom in the form of unlimited brilliance.

Tirupati Balaji Temple
View of Ananda Nilayam and Fountain which is on the back side of the temple – Tirupati Balaji

Tirumala Hills – Heaven on Earth

Tirumala is regarded as the ultimate heaven, Paramapada, heaven on the earth in Kaliyuga. Lord Venkateswara is regarded as Kalki, the tenth incarnation of God. He is especially here to save humanity from the evil effects of Kaliyuga.

It is said, Kalou Sri Venkata Nayakah. The devotees believe that there is no need to go on a pilgrimage to any place other than Tirumala because Tirumala is the epitome of all holy shrines. It fulfils all the desires of the devotees.

It is believed that there has not been any temple equivalent to Venkatadri in the entire world either in the past or present and there will not be any in the future as enunciated in the shloka “Venkatadri samasthanam Brahmande Nastikinchana..”.

Origin of Seshachala

There are a few legends connected to the origin of Seshachala on the earth. According to Varaha Purana, Lord Vishnu incarnates Himself as Adi Varaha and rescues the Earth from Hiranyaksha by killing him.

On the plea of Brahma and other angels, He decides to stay on the earth for the welfare of humanity. He orders Brahma to recreate the world as before. He asks his Vahana Garuda to fetch Kridachala from Vaikuntha and place it in a chosen sacred spot near the Suvarnamukhi River. It is to the east of Swami Pushkarini now.

This Kridachala is the present Seshachala. Another legend says that once in Dvapara Yuga, Adi Sesha resisted the entry of Wind- God Vayu into Vaikuntha as Lord Vishnu was in solitude with His consort Lakshmi.

Angry Vayu challenges Adi Sesha for a duel to test their power. Adi Sesha ties himself to the Meru mountain and asks Vayu to move the mountain if he can. After a long trial when Vayu seemed to relent, Adi Sesha heaves a sigh and lifts his hood as a sign of victory.

Seizing the opportunity, Vayu blows off one of the peaks of Meru which lands near the Swarnamukhi River. Adi Sesha comes down to merge with it on the advice of Vishnu. Thus, the peak of Meru gets the name Seshachalam on which Lord Venkateswara resides.

Five Forms of Vishnu

According to VaicGava theology, VicGu has five forms of manifestation, namely –

  1. para,
  2. vyuha,
  3. vibhava,
  4. antaryamin and
  5. archa.
  • The para (transcendent) form is Vasudeva, the Supreme Being, beyond the reach of human experience.
  • The vyuha (emanative) form is his functional manifestation as the creator, protector and destroyer of the universe.
  • The vibhava (incarnate) is the physical form in which he descends into the world.
  • The antaryamin (immanent) is the indweller of the jiva.
  • Finally, the archa form is His manifestation in the iconic form receiving ritualistic worship from them in temples and their homes.
Sri Venkateswara Swamy - 108 Divya Desams
Lord Venkateswara is in the archa form on Tirumala in the standing (sthanaka) posture on a lotus pedestal.

Ancient References to the Lord

We find references to Lord Venkateswara in Varaha Purana, Brahmanda Purana, and Bhavishyottara Purana. The first verifiable reference to the place is found in Silappadikaram, a Tamil treatise on grammar. References to the Vengadam hill are found in the Tolkappiyam (fifth century B. C.) and Sangam poet Mamulanar of the second century.

A subsequent work of the same century, llango Adigal’s Silappadikaram, however, refers both to the Vengadam hill and the blue-hued Vishnu who holds the weapons shankha and chakra in his arms. Subsequently, at least ten of the twelve Alwars have sung the praises of the Lord of Tirupati.

Alvars - Lord Venkateswara Swamy - Tirupati Balaji
Alvars On Lord Venkateswara Swamy (Tirupati Balaji) – Tirumala

Many devotees like Annamayya, Purandaradasu, Vengamamba, Tyagaraju, and others have sung His glory and resorted to His nama parayana or sankirtana.

Other Precepts of Vishismadvaita

Besides the above, Vishismadvaita advocates the glorification of

  • Lord’s abhaya hasta (the hand of assurance) and feet,
  • Sripada tirtham (consecrated water of Lord’s feet),
  • Tirumani (a kind of white clay used in making the sectarian mark of a Srivaishnava),
  • chakrankitas or mudra (the mark of the discus and the conch pressed on the shoulders of a Srivaishnava),
  • Saranagati (self-surrender or seeking refuge with the Lord),
  • acarya nishmha (commitment to the preceptor),
  • bhagavata nishtha and kainkaryam (commitment and service to the devotees of the Lord),
  • mangalasasanam to the Lord (auspicious benediction upon the Lord) and others.
Tirupati Balaji Idol Description

Tirupati Balaji Idol Description

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A description of the idol of Lord Venkateswara (Tirupati Balaji)

The idol of the Lord, Tirupati Balaji, or Lord Venkateswara Swamy is a majestic, beautiful, and superbly executed one. The full majesty, divine grace, and unbounded compassion of the Lord is manifest even to the uninitiated either when the Lord gives darshan draped in all his clothes and ornaments, or on Friday the abisheka day when these are removed when the Lord’s full glory is revealed in all its pristine purity.

The most arresting feature of the Lord is the permeating aura of an overpowering sense of divinity, that is so utterly compassionate, that pours out love and desire to help if only one turns to Him. His facial expression with long and dark eyes in ‘sama drishti,’ and with an eternal smile is extraordinarily tranquil and beautiful, reflecting a sense of complete love and serenity, that envelops all living creatures in its benevolence.

Dhruva Beram - Tirupati Balaji

The Lord of Tirumala – Tirupati Balaji is a supreme pontiff, who cares not for worldly power, and because he is in all, all are part of him, and if we surrender to Him, our cares are His. And when the eternal takes care of our cares, whom should we fear, and what should we worry about?

He asks only one price for it viz., our love, and how easy is it to pay!

The Lord’s figure is richly adorned with

  • flowing locks of hair or jatajuta and some of these locks of curly hair rest on his shoulders.
  • The nose is delicately carved and is neither prominent nor flat.
  • The mouth of the Lord is also exquisitely shaped.
  • The chin and the ears are carved proportionately.
  • The ears have beautiful ear ornaments.
  • The chest of the Lord is magnificent in cut and size and should if measured, be between 36 to 40 inches in width, while the waist would be between 24 to 27 inches.
  • The neck is conch-like and the body is in the posture of a lion and exquisitely shaped.
  • The belly is also beautifully modeled.
  • The Lord’s image has four arms, the upper two being carved to hold the chakram and the conch; the chakram and the conch are not integral parts of the main idol.
  • The upper right arm holds the Sudarshana Chakra; the upper left arm holds the Panchajanya, the conch of Lord Vishnu which is blown by Him in times of war.
  • The lower right hand of the Lord is in the Varada Hasta pose, while the lower left hand is in the Katyavalambita pose.
  • The fingers of the left-hand rest on the left thigh, with the thumb of the hand almost parallel to the waistline.

While the idol itself is not exactly standing in the tribhanga pose, the body near and below the waist has taken a slight tilt to the left and the knee themselves are bent and open slightly outwards, giving the idol peculiar grace and charm. Mother Lakshmi is carved on the right chest of the Lord in the sitting pose and is an integral part of the mula murthi. The yagnopavitam and a set of four necklaces or ornaments of the neck can also be made out on the idol.

The arms have armlets. The figure is depicted as wearing a dhoti from the waist downwards, while the upper portion is not covered by any dress or vastram. The nipples of the Lord on his chest are button-like and are prominent. There is however a katibandham or waist band and this waist band is about 2 inches thick. The legs and feet of the Lord are beautifully shaped, strong and lissome. Both the knees are bent and open slightly outwards, giving the stately figure charm and grace.

The feet are models of perfection and have ornaments near the anklets. The Lord’s image has on the shoulders marks resembling ‘scars made by the constant wearing of the bow and a pack of arrows’.

Tirupati Balaji - Lord Venkateswara Swamy Harathi

The idol is a splendid specimen of a divya manohara murti. He is to one and all a real embodiment of that eternal principle which is imperishable and which out of its grace and kindness stretches forth its hand, and touches man, to make him remember what he really, is, and to recover his soul. One who has had the darshan of the Lord of Tirumala – Tirupati Balaji will never again hate another.

A darshan is a spiritual experience in itself, after which one feels completely different from what he was before. Many go to Him with a long list of requests and prayers. But whether one’s request is fulfilled or not, anyone turning to Him with sincerity and prayer will feel the power and presence of an intangible and agreeable sensation overpowering his troubled emotions.

Who can describe him who is beyond speech and tries to encompass in time Him who is timeless? We in our vanity think of serving Him. But whatever we do, the love of the Lord and his ever-flowing grace is there, and whatever else may nor may not be added to a devotee, one thing is certain, that mental peace, joy, and strength to sustain anything which the Lord chooses to give us would be added to us.

If ever any proof is required that temples are live institutions, the Lord at Tirumala is a verifiable truth.