Kshetrapalaka of Tirumala
Kshetrapalaka is the guardian deity of a temple. He is the lord of the land (place) where the main deity temple is situated. He protects the temple treasures and ensures no one enters the temple after it is closed with the night rituals.
Everyone should take the blessings of the Kshetrapalaka before entering the sanctum sanctorum of the main deity. He is also said to scan the devotees entering the temple for their purity, devotion, and submission to God. He controls the ghosts, evil souls, and spirits from entering the temple.
Sometimes he is depicted in a terrible form with log hanging hairs, warrior’s weapons in his hands, and angry and wide eyes. But he is kind-hearted and blesses the devotees for their unclenched unlimited devotion to God.
Guards the Village
In many villages, the goddess called “ammavaru” (mother) is considered the kshetrapalika. She protects the inhabitants from famine, diseases, and poverty. She guards the village against all perils. The names like Mutyalaamma, Somaluamma, etc. represent the village Kshetrapalikas. Any new person entering the village should first obtain the permission of the Kshetrapala (blessings) before entering the village.
Kalabhairava is considered the Kshetrapalaka of the holy shrine Kasi and Lord Vishnu for the Daaksharama temple of Lord Shiva. Similarly, Lord Shiva is renowned as Kshetrapalaka of Tirumala.
Lord Shiva as Kshetrapalaka
Tirumala is the abode of Lord Vishnu in the form of Lord Venkateswara. But the Kshetrapalaka (custodian) of the temple is Lord Shiva.
The Legend
In ancient times, a massive rock called, Kshetrapala Sila was inhabiting at the northeast corner of Mada Streets in Tirumala. The rock was a moving stone rolling in the Mada streets around the temple once the temple is closed. The Archakas after performing the night rituals used to close the temple.
After closing the doors of the Temple, including the Main Door, they used to touch the rock with the “Kunche Kola” (a bunch of keys) of the temple three times while leaving for their residences. Then the rock used to rotate like a ball and roll around the temple throughout the night thus guarding the temple and the deity.
As a custodian of the temple, it was used to protect the temple and its treasures. It did not allow any person to enter the temple when the same was closed.
It is normally believed that all Gods/Goddesses, saints, and rishis would visit the Lord at night-time to offer their obeisance in an immortal form and nobody should see them. At the time of Suprabhata seva in the early morning of the day, the Archakas would touch the keys to the Sila thrice as an indication to the Kshetrapalaka that it was the time for beginning the service of the Lord.
It would retreat to its original place which was the northeast corner of the temple. Thus, Lord Shiva as the Kshetrapalaka in the form of the big rock was protecting the temple and the deity.
According to some legends, it is said that, one day mistakenly, a boy entered the Mada streets at midnight and was rolled over by the rock. This mishap touched the hearts of the temple authorities.
They decided to consecrate the rock permanently at Gogarbha Theertham to avoid the recurrence of such events in the future when many devotees in huge numbers would visit the shrine. As a mark of respect to the Lord as custodian of the temple, a small part of the stone has been made in the form of Bali Peetham and consecrated at the same place near the northeast corner of the Dwajastambham (flag post) where the Kshetrapalaka in the form of big rock rested during the service of the Lord.
Even to this day, the priests touch this stone slab with the key bunch before opening the temple and after closing the temple. He is the protector of the temple and receives the Puja offering as per the agama rules of Northeast Corner.
Gogarbha Theertham
The Gogarbha Theertham is three Kilometres to the north of the main temple of Tirumala on the way to Akasha Ganga. It got its name as the cave resembles the womb of a cow. It is also called Pandava Theertham because Pandavas had spent a part of their lives in the forest, meditating on Lord Shiva in this cave. Many saints performed penance at this cave.
Rudra or Lord Shiva is the main deity of this Theertham. It is a holy place full of the radiance of Lord Shiva and is known for its divinity and purity. The TTD constructed a dam for storing water which is popularly known as the Gogarbha dam. It is facing Narasimha Hill. It is also called Kshetra Palaka Theertham.
Kshetrapalaka Utsavam
On every Maha Shivaratri day, Archakas perform special abhishekam to the presiding deity, Rudra (Shiva). During the performance, they chant Namakam, and Chamakam and worship him with all temple rituals. No wonder, Tirumala is a place of many unknown mystic creations of Lord Venkateswara.
His luminosity radiates the nook and corner of the entire shrine and the seven hills. The first step set on the hills will evoke a magnificent feeling of attaining the divine kingdom. We need to have a pure heart filled with the warmth of the Lord’s blessings and bow down saying ‘I seek refuge in the lotus feet of the Lord’.
Sri Venkatesa Charanau Saranam Prapadhye!
