Pushkaradri Archives - Tirumala Tirupati Yatra

4 Names of Venkatachalam

Bhavishyottara Purana gives the four names of Venkatachalam. It was mentioned there that for the same hill, different names were given in each Yuga respectively-

in Krita Yuga, it was called ‘Vrishabhachalam’,
in Treta Yuga it was called ‘Anjanaachalam’,
in DwaparaYuga it was called ‘Seshachalam’ and
in Kali Yuga, it is called ‘Venkatachalam’.

The Purana explains the reason behind the hill attaining that particular name in that particular Yuga. In Varaha Purana, for the same Venkatachalam, many names were listed and at the same time, the significance and reason behind the names were also given.

Seven Hills

Chintamani

As the hill has the power to bestow boons and fulfil the devotees’ wishes, it has this name.

Gnanachalam

As Knowledge is gained by those who do penance and sadhana on this hill, it has this name.

Theerthachalam

As the hill has 66 crores of theerthams of which 108 are great ones, 64 are greater ones and 8 are the greatest – all of which are highly powerful, it has got this name.

Pushkaradri

As there is a Pushkarini which has the presence of all the sarovarams of the Universe and the special presence of Devi Saraswati, it has got this name.

Vrishadri

Vrisha means Yamadharmaraja – who performed severe penance on the hill and received boons from Lord Srinivasa, so it has got this name ( Vrishabhadri is yet another name).

Kanakachalam

Meru Mountain’s son is Ananda and Sesha arrived here winding around Ananda mountain. The Lord had decided to make him his abode. Meru is a golden mountain and his son Ananda too is one golden mountain. Hence the hill got this name as Kanaka means gold.

Narayanadri

As one learned scholar by the name of Narayana attained liberation on this hill, it has got this name.

Brahmanda Purana – Narayanadri

One Brahmin by the name of Narayana did severe penance for Lord Srimannarayana on the banks of the sacred Swami Pushkarini. Pleased by his penance Lord Narayana appeared before him and asked him to seek a boon.

“O Lord because of my highest fortune you have appeared to me. My name is Narayana and I have gone around Bhooloka trying to find you. I was able to make Brahma appear and at his behest I came to this hill and did penance to make you appear before me.

This kind of penance ordinary mortals cannot do, so to bless and grace everybody and bestow boons, you have to come and reside on the banks of Swami Pushkarini along with your consort Sri Mahalakshmi and your retinue of Adi Sesha, Garuda, Vishvaksena who constantly worship you. And this hill must become renowned through my name!”

Lord Srinivasa gave him the boon by pronouncing “Thathaasthu”. “Whoever it might be – a brahmana, Vysya, Kshatriya or sudra- ( a brahmin or a trader, a warrior or menial worker ), whether a meritorious one or a sinner if they worship me here after bathing in Swami Pushkarini, I will bless them with the boon to reside in Swarga till the time of final delusion, the apocalypse.

I will bestow liberation on them. From this day onwards these hills will be known by your name as “Narayanadri“ and will become renowned”- so saying Lord Srinivasa gave that Brahmin the final emancipation leading to the state of Sayujyam.

Vaikuntachalam

It was said that along with Lord Srinivasa, Vaikuntha itself has reached here, as Garuda at the behest of Lord Narayana has brought it to this hill. Thus, this hill attained the name of Vaikuntachalam.

Anjanachalam

Since Anjanadevi did penance on this hill, and also as Anjaneya was born here, this hill got the name Anjanachalam.

Varahachalam

As Lord Varaha made this his abode, it has got the name Varahachalam.

Neelagiri / Neelachalam

In Treta yuga, during the time of Rama avatar, a great vanara (kapi) by name Neela did penance on these hills and was bestowed boonsso these hills got the name Neelagiri. And, there is another story behind this. Neeladevi was one of the eight reigning queens of Lord Krishna. She got married to Lord Krishna twice – at the age of nine as a bala brahmacharini ( young celibate) and later as the daughter of Agnijith.

Neeladevi, did great penance at Kumara kshetra on Venkatachalam wanting only the Lord himself as her husband. She knew the power of the hill, the power of the theerthams there, the glory and greatness of the Lord – so by contemplating on the auspicious qualities of the Lord who was there in both the forms of Varaha Swamy and Lord Srinivasa, she worshipped the Lord very devoutly- so she became one of the eight consorts of Lord Krishna. Hence the hill is called as Neelachalam.

Anandagiri

Since this hill gives joy to all, it is called Anandagiri. Not only that, the Lord resides on Ananda, the son of Meru mountain-hence the name Anandagiri or Anandaadri. When the Lord ordered Garuda to bring Vaikuntham, he got it along with the vimanam (the gopuram) and King Shankaraju witnessed it and while constructing the gopuram of the temple, he brought the same shape to it.

Since Vaikuntha vimana’s name is Ananda, the temple gopuram too got that very name – Anandanilayam and the hill too got the name Anandagiri. All this has been written in Puranas.

Srisailam, Srichalam

Since Goddess Lakshmi Devi’s presence is there in a very significant way, it has got the names, Srisailam, Srigiri, Srichalam.

Srinivasagiri

Since Lord Srinivasa resides on this hill, it is also called Srinivasagiri.

Tirumala and Tirupati

In this manner, Varaha Puranam gives in detail, the names of Venkatachalam and their significance and the reason behind those names. Today the names we use like Tirumala-Tirupati were not used in the Puranas.

In the later times when the Alwars praised the Lord these words became popular because, Tiru means Sri, meaning Lakshmi and the Lord also. Since it is the abode of Lakshmipati (the consort of Lakshmi Devi) it is called Tirupati.

The hill on which Lord Srinivasa resides is Srimala meaning Tirumala as malai means a hill/mountain. For ages, this Venkatachalam has attained different names, each one quite befitting.

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Theerthams (Holy Waterfalls) in Tirumala

Tirumala shrine is a source of many holy waterfalls (Theertham/ Teertham). These are the sacred places where many sages undertook penance and had a glimpse of the Lord directly. They remove all sorts of sins. Let us try to know about them in brief.

Let us visit them, absolve ourselves of all our sins and accrue merits.

Akasha Ganga / Akasa Ganga

It is two miles away from the Holy Lake of the Lord towards the north. In the past, Anjana Devi undertook penance here and obtained Anjaneya as the son. Hence, it is called Anjanadri. A Brahmin named Ramanuja did penance here and realised the presence of Lord Venkateswara Swami.

A holy dip in these waters on the Full Moon day of Mesha month with Chitta as the ruling star, results in liberation. A Brahmin who developed a donkey’s complexion got rid of it in the past due to a holy dip in these waters. There is a bus facility to this place. We can visit it on any day of the week. Vaishnava priests draw two vessels of this holy water every day for the Lord’s anointing ceremony (Friday Abhisekam).

Gogarbha Theertham (Pandava Theertham)

There is Gogarbha Teertham three kilometres away from Tirumala temple towards the North. It resembles a cow’s womb where several sages undertook penance. The Pandavas during their exile in the forest spent some of their time here and served Lord Srinivasa. Hence, it is known as Pandava Teertham.

There are statues of Pandavas in this cave. Tirumala’s guardian angel Rudra is here in the form of a big boulder. There will be an anointing ceremony for this Rudra on the day of Sivaratri every year with namaka, chamaka hymns. In the recent past, Malayala Swami undertook penance here for some time.

Papa Vinashanam

There is Papa Vinashanam water-fall 3 miles away towards the north of the temple. Holy dip in this water and sipping a little bit of it will absolve us of all our sins. Dridhamati who turned an eagle due to his sins attained liberation after bathing in these waters. A Brahmin was freed of a priest’s ghost (Brahma rakshasi). Bhadramati became rich by drinking this water.

The best way is to take a holy dip in it on the seventh day of Ashwayuja month during a Sunday joined by the Uttarashadha ruling star or on the twelfth day with the Uttarabhadra ruling star. Pilgrims can visit this on any day. There is a bus facility to this waterfall.

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Jabali Theertham

There is Jabali theertham in the beautiful valley two miles away from the Holy Lake towards its north. Since Sage Jabali undertook penance here, it has become popular as Jabali Teertham. In the past, a Brahmin named Durachara was evicted of a priest’s ghost with a holy dip in it.

Agastya undertook penance here for some time and realised the presence of Lord Venkateswara Swami. There is an ancient Anjaneya Swami temple here run under the auspices of the Mahant Monastery. There are Sithamma Teertham and Dhriva Teertham nearby.

One can go by bus on the way from Tirumala to Papa Vinashanam to this place by walking for a mile.

click here for the Google Maps location.

Vaikuntha Teertham / Vaikuntha Theertham

There is a cave two miles away from the Holy Lake of the Lord towards the north-east. It is called Vaikuntha Cave and the water getting forth from here is called Vaikuntha Teertham. When Lord Srirama visited this place along with the monkey legion, the monkeys saw a big city and Lord Sri Maha Vishnu in this cave.

When they came out frightened, the cave was closed. Coming to know of it, Srirama told them that it was a heaven on the earth where Lord Vishnu moved about and they were lucky to get his divine darshan. There is no proper road to this place.

Chakra Teertham (Natural Rock Arch)

There is Chakra Teertham two miles towards the north-west of the main temple. There is a natural rock arch of 250 crore years old here and Chakra teertha a hundred feet away by its side. It appears the Lord ordered God Sudarshana to protect his devotee undertaking penance there.

A Brahmin named Sundara from Srirangam was relieved of his demonhood after bathing in these waters. Chakra Teertha Mukkoti is celebrated on the twelfth day of dark fortnight of Karthika. On that day, the priests from Tirumala go to this place to perform anointing ceremony, worship and offering of food to Sudarshana and Narasimha Swami.

Those who visit the Chakra teertham can also visit the nearby natural rock arch.

Sri Ramakrishna Theertham

Ramakrishna Teertham is 6 miles away towards the north of the main temple. In the past, sages Krishna and Ramakrishna performed penance here one after the other and realised the presence of the Lord and hence, it is called Ramakrishna Teertham.

On the Full Moon day of Makara masa with Pushya ruling star, Tirumala temple priests go over there to perform an anointing ceremony and worship Srirama and Krishna. Pilgrims can go by bus up to Papa Vinashanam and walk to the teertham.

Kumaradhara Teertham

This is six miles away from the Lord’s temple towards the north. We can go by bus up to Papa Vinashanam and walk to the place. A disease-ridden old man, it appears, turned a young man after bathing in these holy waters. Hence, it got the appellation of Kumaradhara.

After killing Tarakasura, Kumara Swami was afflicted by the sin of killing a Brahmin. He was relieved of it by undertaking penance in Kumaradhara theertham. A holy dip in this teertham on the Full Moon day of Magha month is quite rewarding.

Tumburu Teertham (Ghona Teertham)

It is situated around ten miles away from the Lord’s temple towards its north. It is also called Ghona theertham or Tumba theertham. Sage Tumburu and an atheist Sarvabaddha bathed in this theertham and attained ascetic perfection and liberation. This theertha mukkoti is held on the Full Moon day of Phalguna month. Thousands of devotees visit it on this day.

One can go by bus up to Papa Vinashanam and then walk to this place for seven miles. People are allowed to this theertham only on this day. In the cave nearby, 300 years ago Tarigonda Vengamamba and later Malayala Swami undertook penance.

Final Word – Pushkaradri

Besides the above, there are a number of teerthas and lakes on the slopes of Tirumala Hills like Jarahara teertham, Phalguni teertham, Sanakasanandana teertham, Kayarasayana teertham, Deva teertham, Asthi Sarovara teertham, Kataha teertham, Sesha teertham, Sankha teertham, etc. That is why, the Venkatachalam is also called “Pushkaradri”.

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Various Names of Venkatachalam