Sri Ramanuja Jayanti 2024

Sri Ramanuja Jayanti

Sri Ramanuja, the Vaishnavaite philosopher, was born in Sriperumbudur near Chennai. He spent his life between Kanchipuram, Srirangam and Melkote. A significant portion of his time was spent travelling around India. Amongst the many places where his influence has been felt is Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara.

He was not just a philosopher and teacher but a brilliant manager too. Wherever he went he helped stabilise temple rituals according to the agamas. Many of these temples follow his instructions even today. He improved the conditions he found, organised them better and made it easier for devotees to show their affection and devotion to God.

In the case of Tirumala, his contributions are well documented in the temple’s history. Here are some of his key contributions to Tirumala.

Sri Ramanuja Jayanti on 12.05.2024

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.

West Mada Street
Tirumala Mada Streets (Procession of Chariot during Brahmotsavams)

Institutionalised the recitation of Tamil Divya Prabhandams

The ‘Nalaayira Divya Prabhandam’ is a compilation of the verse outpourings of the Alwars. Of the four thousand verses, more than two hundred were sung exclusively about Tirumala and the Lord at Tirumala.

Tirumala is the second most sung-about temple, next only to Srirangam.

Sri Ramanuja institutionalised the recitation of Nalaayiram. Since then, these sacred verses have become part of the daily worship of the Lord. During abishekam to the Lord, Nachhiyar Tirumozhi is recited.

According to the Venkatachala Itihasa Mala, Sri Ramanuja arranged for adhyayana to be performed every day by first reciting the verses from Perialvar and then hymns of the other Alvars.

Ramanuja's Service

Sri Ramanuja 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.

The Lord’s Adornments

Tirumala Tirupati is well known as pushpa mandapam because of the Lord’s love for flowers. Once a week, on Thursdays, the Lord is fully adorned only with flowers but, as instructed by Sri Ramanuja, the namam is made of ornaments. It is said that the original naga-abharana on both hands of the Lord was offered by Akasa Raja himself but has been lost in the mists of time.

Subsequently, it is believed that Gajapathi Veeranarasimha Deva, a Vijayanagara king, offered the naga-abharana on the Lord’s Vaikunta hastham or the hand that points to his feet as a means of salvation. Seeing the single jewel, Sri Ramanuja is said to have offered its pair on the other hand.

Similarly, there was a time when the Lord is said to have offered his Sudharshana and Panchajanya to help Thondaman Chakravarthi. After that battle, the king requested the Lord not to wear them as a sign of how helpful he is to his devotees. The Lord agreed.

However, during the lifetime of Sri Ramanuja, a dispute arose as to the identity of the Murthy in the temple. Sri Ramanuja had the Sudharshana and Panchajanya made and left before the Lord overnight praying to the Lord to wear them. They locked up the sanctum and the next morning when the doors were opened, the Lord was found wearing them.

Tirupati

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.

Tirumala Nambi – Sri Ramanujacharya’s maternal uncle

Tirumala Nambi – One among 5 Gurus of Sri Bhagavad Ramanujacharya

Tirumala Nambi, who served God was also a great scholar in Sanskrit as well as Dravidian language i.e., Tamil. He was one among the five gurus of Sri Bhagavad Ramanujacharya who advocated Vishista Advaitha philosophy.

Not only this, Tirumala Nambi was Sri Ramanujacharya’s maternal uncle.

Once Sri Ramanujacharya came to Venkatachala Kshethra. He was staying near Alipiri the foot of Venkatachalam, under a Tamarind tree. There it is said Tirumala Nambi taught him i.e., Ramanujacharya the secrets about Srimad Ramayanam. After offering his services to Lord Venkateswara and after receiving the prasadams, Tirumala Nambi used to come down near the foot of Tirumala hill…to teach his nephew Sri Ramanujacharya, who stayed in Tirupati for nearly one year.

After having the darshan of Lord Varadaraja Swamy, the elder brother of Lord Venkateswara, Ramanuja used to reach Alipiri before the arrival of Tirumala Nambi. Tirumala Nambi revealed the inner and hidden meaning of Ramayana to Ramanuja nearly 18 times. He never repeated the meaning once given to Ramanuja. Such a great personality was Tirumala Nambi.

While giving discourses on Ramayana, one day Tirumala Nambi thought for a while. He thought I could serve Lord Venkateswara only twice i.e., once in the morning and again in the evening. During afternoons as he comes down to Alipiri, he never gets an opportunity to serve god. He was very much worried.

Ramanuja's Service
Sri Bhagavad Ramanujacharya

Footprints of Lord Venkateswara

On that day night, Lord Venkateswara appeared to Tirumala Nambi in his dream. He told Tirumala Nambi, not to worry about not offering any seva to Me. Lord said ‘Don’t you worry, you continue your Ramayana discourse. To serve Me in the afternoon when you give your discourse My footprints will appear and you can worship those foot prints’.

The next day after noon Tirumala Nambi could see the emergence of the Lord’s footprints at the place where he gives his discourse. The same footprints of Lord Venkateswara are there. We all can have darshan of these footprints when we try to walk the distance from Alipiri.

According to historians, Tirumala seems to be Tirumala Nambi’s birthplace. He dedicated his entire life to serving Lord Venkateswara. History further says that Tirumala Nambi breathed his last at Tirumala.

Akasa Ganga Theertha Utsavam

As narrated earlier in the other post once Lord Venkateswara appeared before Tirumala Nambi in the guise of a hunter and had His thirst quenched. To mark that day even now every year a ceremony is organized at Tirumala. It is known as “Akasa Ganga Theertha Utsavam”.

Tamilians call this as ‘Tanneer Amuda Utsavam’. Amudam in Tamil means amrutam. This utsavam goes on for 25 days continuously. It starts 11 days before ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’ and ends fourteen days after Vykuntta Ekadasi. A day after this utsavam festival- Tirumala Nambi’s Tirumanjanam (sacred bath) Theertha Kainkarya (Divine Service) utsavam is celebrated.

Descendants of Tirumala Nambi carry water in silver vessels from Akasa Ganga theerthams for the Lord’s sacred bath: Lord Venkateswara seated on a golden seat moves in a procession with all temple paraphernalia accompanied by temple orchestra, to receive those silver vessels. When the procession meets the people carrying water, Harati is performed. After that, they are carried on the back of the temple elephant.

THANEERAMUDU-FESTIVAL-TIRUMALA-NAMBI-TEMPLE

It circumambulates the temple. At every step during its procession poojas are offered.

Finally, the kalasams (vessels) are handed over to the Archakas in the Sanctum Sanctorum. Archakas with the Akasa Ganga theertham washes the Lotus’ Feet and the other usual limbs of the Lord. After this sacred bath, the Lord is offered all the traditional poojas.

The poojas will be followed by felicitation to the descendants of Tirumala Nambi. This particular utsavam was initiated by Sri Ramanujachari. Uninterruptedly this Utsavam is being continued even to this day. Lord Venkateswara loves to drink sacred water brought by those Vaishnavite devotees who follow very strictly all the religious duties as prescribed in our scriptures. The same Lord once relished food offered by an innocent illiterate pot maker.

River – Viraja

It is firmly believed that under His Lotus Feet, a river named Viraja flows. This is supposed to be a celestial river. Everyday morning Sahasra (1000) Nama Archana (pooja) with Tulasi leaves, follows Thomalaseva (pooja with flowers and leaves).

They chant: ‘Om Venkatesaya Namah, Om Virupakshaya Namaha, Om Visveshwaraya Namaha… the thousand names of Lord. Finally they chant Om Venkatadri Gadaa Dharaya Namaha’. These 1000 names are found in Brahmanda Purana. These 1000 names are different from Vishnu Sahasra Nama which starts with “Om Viswam Vishnuhu Vasatkkaro”…

During afternoon pooja and night pooja, Tulasi leaves are offered to the Lotus Feet of Lord Venkateswara. They then chant 108 holy names taken from Varahapurana’s Venkatachala mahatmyam. It starts with “Om Venkatesaya Sri Venkatesaya Namaha” and ends with “Om Srinivasaya Sri Venkatesaya Namaha”.

Sri Vari Padalu - Tirupati Balaji - Tirumala
Sri Vari Padalu – Tirupati Balaji – Tirumala

Tulasi Leaves offered to Lotus Feet

After offering poojas in the morning, afternoon, and night they take out the Tulasi leaves offered to the Lotus Feet and offer it to Lakshmi who is seated in His Heart with 24 holy names. These names start with “Om Sriyai Namaha” and end with “Om Abdijaayai Namaha”.

Only during Dhanur Masam while chanting Sahasra Namas, Bilwa leaves are selected instead of the usual Tulasi leaves.

Every Tuesday the Chief Idol of Lord Venkateswara is worshipped with golden lotus flowers. They chant the aforesaid 108 names of Lord Venkateswara. This worship is known as Ashtadala Padapadma Aradhana. This is a paid seva. Those who pay the prescribed fees can witness this special pooja.

It is believed that daily during night time after the final seva and after locking up the doors, Brahma the creator, and the other celestial beings come to earth and offer poojas to Lord. To felicitate their pooja near the Golden Door, they place a golden vessel filled with sacred water. Not only a vessel but they keep a ball of Sandalwood paste near Lord’s Lotus Feet. After Suprabhatam the same water is offered to the devotees as Brahma Theertham.

TTD News on Tirumala Nambi