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.
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.
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”.
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
