| Since on
removal of both his eyes he would become blind, and would not be able to locate the Lord's
eye, he with his left foot marked the place of the Lord's eye, so that by feeling the eye
of the Lord with his leg he could locate the exact spot where the Lord's eye was and
replace it with his own eye. At that time the Lord, pleased with the strength of his
devotion, gave him Darsan and restored his eyesight and also gave him the name
"Kannappa," that is, one who gave his eyes to the Lord. Pleased with his
devotion the Lord also ordained that be should be near the Lingam permanently. Therefore
we find the idol of Kannappa near the Lingam and Pujas are first offered to him and then
only to the Lord. On the top of the hill there is another temple of Kannappa Nayanar. The Goddess here is called Gnana Prasannamba and is said to be the
sister of Lord Venkateswara. of Tirupati. She is called Gnana Prasannamba, because she
bestows Gnana. or the Supreme knowledge of reality, on those who worship her with
devotion. She was the first to inform Indra, king of Devatas, of the nature of Parabrabma
and hence she is so named. There is a small anecdote about this in the Gnana Upanishad. |
