TIRUPATI

But with the advent of Ramanuja, the claims of disputants for Para-Siva, Para Vishnu and Sakti were hushed into silence; and it emerged as Sri Venkateswara. Naturally this consecrated image enkindles genuine devotion in Archamurti from the lowest commonalty to the highest royalty, and assures that absolute refuge in Him is the only royal road for bliss. Together with this, there are in the Garbhagriha itself the images Sri Rama, Srikrishna and Chakrathalvar. At the feet of Mula Vigraha, Kautuka-a silver idol is installed to which abhisheka etc., are offered everyday. And there are Splendid Utsava Vigrahas too placed in the Mantap adjacent to this. To complete the areas it were, it is believed that the sacred river Viraja is flowing perennially under the sacrosanct feet of the Lord. Needless to emphasize that such symbolic representations sanctity and system of worship are no where to be found on earth, nor parallel is going to be established by any at any point of time.

The several types of rituals and prayer services too are astonishing in their number and variety. According to the belief, the Lord is worshipped eternally by the Nityasuris, as exemplified by the custom of filling of all the vessels used for worship with Punya Thirtha in the night, and is distributed as Prasad the next day. Would not skepticism dissolve to get solidified into perfect theism, if once it stands face to face with the enchanting form of this Lord to drinking in the divinity exuding from every pore, while ears listening to the narration of the Lord's supremacy, and soul lost in ecstatic joy at the prospect of immediate Sayujya Mukti. Seeing is believing; believing prepares one to inculcating right devotion and that inculcation leads to emulating the evolved souls, which culminates in emancipation. So visiting is a MUST, in spirit and fact.

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