Tiruvengadam - Sri Venkateswaraswamy Aalayam

Venkatadri Samam Sthanam Brahmande nastikinchana
Venkatesa namo devo nabhuto nabhavishyati

"There is no holy hill in the universe standing equal to Venkatadri. Nor there exists any God equal to Venkatesa in the past or future" thus exclaims Bhavishyothara Nrana, singing in praise of this mokshapuri in such exuberant diction that hastens the reader or listener, to run with supersonic speed to reach Tirumala, the Lord's abode to fall at the sacrosanct feet of the Lord of Seven Hills for emancipation. This devotional attitude pure and simple, emerging from the soul of every Indian establishes in unambiguous lucid diction that Sri Venkateswara, the Lord of Seven Hills is the God of gods; God of all the worlds; God for all times; God of all people, who comes to their resume, regardless of man-made distinctions, like region, religion, caste, creed, sex and the like. And thereby declares covertly that the Tirumala-Tirupati is the surest refuge, purest haven and holiest pilgrim centre, worthy of craving for an indispensable instant visit to feasting the eyes with the eyeful darsan of that magnetic six-foot-high-icon is standing posture, adorned with dazzling jewels and colourful garlands from crown to feet with disc and conch in his upper arms, while the lower left is on the knee signifying the insignificant knee-depth of the Samasarasagara, if trusted, and the lower right in the Varadahastha pose, assuring full and all-proof protection to anyone, if he voluntarily makes an unconditional total surrender to that Highest HIM. Incidentally, this enchanting image igniting pure devotion in every beholder testifies to the peculiar characteristic aspect of the Indian pysche - the prime cause of unity in diversity, and proves beyond doubt, that though God is abiding in all the sacred places, and is worshipped ardently by people from peak to cape, and Dwaraka to Dhakshineswar, Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara is the most popular and the Supreme God casting an inexhaustibly irresistible attraction over class and mass by His power illimitable; compassion, boundless; stature, indescribable; charms, ineffable; sports, countless etc. Answers to the questions like what lies behind that spectacular demonstration of miracles, where from does he play his sport. and when will He reveal Himself, and to whom unfold His Viswarupa, and beckon instant prostration for peace during one's short sojourn on earth, and bliss there in heaven for ever. Let us listen to legends first.

Antiquity :

There are several versions trying to lift the curtain on His appearance on the sacred Hills; each has its own setting, time and characters, and what is more each makes a credibly delightful reading, due to the divine fragrance it is anointed with. According to Padma Purana. Manu once performed a great yagna on a grand scale attended by celestials too. During the course of it, there arose a dispute regarding the supremacy of gods among the Trimurthis. Each learned scholar and spiritual luminary advanced his argument with evidence justifying his selection. The plethora of proofs in respect of each claim was so confusing that the elders thought it to send one sage for direct on the spot observation to arriving at right evaluation. And report the findings for conclusion by the committee formed for this. The choice fell on Sage Brighu, son of Brahma. Biighu first went to Kailas, and on securing admission into the innermost chamber by Nandi with great diffculty, he reached Siva Sannidhi, and found the Adidampatis engaged in amorous sports. Finding them indifferent to his presence, he grew angry and cursed them. When he went to Satyaloka, Brahma never even got up to receive him; for, Brighu was after all his manasaputia. Unable to stomaching the insult, he cursed him and straight away directed his steps to Vaikunta. Still worse! He found here lord Vishnu in deep sleep, oblivious of his duty. The Highest divinity in the deepest sleep during the day; a sight unbearable !! A sin unpardonable! His anger reached the climax. Flying into irrepressible indignation be gave a kick on the lord's chest. Vishnu anon got up and tactfully asked him, whether he received injury to the foot; for, it was a forceful kick against his rock like chest. And confessed that his negligence of protecting the- world received just punishment, ending that Brighu must be thanked for reminding his duty; Brighu's purpose ended; and his search bore fruit. But it left disastrous effects in the domestic scene of lord Vishnu, as Iakshmi ever abiding in the chest of Lord Vishnu, received the force of kick. It was a humiliation unbearable to the Goddess of her status and glory. It was inexcusable and unpalatable. Unable to make compromise with it, however much she tried, she left Vaikunta, hurling hash words on the Lord.

The aftermath of lakhsmi's departure to Bhuloka led many unpleasant situations - Lord Vishnu found void everywhere, and uneasiness started mounting minute by minute. Seeking the permission of Adivaraha, his own incarnation, taken to lift the Mother Earth sunk in the ocean, He settled down remaining on the earth in an ant-hill for centuries. Inter a theist king to his surprise found his cow milking of its own accord over an ant-hill everyday and returning home dry. On enquiry he found the image of Lord Srinivas underneath the ant-hill. Considering it sacred, and to making it adored by one and all, he built a beautiful shrine for the Lord and installed the icon, thus found. Regular worship went on, and due to the munificent boons granted to the Saranarth's and demonstrating his sports through miracles, the glory of the Lord spread far and wide. This is the nucleus but took different shapes and colours, when flowed down from the pens of many writers of fame. Other legends narrate of his marrying Padmavathi, the daughter of the Tondaman Chakravarthi and consequent the quarrel between Lakshmi and Padmavathi that turned him into a stone and that is now being worshipped here atop the hill.

Archamurti

The holy black granite icon of Lord Venkateswa-a, six feet in height is revealing in standing posture with four hands holding potent weapons, like Sudarsana Chakra and Sankhu in the upper right and left hands, while the right lower called Varadahasta, pointing, to the sacred feet, and the left lower one called Katihasta placed on the knee. Grand are the symbols, and grandeur is the interpretation too. This mulavirat has many more marvels and mysteries concealed in Himself. A close look reveals that He combines in Himself both the aspects of Siva and Vishnu. The Nagabharanas and Jata in Kiritam normally are the characteristic symbols of Siva, but here Venkatesa is adorned with them. this goes to prove that he is both Hari and Hara. Yet, there is another proof of the Brahma aspect standing for creation is present in the archamurti, but it is unmanifest. Thus this majestic image combines in itself the Vyakta-visible, Vishnu with Mahalakshmi on the right breast and Srivatsa symbol on the left along with conch and disc; the Vyaktavyakta - Siva represented by Nagabharana and jatas, and the Avyakta - Brahma, but unmanifest.

This singularity of the archamurti thus presents all the three facets, and succeeds in convincing all sections of people that He is the Trinity in unity, displaying inseparable oneness among the Trio-Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. Yet there is another belief that this enticing icon was that of Balatripurasundari Devi, called Bala shortly, and hence 'Balaji', as widely used and popularly known to the Northerner;. That, suffix 'ji' to Bala, of course, signifies reverence. 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 every visitor belonging any cadre 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 m the garbhagriha itself the images of Sri Rama, Sri Krishna to which abhislieka etc. are offered everyday. And there are splendid Utsava vigrahas too placed in the Mantap adjacent to this. To complete the arc as it were, it is believed that the sacred river Viraja is flowing perennially under the sacrosanct feet of the Lord. Needless to emphasise that such symbolic representation, pregnant with sanctity and system of worship are deleted non-pared and would never be established by any at any point of time.

If one starts writing about the glory of the Lord, the oceans of ink would soon go dry, yet the author finds himself lost in the first paragraph itself. And unable to approach the fast moving far end of His rainbow Eke glory, he lays down his pen to joining GLORY which bending its head before the Lord expresses its emptiness and helplessness to do justice in describing Him. None succeeds in encompassing the myriad splendour of the Lord by any means whatsoever. This weal theist, kindest and All-time Highest God gracing His darsan in the icon form at Tirumala can be adored by reaching HIM by bus or car from Tirupathi, or by walk along the foot-path strting from Alipiri, lying about 3 km from the railway station.

And as Tirupathi is connected to all the major places by rail, road and air, even the dumb can reach His sannidhi with mere gestures. Should anyone needs then further travel information of anykind?

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