THE BHAGAVADGEETA

Klaibyam ma sma gamah partha

naitat tvayy upapadyate
ksudram hrudaya daurbalyam
tyaktvottistha parantapa

O! Arjuna! Do not yield to the frailty of

spirit. O! Chastiser of enemies! Rise up!
Get ready to fight in the battle!

(Chapter-2, Sloka-3)

THE LITTLE KRISHNA...

- Annamacharya

The Saint Poet Sriman T

Poet alla
Tallapak
allapak a Annamac
paka Annamacharyharya pr
harya aised Lor
praised d Krishna
Lord
in many w
waays in the abo
abo
bovve Sank eer
Sankeer thana.
eerthana.
Balakrishna is the most afafffectionate c
ectionate hild of tw
child twoo mother
mothers s. Some tr ea
eatt
trea
Him with af
afffection and some with v eng
veng ence
ence.. Srikrishna e
engence ven though
ev
appear s as a c
ppears hild, b
child, ut He is Omnipr
but esent. All the vir
Omnipresent. tues ar
virtues e pr
are esent
present
in heaps in the Supr
heaps eme Lor
Supreme Lord.d.
3
SAPTHAGIRI 3
 PAVITROTSAVAM TO SRI GOVINDARAJASWAMI, TIRUPATI
Date Day Details

31-08-2017 Thursday -- Ankurarpana (Night)

01-09-2017 Friday Pavitrapratishta
02-09-2017 Saturday Offering of Sacred threads To be performed in the
month of Bhadrapadam
03-09-2017 Sunday Pavitrotsavam Ends

PAVITROTSAVAM TO SRI LAKSHMI VENKATESWARASWAMI, DEVUNI KADAPA

Date Day Details

03-09-2017 Sunday Pavitrotsavam begins Ankurarpana (Night)

04-09-2017 Monday Pavitrapratishta
To be performed in the
05-09-2017 Tuesday Offering of Sacred threads month of Bhadrapadam
from Ekadasi to
06-09-2017 Wednesday Pavitrotsavam Ends Poornima

PAVITROTSAVAM TO SRI PADMAVATI DEVI, TIRUCHANUR

Date Day Details

03-09-2017 Sunday -- Ankurarpana (Night)

04-09-2017 Monday Pavitrapratishta
05-09-2017 Tuesday Offering of Sacred threads To be performed in the
month of Bhadrapadam
06-09-2017 Wednesday Pavitrotsavam Ends

PAVITROTSAVAM TO SRI KALYANAVENKATESWARASWAMI, NARAYANAVANAM

Date Day Details

Ankurarpana
04-09-2017 Monday Pavitrotsavam To be performed in the
05-09-2017 Tuesday Pavitrotsavam ends month of Bhadrapadam

4 AUGUST, 2017
 Varalakshmi Vratam at Tiruchanur
Sri Padmavati Devi Temple
- Smt. Radha Madhavi Rani - 7
Salakatla Pavitrotsavams at Tirumala
- Smt. Anusha Ramakrishna - 10
A Multi - Faceted Aspects of Kaliyamardana
- Vamanan Nampoothiri - 14
Ganapati Bappa Moriya
- Smt. P. Sujata - 17
Obeisance to the Bovine
- Dr. K. Usha Sharma - 20
Bhuvaraha Swamy Temple, Tirumala
- B.N. Srinivasan - 25
A Religious Plant Possessing Medicinal Values
- Dr. Renu Dixit - 31
An Exuberant Narration of Balarama and Krishna
- Dr. Madabhushi Varadarajan - 33
Sri Hayagreeva Worship
- Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan - 37
Rakhi - "The Sacred Thread"
- Tiruchanur Vikram - 39
Sri Alavandar A Scholar Par Excellence
- N. Rajagopalan - 42
Srivari Friday Abhishekam at Tirumala
- A. Ramakrishna Deekshitulu - 44
Sree Parthasarathy Temple, Aranmula
- K. Ramachandran - 48
A Tale of Pure Devotion Tarigonda Vengamamba
- A.S. Krishnachandra - 51
Book Review
- J.C. Gnanaprasuna - 52
Puzzle
- T.S. Jagan Mohan - 53

Front Cover : Swamy in Vaibhavotsavams

Back Cover : Goddess Varalakshmidevi
5
SAPTHAGIRI 5
 SALUTATION TO SRAVANALAKSHMI!!
G oddess Mahalakshmi is the originator for wealth and prosperity. Only with her grace one can get
attractive form. Without her divine blessings one cannot achieve good knowledge or become famous.
Grace of Mahalakshmi is called “Lakshmi Kataksham” which is essential for all the beings. If one has to
be successfully progressing in life, one should have her divine blessings for succeeding in life. Sri
Mahalakshmi lives in Vakshathala (bosom) of Lord MahaVishnu who is her beloved husband.
MahaVishnu’s birth star is Sravana and the month Sravana is also famous for performing Mahalakshmi
Pooja. The entire month is primarily for Bhakthi and the rituals.

Sravana month is considered as auspicious and will shower all good, wealth and health. All the
SubhaKaryam (Auspicious deed) is performed on this month. Usually, this month, all the houses will be
decorated by tying Mango leaves in front of the houses, apply Vermilion and Manjal and draw beautiful
drawings (Rangoli\Kolam) to welcome Sri Mahalakshmi to their home. Once she comes, the entire house
is blossomed with Subham (good).

M onday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday of Sravana month is celebrated as special days. Festivals like
Mangala Gowri Vratham, Naaga Panchami, Banu Sapthami, Puthradha Ekadasi, Damodar Dwadasi, Varaha
Jayanthi, Sri Varalakshmi Vratham, Jandhayala Poornima, Polala Amavasya etc. are celebrated this month.

Goddess Mangala Gowri is auspicious. Kanya (Unmarried Girls) perform this puja to get good husband,
and married women perform to get good progeny and happy married life. This puja will fulfill all the
righteous desires. The newly married couple will perform this puja on all Tuesdays. They light lamp with
cow ghee, apply Turmeric, Vermilion and spread fragrant materials in the lamp and pray to Goddess
Mangala Gowri. They also, provide “Taambulam (Betel leaf, coconut, Betel nut, flower, banana, vermilion,
Turmeric)”, for Sumangali (Married women) to get their blessings.

One of the important Hindu festival is “Naaga Panchami”. Mostly unmarried girls, married women to
get progeny, those who have Kuja (Mars) Dhosham in horoscope which causes delay in marriage performs
this puja to get rid of these issues. To celebrate this festival, one has to draw Snake with Turmeric and
Vermilion on wall or make Snake in Mud to perform puja. One can also get rid of fear from Snake if you
perform puja to Nagaraja on this day.

Lord Surya is also prayed in this month for good health and success. Ekadasi is always auspicious for
MahaVishnu. Especially Sravana Ekadasi is called 'Shuddha Ekadasi' or 'PutradhaEkadasi' which is followed
by ancient kings to get progeny. By following this Ekadasi Vratham, one will get knowledgeable child.
During this Ekadasi, one has to perform fasting without sleep and donate umbrella.

Dwadasi is the next day of Ekadasi which is considered as Sravana Suddha Dwadasi. On this day, one has
to perform Vishnu Pooja by reciting Vishnu Sahasranama and donate idol of Lord Vishnu. Another
auspicious is that on Sravana Sukla Trayodasi, Lord Mahavishnu varaha incarnated as on this auspicious
month.

Sravana Sudha Poornima is called RakhiPournami or also called Raksha Bandhan where sisters are
considered as manifestation of Sakthi who solves all problems in life. The same day, Hayagreeva Jayanthi
is celebrated with glory. Especially children has to worship Lord Hayagreeva to yield good results in
education.

A ll of us know that Sri Krishnaashtami falls on the same month and by celebrating this festival one gets
cleared of all sins. The auspicious VaralakshmiVratham is eminent during this month and let’s welcome
the Mother Varalakshmi to our home and get all auspiciousness in our lives!

6 AUGUST, 2017
 7
SAPTHAGIRI 7
 Varalakshmi Vratam festival with grand
festivity and faith is celebrated in the Tiruchanur
Sri Padmavati Ammavari Temple also as a special
annual event. The rituals of this festival are different
in many aspects from the other normal rituals in
the temple.
The Process of the Vratam
On this day of Varalakshmi Vratam, the
Goddess Lakshmi is grandly worshipped in eight
of Her various forms. Those eight forms are:
Bhagya Lakshmi, Vidya Lakshmi, Bhu Lakshmi, Prti
Lakshmi, Kirti Lakshmi, Santi Lakshmi, Tushti
Lakshmi and Pushti Lakshmi. This Vratam is
performed in the large hall of Asthana Mandapam
of Tiruchanur Sri Padmavati Ammavari Temple. As
this is offered as an Arjita Seva all the couples of
devotees who participate in this Vratam sit in rows
for collective performance of this with all necessary
worshipping materials and wait for the timely
instructions of the priests.
a) Sankalpa
In the process of worshipping according to
the scriptural procedure the Sankalpa is recited with
all details such as the regional location on the globe
and the holy tithi details along with the names of
Year, Half year, Month, Fortnight, Day, Nakshatra,
Yoga, Karana and other aspects. The wish for
performing the puja is for the welfare of the entire
8 AUGUST, 2017
human beings. At the time of Sankalpa along with
the welfare and wellbeing of the human race, all
the devotees submit their wishes to the Goddess
to grace them all personally for their all kinds of
riches and prosperity.
b) 16 Upacharaas (Services) to the Goddess
Then puja with sixteen services including
Dhyana (Contemplating upon the Goddess),
Avahana (Inviting to the place of Puja), Ratna
Simhasana (Seating Her on the Jewel-decked
throne), Arghya (Offering Sandal paste and flower
mixed pure waters), Padyam (Waters for washing
the feet), Acahamaniyam (Water for swallowing
three sips of water as a process of drinking),
Panchamrita Snaanam and Suddhodhaka
Snaanam (Bathing with five nectarous liquids –
Milk, Ghee, Honey, Curd and Coconut/sugar mixed
water and also with pure water), Vastra yugma
(Offering pair of clothes), Abharanas (Offering
Ornaments to the Goddess), Gandha (Offering
Sandal Paste), Akshatas (Offering Yellow rice),
Pushpapuja (Worshiping with flowers and Names),
Dhupa (Offering fragrant sticks), Dipa (lamp),
Naivedya (Offering different kinds of food to the
Goddess), Tambulam (Offering Betel leaves, Nut
powder etc), Karpura Nirajanam (Camphor Flame
Arati), Mantra Pushpam (Offering Handful of
flowers) and Pradakshina Namaskarams (Final
Pranams at the end of the Puja).
c) Vrata Katha (The Story of the Vrata)
At the end of the Vrata the story
related to this Vrata should be heard from
the priests. In the temple of Padmavati
Ammavaru also they narrate the story in
the following manner.
This story was taken from Skanda
Purana. This story was narrated by Siva
to Parvati. According to his narration in
good olden days in the city of Kundina,
there was a Brahmin woman named
Charumati. She was very much devoted
to serving her parents-in-law and her
husband very sincerely. She was a very
learned woman. She speaks very pleasantly with all. Her heart was This story can be seen even
pure and serene. One day she had a dream. The essence of the in the Bhavishyottara Purana.
dream is that Goddess Vara Lakshmi appeared in her dream and
The Mother Goddess on the
advised her to perform Varalakshmi Vratam. She also narrated her
Golden Chariot
the procedure of the Vratam. Charumati offered many prayers to
Goddess Varalakshmi in the dream and in the next morning she In the evening of the
shared the dream experience with all of her relatives. They were all Varalakshmi Vratam day, the well
very much pleased to know all the details. This vrata should be adorned idol of the Mother
performed on the penultimate Friday to the Fullmoon day (Purnima) Goddess Sri Padmavati Devi at
of the Sravana Month. All of them along with Charumathi had much Tiruchanur is seated on the
awaited the day and performed the Vratam as per the procedure Golden Chariot. While the chariot
narrated by Goddess Vara Lakshmi. As a result all of them became goes around the holy streets of
richer and richer. Their wealth grew endless. The grace of the Tiruchanur around the temple all
Goddess was fully showered over them. the devotees come out and pay
respects to the idol on the Chariot.
Slowly this Vratam became popular in the entire city. All the
While the Vedic scholars chant
residents of that city started performing the Vratam and the city
the divine Vedic Hymns, the
became the richest. Slowly this spread to the other cities. Every
artists of different traditional and
one was doing this vrata and turning rich. Every one was praising
auspicious music instruments
the great and noble heart of Charumati. Thus she has been praised
play on their respective
by all ever since till date.
instruments singing in praise of
the glory of the Goddess. The
chariot is followed by groups of
devotees performing different
kinds of Bhajans and also the
teams of different cultural arts
presenting traditional folk dances
and songs in praise of Goddess
Lakshmi and Vishnu.
Thus at Tiruchanur the
whole day of Varalakshmi Vratam
is grandly celebrated with utmost
devotion, enthusiasm and zeal
and with great faith. In this festival
all the priests, officials, devotees
and even all the residents of
Tiruchanur participate at different
intervals having their share in
successfully celebrating the
Festival.
Let Goddess Varalakshmi
shower her divine blessings on all
the devotees for
their prosperity and
perfection.
SAPTHAGIRI 9

Pavitrotsavams mean “pavitra dhAranAya
sahakritam utsavam||”, which means “the Utsavams
which involve adorning pavitrams” (the sacred
garlands made with pure silk thread of different
colors).
Another meaning “pavIbyaha vajra
samAnebhyaha dOshEbhyah trAyatE iti pavitram ||”
The expiations which are equal to Vajrayudha
(the weapon of Indra) in strength are removed by
performing the Pavitrotsavams.
TIRUMALA SRIVARI PAVITROTSAVAMS
FROM 03-08-2017 TO 05-08-2017
10 AUGUST, 2017
The ritual is often referred to as
‘PavitrArOpaNam’, ‘PavitrArOhaNam’ and is an
important and necessary ritual in almost all forms
of worship such as Saiva, Pancharathra,
Bodhayana including the much revered Sri
Vaikhanasa Bhagavachhastram.
According to Vaikhanasa texts, the reason
for performing Pavitrotsavams are stated as-
yadyan mantra kriyAhInam dravya hInam
chayatkritam tad
dOshaSamanAyaiva pavitrArOpaNam charEt ||
(Bhrigu’s Prakeernadhikara)
In a Vishnu temple, there is a possibility of
expiations (irrevocable mistakes) to occur in all the
rituals performed (which may be due to not reciting
the prescribed Mantras, due to not performing the
correct procedure, and non availability of the
articles (dravyams)), throughout the year. To ward
off from these expiations one must perform
Pavitrotsavams to Lord Vishnu.
nityE namittikE vA pi tathA samvatsarArchanE
gnAnatO gnAnatOvApiyE
dOshassambhavantivai pavitrArOpaNEnaiva tE
SAmyanti na samSaya: ||
(Bhrigu’s Kriyadhikara)
It is possible for expiations to occur when we
perform several rituals and worship (nitya,
naimittika) throughout the year. The reason being,
even Lord Brahma, the creator Himself is unable
to perform Worship without mistakes says Bhrigu.
Hence it is understandable that faults do
occur when worship is performed by humans. And
to remove all the dOshas or mishappenings that
occur consciously or subconsciously,
Pavitrotsavams must be performed.
According to Bhrigu, the result achieved by
performing these Utsavams are:
Sarva dOshOpaSamanam sarva kAma
samruddhidam AayurArOgyadam kartu:
sarvAdhvara phalAvaham ||
All mistakes incurred are rectified, All desires
of Devotees, who participate in this Utsavams are
fulfilled and they are blessed with Health and Long
life, and all the people in the country also get the
same benefits.
 The main headlines in the Pavitrotsavams can be classified into 35 topics. They are

1. kAla niyamam – Deciding time 17. mErvAdi kalpanam

2. ankurArpaNam 18. manDala vilEpanam
3. Pavitra dravyam – Articles used to make 19. Kautuka bandhanam
Pavitrams 20. mantra japam
4. nirmAna karma – Procedure of making the
21. Sayanam
Pavitrams
5. lakshaNam - attire 22. mahA SAnthi hOmam

6. pramANam – Standard 23. pavitrArOpaNam

24. dhAraNa kAla niyamam
7. granthi - Knots
25. prAyaschittam
8. sUtra sanKhya
26. avarOpaNam
9. manDala rachana
27. phalam
10. adhivAsam
28. kumbha AvAhanam
11. AvAhanam - Invoking
29. varjya sUtra
12. snapanam – Celestial Bath
30. Akruta prAyaschittam
13. hOmam – Fire Ritual 31. varjya kAlA:
14. sUktha paTana and abhimantraNa – Recital
of Vedic hymns 32. alankAram
15. mUla mantra japam 33. bali nikshEpaNam
16. ritwik niyamam – Rules followed by Ritwiks 34. yAgaSAla
during Pavitrotsavams 35. stOtram, kshamApaNam

Let us briefly look at some important
headlines in the Pavitrotsavams specified above.
Deciding the correct time is important for this
Utsavams. According to Marichi’s Vimanarchana
Kalpam, in the months of AashADa, SrAvaNa,
bhAdrapada,according to either the lunar calender
or the solar calender are to be selected. The day
must be either Sukla DwAdasi or VishNu Panchaka
days (Krishna Dwadasi, Sukla Dwadasi, Sravana
Star, Pournima and Amavasya are called Vishnu
Panchaka days in every month).
According to Bhrigu’s Kriyadhikaram, on the
day of Bhadrapada month, Sravana Star and
Panchaka days are ideal for performing the
Pavitrotsavam Ritual. In Tirumala Hill shrine
Pavitrotsavams are performed for 3 days, with
Ankurarpanam on the previous day which occurs
on Sravana Sukla Ekadasi, Dwadasi and
Trayodasi. Pavitrams are adorned on Dwadasi.
Preparing the Pavitrams
Among the articles used to make these
Pavitram garlands, the Superior one is either the
thread gathered from the stem of Lotus Flower or
a thread made in Gold, The thread made with Silver
is middle in merit and the inferior one is the thread

Dwadasi (Twelfth day) or on the day of Dwadasi made with Cotton or Pure Silk. (It is common in all
(Krishna and Sukla), Sravanam Star in the 6 temples, including the Tirumala Hill Shrine, to use
months of Dakshinayanam during the Vishnu Pure silk for making Pavitram garlands).

SAPTHAGIRI 11
 The Pavitram garlands must be
made by either a brahmin woman or a
girl. There will be totally 9 layers of
thread and each layer is controlled by
respective Adi Devathas. For the 1 st
layer, Siva is the Adi Devatha. Similarly
2. Vishnu 3. Brahma 4. Soma 5. Vahni
6. Naga 7. Kumara Swamy 8. Surya 9.
Vigneswara respectively.
The length of the Pavitram
garlands can be of 4 types. 108 layers
of thread with length from neck to knee
of the Lord’s idol is Superior one, 54
layers with length up to Thigh is
Middling merit, 27 layers with length
upto Stomach is inferior variety. 1008
layers of thread with length equal to
the total height of the idol, called
Vanamala, is very dearer to Lord Vishnu.
According to Marichi, the
distance between one knot to other
knot in the pavitram garland must be
an inch, which is of Superior variety.
By reciting Vishnu Suktha, knots are
made. For the Pavitram garland which
is adorned like a ‘Upaveetha’ (the
sacred thread), there must be 27 knots.
For the garlands of yajamani, Acharya,
Sishyas and Homakundas, 8 knots and
12 knots for Parivara Deities. 64 Knots
is Uttama, 24 Knots is Madhyama and
12 Knots is Adhama category.
In Tirumala
Pavitrotsavams are usually
celebrated for Three days with
‘Triyahnika Deeksha’. In Tirumala Hill
12 AUGUST, 2017
Shrine, the Pavitram garlands are adorned on the second day
(Dwadasi) and removed on the third day. On the previous day
of adorning the Pavitram garlands, Vaasthu Homa and
purification with Panchagavyam must be performed. In the night
Sayanadhivasam Ritual is performed to Pavitrams as
prescribed in the Pratishta procedure of Vaikhanasa
Bhagavachhastram. On the Sayya Vedika (Bed), the Pavitram
garlands are placed along with Utsava or Snapana Berams
and Adhivasam Ritual is performed. Before putting the
Pavitrams on the bed, it must be placed on a heap of paddy
and ‘Avahanam’ is performed (invoking Cosmic energy).
‘Vishnu, Purusha, Satya, Achyutha and Aniruddha, Sree, Bhu
are invoked in the Pavitrams.
Snapanam (Sacred Bath) is performed to the Utsava
deities after Homam or fire ritual. Vaasthu Homa is performed
for the sake of purification. Also on the day of ‘Adhivasa’, in
the Sabhyagni or Nityagni Homa Kunda, Homa is performed
by reciting Vaishnava mantra. After Sayanadhivasam, in the
night, rituals such as Houtra Prasamsanam (a ritual that invites
the respective devathas) Poundarikagni, Maha Santhi Homa
are performed with utmost religious fervor.
Maha Santhi Homam is performed in all Utsavas, to rectify
all types of errors (Errors in the recital of hymns, Procedure,
procuring necessary articles) committed, knowingly
or unknowingly in the current Utsava. The mistakes
are thus rectified and complete result is achieved
along with Peace and Health. This homa is
performed with articles like Ghee, Ksheerannam
(Rice boiled in Milk and Sugar), Appam (Rice
Flour and Jaggery Paste fried in Ghee), Fried
Paddy, and Saktu (Mixture of Rice Flour, Sesame
seed, Jaggery), Moduga flower, leaves of Maredu,
Lotus flowers, Paddy by reciting the prescribed
Vedic hymns.
While adorning the Pavitram garlands, the
texts insist that the small (‘Adhama’ category)
garland is adorned first, then the medium
(Madhyama Category) ones and then the Uttama
one. After adorning them, 8 Upacharas are given
to the Lord Vishnu and then ‘Vanamala’ is adorned.
After adorning the idol with Pavitrams, now the
Homakundas, Kumbhas, Acharyas and Ritwiks
also adorn the pavitram garlands. These Pavitrams
must remain on the icons atleast for a specified
number of days. On the last day of removing the
garlands, Purnahuthi ritual is performed and these
garlands can be distributed to the devotees
as prasadam.
In the Kumbhams installed for
Pavitrotsavams, 9 Amsas of Lord Vishnu (Vishnu,
Purusha, Satya, Achyuta, Aniruddha, Kapila,
Yagna, Punya, Narayana) and 8 Digdevathas
(Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirruti, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera,
Eesana) are invoked and worshipped. After
Purnahuthi, the Cosmic energy from the
Kumbhams are transferred to the main deity
to correct the lapses, if any. While performing
the Bali Haranam (sacrificial food offering) after
Nityarchana, ‘Mudgannam’ or ‘Krisara Bali’ is
performed for Asta Mangalams (9 Auspicius
symbols installed around the Yagasala for
protection. They are Srivatsam, Purna Kumbham,
BhEri, Aadarsam, Matsya Yugmam, Ankusam,
Sankham, Aavartam) and Panchayudhams (Lord
Vishnu’s 5 weapons viz., Sankha, Gadaa, Saranga,
Aseem, Chakra,) surrounding the Pradhana
Kumbha Vedika.
(‘Bali’ is a ritual in which food offering is
offered to all Parivara deities in the temple. Bali
consists of Pathram (sacred Tulasi leaves),
Pushpam (Flowers), Thoyam (Sacred water) and
Bali (Rice which is offered to Lord). This is part
o f d a i l y w o r s h i p i n e v e r y Vi s h n u t e m p l e )
Mudgannam: Rice and Bengal gram boiled in water
with Ghee and Salt. Krisarannam: Rice mixed with
Sesame seeds. This year Pavitrotsavams at
Tirumala will be held on 3rd, 4th and 5th August
2017. (References: Based on the text ‘pavitrotsav
Anukrama Nika’ by Agnihotram Srinivasacharyulu,
Sage Marichi’s Vimanarchanakalpam, Bhrigu’s
Vasadhikaram)
SAPTHAGIRI 13
 The Lord, through various divine methods,
gracefully and intuitively channels the ancient
knowledge, addressing every aspect of living, to the
world with great clarity to enable the living beings
to lead a meaningful life-these uniquely authoritative
divine guidance that are informative, logical and
plainly explained helps to obtain a life where, along
with an unadulterated happiness and enjoyment of
goodhealth, the healing experience of body/mind and
soul is available. This God given vision helps to avoid
the pangs of Life that is full of sound and fury and
allows all to enjoy the time spent in this universe
which in itself is a wonderful mystery.
The Divine Being takes different forms
(avataras in humans and other forms) to teach
humanity the power of love, wisdom, and the
righteous way of life and lead the benighted world
towards the light of God. These happen at an
especially stressful and critical time in the lives of
people and saves mankind from total annihilation.
The purpose of the avatara manifestation is to
restore dharma, or righteousness, to the cosmic and
social order. Dharma encompasses behaviours such
as duty, ritual, law, morality, ethics, good deeds,
etc.—anything considered critical to maintaining
natural order. That which is unnatural or immoral is
called adharma.
14 AUGUST, 2017
Sri Venkateswara Swami, the most wonderful
teacher, shows the most effective ways of defining
and responding to the experiences of life that are
common, through the divine leela of His avatara Sri
Krishna on Kaliya (the name of a highly poisonous
snake living in river Yamuna, in Vrindavan-some
legends say Kaliya took refuge in a lake near the
Yamuna river). This divine activity is narrated in
simple language so that the morals brought out in
these effects the most vital part of human mind
directly in the most certain way. It is carefully
designed to work its way into the consciousness in a
way that direct instruction cannot do.
The divine tale of Sri Krishna, a figure of
matchless good looks, grace and splendour that no
mortal eyes had ever witnessed, dancing on the head
of much feared Kaliya and overcoming him, at which
point the wives of Kaliya pay Him homage, has a
very deep and instructional meaning.The dealing of
Sri Krishna with the deadly menace caused by Kaliya
is celebrated as an exceptional manifestation of His
mercy that chastises and pardons even most difficult
wrongdoer. In the “divine play of God”, the entire
world is a stage and all the living beings are merely
players directed by the magical power of that
Supreme Director.
This vivid, memorable and repeatable Divine
narration, while helping a student to remember the
principle laid down, also would help another to
remember the story and through it to return to the
principle. The entertainment feature so enchantingly
told, would also help children who may not always
be intellectually inclined, by attracting their attention
and the deeper meaning will reveal itself to them at
some point. One may not be able to undo the result
of an action; but certainly it is in one’s hands to
wipe out the impression of a bad action, by
repentance, prayer and perseverance and by infusion
of pure thought and repent for the past misdeeds
and be profited by the lessons taught by the mistakes
and never repeat them.
The ever dancing mind of humans- probably
his best friend and worse still the worst enemy- is
pictured as the poisoned waters and the ever
changing desires (that has the negative qualities of
poisoning the mind) are presented by Kaliya himself.
Mental worries, mental imbalances, delusions and
anxieties, generally represented by coiled serpentine
figures; choke the mind and the powers of rational
thinking. However, the celestial dance of Sri Krishna
on the head of the subdued Kaliya symbolises the
overcoming of desires.Just as the divine appearance
of Lord Shiva with snakes around His neck-
exemplifying the control of His ascetic mind over
His senses and desires.
The many heads of Kaliya is said to
representing the multi-faceted ego of humans and
the majestic victory dance of Sri Krishna represents
the beatings that one receives on the ego, time and
again, to ground and bring him closer to the
Almighty. Ego is one of the biggest barriers that
alienate everyone from divinity. It is generally seen
that in everyone’s life, destiny deflates the ego time
after time, though through compelling and
unavoidable tragic situations. Depending on the past
some get it many times in life. Such events happen
more if one’s track is spiritual. If a person is on the
way to liberation, Destiny annihilates all his
attachments consistently.
The general nature is that at the very first point
of hurt to the ego, (it is also seen that there is nothing
more harmful than a hurt ego), senses and mind go
out of control and would have a devastating effect
around. However, once the anger subsides after
creating havoc, one has to surrender to logic and to
the will of the Almighty and then love and
consideration from the Supreme can be experienced.
Through the episode of KaliyaMardana (the
defeat of Kaliya), the Paramatma taught the world a
sublime and beautiful lesson on individual
constitution and bashing up of ego. The venomous
and arrogant serpant, Kaliya, surrendered to Lord
Krishna when his entire prowess was systematically
destroyed. Sri Krishna, the Lord of all moving and
non-moving things, upon the surrender of Kaliya
along with his family, graciously advised Kaliya to
leave the waters without polluting it and causing any
further harm to life. This was also part of His purpose
of visit to the earth– the preservation of Dharma.
The banishment of Kaliya from the river/lake
has important worldly and spiritual significances.
Beings with malicious intent try their level best to
infect the nature with malicious dispositions.They get
some initial success in their sadistic thoughts. With
this background, they try to make a direct attack on
Dharma and sometimes even the Lord. However, the
embodiments of unrelenting cruelty of such deceitful
persons whose purpose is to poison the surroundings
and people will be exposed by the Supreme Being at
right moment when the unruliness appear to be
misleading the people. Sri Purusha overpowers the
brutal habits of such adharmic lot and stripping them
of all their ways will eradicate them too- in the
process helping them in their upward divine
unfoldment and Self-realisation.
Legend:
The people of Ramanaka Island were
environment friendly and they used to adore snakes.
As a part of worship they used to offer food to the
snakes once a month. The snakes were afraid of
Garuda and in order to satisfy him, the snakes used
to offer a part of what they got from human beings.
Garuda, satisfied by the offerings by the snakes, did
not trouble the snakes. However, snake Kaliya (a
resident of Ramanaka Island) on account of his ego
and pride refused to participate in the offerings to
Garuda. Garuda and Kaliya had a fight on this matter
and Kaliya was defeated squarely. Kaliya could not
stand this unexpected defeat .With broken ego and
damaged hoods; he escaped from the wrath of
Garuda and fearing his life left Ramanaka Island. He,
along with his wives and friends, took refuge in river
Yamuna in Vrindavan (some legends say Kaliya took
refuge in a lake near river Yamuna). Kaliya knew
about these waters earlier itself-Garuda could not
visit this place as he was cursed by a sage saying that
if Garuda would visit the river and ate fish from that
place he would immediately die. Because of this curse
Garuda could not go over there. Thus Kaliya felt
that he was safe from Garuda and hence decided to
live in the river along with his family.
Lord Krishna saw how Kaliya had polluted
Yamuna with his terribly powerful poison. On the
divinely decided day of reckoning for Kaliya, Sri
Krishna’s friends drank the polluted water and fell
unconscious because of the poison in the water.
On being apprised of this sad news, Sri Krishna
came to the spot and decided that enough is enough
SAPTHAGIRI 15
and went into the waters to subdue the demonic
character of Kaliya. YashodaNandana began sporting
in the waters like a lordly elephant- swirling his
mighty arms and making the water resound in various
ways. Kaliya heard these sounds, and understood
that someone was trespassing in the river. He could
not tolerate this and immediately came forward.
Kaliya saw the beautifully smiling face and the
delicate, attractive body of Nanda Gopa Kumara
with His bosom bearing the mark of Srivatsa. Envious
Kaliya furiously bit the Lord and with the unexpected
co-operation from the Lord, completely enwrapped
Him in his coils.
The Lord, imitating the behaviour of an
ordinary mortal, remained for some time within the
coils of the serpent. Finally, Sri Krishna, darting upon
the snake seized him by the tail (tail represents
instability and fickle nature of mind-chanchalam-)
whirled him round and round till he had lost all his
vigour and strength, and then, all of a sudden, jumped
upon his wide hoods and began to dance. The Master
of all arts danced to perfection, with the brilliance
from the gems in His crown acting as flash lights and
the combined background music from the waves of
the Yamuna and of tinkling of His anklets and bangles
providing the sound effects. During this celestial
merriment, the Lord, allowed the different hoods of
the monster to rise up but lowered them with the
graceful movements of His dancing heels and toe.
The completely overpowered Kaliya started
ejecting blood and venom from all his mouths. He
16 AUGUST, 2017
was no longer able to bear the tortures and the most
excruciating pains. He sought the mercy and
protection of Lord Krishna, knowing him to be the
Great Lord of all creatures, who rewards the virtuous
and punishes the evil-doers. In the meantime Kaliya’s
wives, who had witnessed the punishment that was
inflicted on their husband, came forward, worshipped
the Lord with all humility and craved His pardon for
the sin of their husband requesting Him to show them
a correct path. Pleased with this prayer, the Lord
Krishna released Kaliya, and advised him to choose
some part of the world where Garuda, from whom
Kaliya had taken refuge, would no longer torment
him because of the touch of the Divine Feet of Sri
Krishna on the hoods. Kaliya obeyed his order; and
the river Yamuna was restored to the everlasting
purity and freshness of its waters that sustain life -
be that of humans, animals, birds or plants,
representing the universally accepted fact of the
ultimate victory of Good over evil.
The Lord, through the relocation of Kaliya
from Yamuna illustrates that the effective ways
available in this world should be adopted for the
peaceful co-existence of all living beings and
destruction should not be resorted to until and unless
there are no ways of curbing the menace.
The waters of Yamuna can be compared to the
ever-flowing stream of love and joy in life, emanating
from the great fountain-head of all goodness — the
Supreme Being. This calm flow of happiness is
sometimes disturbed by monstrous elements of
society causing sorrow and misery to all. The
plunging of the Lord into the waters is the act of
ascertaining the root cause of the misery. The hoods
of Kaliya are emblematic of the various ways in which
evil principles cause misery and depression and the
Divine dance of Sri Krishna, showing the spirit of
triumph over the hoods of Kaliya, pressing them
down and disabling them one after another so as
never to rise up again, is just the very exultation which
is the gradual subjugation of all his bodily passions
and thoughts and, at last, of the very source which
gives rise to all these, viz., the human mind, or
mundane will, the most subtle but powerful force
which works in the humans.
One must let the ever wandering mind be
eternally devoted to Sri Govinda, the Supreme Lord
Sri Krishna, the source of all pleasures and happiness
and the Ultimate truth!
“Ajnaathvaa they
mahathvamyadihanigathidatham
Vishwanaatha Kshamedha”
(Oh, Lord of all the Worlds! Deign to pardon
me for what I have described here with so little
knowledge of Thy greatness) !
“Naaraayaneeyam”

The hagiography of Lord Ganesha is
flabbergasting. The mythological story
undermines the frenzied powers of
preceptor. But poignant feeling for the
lord with the devotees is like a father and
child, the child is Ganesha. Devotees
propitiate before the Lord as their
saviour, dismantler of troubles and
obstructions. They attribute the prosody
in their lives is because of the merciful
eyes of the God. Devotees are so close to
him, in reverence at the same time with
love and affection decorate, mock, rave
and queer Lord with decorations as they
would normally do to their children and
enjoy with laughter, shrill and variegated.
But Lord Ganesh is cynosure of young and
old alike without limitations to caste,
creed, religion or culture.
The Lord is one of the focal points in the
panchayathana method of prayers. “Adityam
Ambikaam Vishunum Gananadham
Maheswaram”. The Sun, The Mother, The Vishnu,
The Ganapathi and The Siva are the main deities
to be worshipped before commencement of any
auspicious venture. The brother of Ganesha
occupies the place of “jyothi” to be a part of the
prayers.
The Lord Ganesha dispels the human
infatuation oscillating between the jeevatma and
paramatma. Mainly confused over the superiority
of one over the other. The Ganesha’s journey from
his birth to being the incharge of thirty three
devataganas is a saga of dismantling this
confusion and bringing a ken amongst the
devotees that the ulterior goal is absorbing
jeevatma into paramatma. Through his attire,
presence and the peculiar body, head and ears
Ganesha reprimands the duties and
responsibilities of the humans in their daily life.
The small eyes depict that you must have
concentrated look and understand intricacies of
SAPTHAGIRI 17
every point in life, the big ears denote that you
should listen more. Speak less and listen more is
the essence. His elephant head represents
supreme power of knowledge. Ganesha is the
bestower of bliss, virtuous, success and he is all
pervading universal power. Lord is omnipresent,
omniscient and omnipotent. You can please him
with a small grass or a laddu made of rice. He is
happy and blesses humans with supreme
knowledge.
Om GananaamtvaGanapatimHavamahe
KavimKaveenaam-Upamashravastamam |
JyestharaajamBrahmanaamBrahmanaspata
Aa Nah Shrnnvannuutibhih-seedasaadanam ||
Om MahaganadhipatayeNamah ||
Description
There is a great description of Lord
Ganesha’s presence in all the yugas in
Mudgalapurana, Brahmapurana, and Sri Ganesh
Puranam. In Krutayuga, Ganesha appeared with
ten arms and rides on a lion. In Tretayuga he
manifested in the form of Mayureswara with six
arms and rides on a peacock. In Dwaparayuga he
was created by Parvathi and named as Gajanana
whose story is most renowned and circulated. He
had four arms and rides on a mouse. Lord will
appear as Dumraketu with two arms and smoky
complexion in Kaliyuga to demolish the demons.
Ganesha was made out from the turmeric
paste from the body of Parvathi. It represents that
there is always a need to separate ignorance from
the subtle mind. Unless the earthly manifestations
such as ego, enmity and rudeness are dismantled,
the jeevatma can never attain the Lord. That being
the case, Ganesha could not recognize the power
of the Lord Shiva and like a reprehensible creature
obstructed the Lord in entering the house. There
is a need to remove the curtain of ignorance to
realize the God and incase the devotee lacks it,
18 AUGUST, 2017
God takes the necessary corrective action. Lord
Siva had the predicament whether to slash the
throat of Ganesha because Lord always gives
abundant time to the devotee to come out of the
veil of ignorance and if that does not happy, he will
ensure a different line of correction. That was what
exactly Lord Shiva did.
When the ego is killed, the mother would
realize that it is time to merge jeevatma in
paramatma and hence Shiva gives a rebirth to
jeevatma in a refined form and that is how Lord
had the face of an Elephant and trunk of a human
body.
When confronted with his own brother to be
incharge of the Ganas which includes devas,
demons, humans, creatures and any creation of
Lord Brahma, it was a difficult task in itself. But he
proved that with critical analysis, supreme mind and
cool state of attire one can overcome the physical
powers of others. He prayed his parents and
through Narayana mantra he prove his ability in
trice. The appropriate sheath for humans is
closeness to the paramatma and not exhibiting
one’s powers.
The story exhibits love of mother to her
children too. She loves her children in plenitude
irrespective of their personality, structure and
predicament. Mother’s love is abundant in all her
creations. It gives a message that mother is the
greatest of all on the earth. Whatever son looks
like she shares her inscrutable love to her children
in abundance.
The symbolic representation of Ganesha
speaks of everything about the Lord whom we
worship. Great management lessons and life skills
are learnt through the pictorial of the Lord. The
detailed explanation is given to the readers :
 Lord has been described as residing
continuously in mooladhara chakra of human
body. He is the deity of the energy system.
Mooladhara chakra is the first of the six chakras
to step through for eternal bliss. Unless we
effectively achieve this we can not attain and reach
the others. Ganesha is being worshipped as the
first God in any auspicious rituals. In whatever form
we worship Lord Ganesha, he listens to his
devotees.
“Om namastasmye Ganesaya, Brahma vidya
pradayine Yasysgastya yetenaama, vignasaagar
shoeshine ||”

In and Around Temples and their Distance

Name of the temple Distance of the Temple From

Tirupati Railway Station
1. Sri Govindarajaswami Temple, Tirupati Near Railway Station
2. Sri Kodandaramaswami Temple, Tirupati Near Railway Station
3. Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple, Tirupati 03 Kms.
4. Sri Kalyanavenkateswaraswami Temple, Srinivasamangapuram 12 Kms.
5. Sri Padmavatidevi Temple, Tiruchanur 05 Kms.
6. Sri Kalyanavenkateswaraswami Temple, Narayanavanam 22 Kms.
7. Sri Vedanarayanaswami Temple, Nagalapuram 65 Kms.
8. Sri Prasanna Venkateswaraswami Temple, Appalayagunta 15 Kms.
9. Sri Venugopalaswami Temple, Karvetinagaram 58 Kms.
10. Sri Pattabhiramaswami Temple (Valmikipuram), Vayalpadu 100 Kms.

SAPTHAGIRI 19

The first four letters in Telugu
language are used to denote mother,
cow, home and God; in that order.
The words clearly reflect the
importance given to the cow,
immediately after the mother. To
make it more explicit, these are the
words that denote the position of
the cow even before the Supreme
Being. That is the reason for the
mention of the cow before God.
Lord Govind follows the cows. He
looks after them. He attends to
their needs and pampers them.
Hence the progeny of a cow is
valued by Hindus to a great extent.
Further, this may be the reason for
the affection we all have for the cow.
GOKULASHTAMI ON 15-08-2017
20
20 AUGUST, 2017
COW – MOTHER OF THE UNIVERSE:
Cow is the mother of the entire universe.
God creates us, mother gives birth and cow
protects us with its milk. It is said that God
created ‘mother’ instead of Him. It may also be
believed that He has bestowed on us a ‘cow’;
who is like a grandmother. This bovine species
is a boon to mankind. Gift by the gods and giver
of nectar.
In the present day wealth means coins
and wads of currency notes. But in ancient
Aryan civilisation, wealth means cattle. As per
the Indian perception in those days, prosperity
and assets meant cows, cattle herds of cattle.
Whoever possessed more number of cows was
considered affluent in those days. Reminiscing
on the chapter of Uttara Gograhana in
Mahabharata, one may arrive at the conclusion
on the significance of cows. It is well-known
fact that villagers brooded over loss of cattle.
‘Cow’ is an epitome of ancient Indian
culture and treasure. She has been an adorable
deity, atavistically. Aryans sang praises of cows
being the producers of rice. Chyavana
maharshi in his “Nahusham” explained that
there is no wealth that can equal the treasure
of cows. Not only in the Vedas but also in
Dharma Sastras, Ramayana, Mahabharata and
Bhagavata; our ancestors had described the
greatness of the cow. Valmiki, Vyasa, Adi
Sankara, Tulasi Das, Kabir, Mahatma Gandhi
– had all elucidated the distinction of a cow
and also the necessity to safeguard it from
harm. Lord Sri Krishna personally served the
cow and turned into a Gopala.We will always
remember the story of Lord Siva taking the form of
a cow to feed Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation
of Lord Vishnu, when he resided in an anthill on
the hills of Tirumala. Emperor Dileep didn’t hesitate
to bet his life for the cows. Jamadagni, sacrificed
his life for cows too!
STRIDES TO HEAVEN:
The identity of a cow is the identity of our
strength and versatility. The appearance of a cow
is the most propitious form. According to Vedas in
a cow there are different worlds like Atala, Vitala,
Sutala, Rasatala, Talatala, Mahatala, Patala,
Bhooloka, Bhuvara, Suvara, Mahara, Janara,
Taapa, Satyakhyi. It only means a cow is a universal
earth form. In the midst of Kurukshetra war, Sri
Krishna preached Gita to Arjuna and in the process
claimed that he was the cow. Hence Sri Krishna is
also called Gopala. In order to protect the cows
Krishna lifted the Govardhana hill on his little finger.
It is for this reason that along with Sreesooktha,
Purushasooktha and Manusooktha; Gosooktha is
also recited ardently. Hence the cow has been
spoken about as mother of Rudras, mother of
Vasuvus, sister of Aditya and a personification of
ambrosia through its ghee.
Cow is an epitome of Maha Lakshmi. All the
deities asked to be a part of Lakshmi Devi. “I am
the cow. So all of you may imbue yourselves in the
cow” was what Lakshmi suggested to the deities.
Then the cow gave place to all the deities in itself.
Hence if we worship the cow, it is equal to
worshipping all the deities. Even today we can
observe that the places of yagnas are cleaned with
cow dung. During house warming ceremonies,
people enter the new houses along with the cow.
We procure health from the sun. The pulse
of the sun is on our spinal cord. Through that the
cow attracts electricity from the rays of the sun.
For this reason anything concerned with the cow
are all considered pious and healthy.
Our bond with the Cow:
It might be surprising to know that we are
called Telugu people because of the cow.
Linguistics proclaims this as true. It is said that cows
as black as black sesame seeds are extraordinarily
special.
Chinnayya Soori also writes about the cow
in his Bala Vyakarana. As this area was filled with
thousands of black cows it was called Tilagu; and
from this Tilagu, the word Telugu took its origin.
Hence if we are to become real Telugu people, then
we have to nurture cows all over Andhra Pradesh
and increase their numbers. All Indian Vedas,
recollections and puranas had praised the cow.
Singing praises of mother cow, gifting the cow,
following the obligatory duties towards a cow,
protecting the cow, encouraging its protection and
enthusing the encouragement of cow protection
are all virtuous tasks.
Eternal…..
The bond we have with the cow is not only
when we are alive. It persists even after our death.
Every living thing is mortal. After discarding the
SAPTHAGIRI 21
physical body, depending on the sins performed in our worldly life, we by leaps and bounds and
are assigned to heaven or hell after death. Those discarding their today has taken the form of
physical body on this earth, have to travel through sixteen cities TTD Gosamrakshana Trust.
Soumyam, Souri, Nagendrabhavan, Gandharva, Sailaga, Krauncha, This Trust is taking all
Kroora, Vichitrabhavana, Bahwapada, Dukhahada, Naanaakranda, measures to safeguard,
Sutaptha, Raudra, Vayovarshana, Seethaadya, Bahubheethi; to reach protect and improve the
the place for forefathers. Only the cow accompanies us during this number of cows; tirelessly. In
journey. Parents, wife or children come with us only till the graveyard. Tirupati this momentous task
The cow enables us to cross the Vaitarini river very easily. This is the is progressing unhindered in
reason behind gifting a cow during the death ceremony rituals. So, about seventy acres of land.
cows are our gods. Nurturing them is our responsibility. It is almost a Gokula. Along
with the cows donated to TTD
Prosperity of cows….Goal of TTD…
by devotees, animals like
“Protecting the cow will help us in the upliftment of our nation
elephants, horses and others;
and dharma. It is in no way inferior to independence movement” said
which are used for the service
Mahatma Gandhi. Trusting those words we should embark on the
of Lord Venkateswara; are all
momentous task of protecting the cow. TTD has realised the value of
being taken care of.
this task and is successfully accomplishing it. This crucial task was
S.V. Trust…..Best in cow
started almost a thousand years ago under the TTD. It was
protection:
simultaneously begun with the temple management. It has been growing
The Trust, which began
with meagre resources has
improved significantly.
Presently around fourteen
different varieties of Indian
cows are being taken care of
by the Trust. More than three
thousand cows have found
shelter because of this Trust.
The milk and other milk
products from these cows are
utilised for the daily rituals of
God. Similarly they are using
them even in the daily food
camps organised; for
cleansing the lord and for his
prasad. Moreover they are
utilised by the temples of
Tiruchanoor, Govindaraja
swamy, Kodandarama swamy

22 AUGUST, 2017
and Kapileswara Swamy for cleansing the gods
and for the prasad purposes. Similarly they are
providing this milk on a daily basis to the physically
challenged students, deaf and dumb students,
orphanages and leprosy hospitals. Everyday on
the campus of the Trust, worship is done. It is a
pleasure watching the employees not only nurturing
the cows, but also fondly address them and worship
them too! They consider the cows to be their family.
Even the cows are happy with the way they are
treated and greet the employees dearly. This is a
scene that welcomes the people who visit the Trust.
More than two hundred and fifty employees work
tirelessly for the protection of the cows. Besides
the daily worship conducted, festivals like Kanuma
and Gokulashtami are celebrated pompously. This
embarking upon taking care of them, they regard
them as apple of their eyes. Even if a single cow
becomes indisposed they immediately plunge into
action and do all the necessary things. Take it to
the veterinarian. If any cow is affected with an
infectious disease, in order to safeguard the
remaining cows, they immediately shift the infected
one to the hospital to Kamalayyagaripalle near
Bhakarapet in Chittoor district; and provide
necessary treatment to it, until it recovers and
becomes healthy. Not only utilising the milk from
the cows, the Trust follows a certain agenda in
protecting various species of cows. By collecting
semen from various bulls, they help in continuing
with the lineage of various species. In order to
propagate the importance of protection of cow and

Trust has extended even to the Tiruchanoor area.
Dairy Farm…..Benignant……
Protecting the cows doesn’t mean not just
scattering a few blades of hay in front of them.
That can be done by anyone. But that is not what
S.V. Gosamrakshana Trust does. Not only
its improvement, the Trust has taken up many
measures of educating the public. For the benefit
of the cows the Trust is undertaking research and
development measures. It is helping in initiating
many such cow protection cells. It is forging ahead
with the slogan “Service to Cow is service to
Mankind”. This Trust received donations worth

Animals like Elephants, Horses and Oxen are being used in the Service of
Lord Venkateswara during various Rituals and in other T.T.D. temple festivals too.
These animals are taken care of in T.T.D. Dairy Farm.

SAPTHAGIRI 23
more than eleven crores from devotees. The
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati
Trust has accumulated to its name around ninety
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annual interest. It spends around nine crores Gift Sapthagiri to your Near & Dear.
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APTHAGIRI
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They accept healthy cows as donations from
the facilities provided for a
individuals; and for those who do not have cows Happy Pilgrimage of Tirumala
to donate, they can donate certain amount with
which cows are purchased and accepted as 'SAPTHAGIRI'
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a monthly magazine of
T.T.Devasthanams
scheme. Devotees donating money should
Published in
donate nothing less than thousand rupees. They English, Telugu, Tamil,
need to take send drafts or cheques in the name Kannada, Hindi & Sanskrit
of Executive Officr, S.V.G.S.T, TTD. Similarly the
devotees who donate surplus amounts are also
given income tax concessions. They are also
given other preferences like darsan of Lord
Venkateswara and accommodation. In this
context the Trust has initiated a new scheme for
the development of Ongole breed of cows. The
Trust has sent in petitions to the Dairy and Cattle
Welfare Ministry for donations; and it has come
to be known that the ministry has responded
favourably. Even devotees can donate cows to
the Trust and benefit from the benign act. By
taking part in this momentous endeavour by the ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION : Rs. 60/-
TTD to safeguard the cows, we can all become LIFE SUBSCRIPTION : Rs.500/-
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a part of this herculean task and benefit from it. Sanskrit Language
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So why late? Let us go ahead in the path
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Ph : 0877 - 2264543, 2264359
Om Namo Venkatesaya

24 AUGUST, 2017
 Tradition calls The legend says that this is older than the temple of Sri
devotees to a
dev ttend Sri
attend Venkateswaraswamy and hence first pooja, offerings of Naivedya
Var ahas
arahas wam
ahaswamyy temple are done in this temple. Lord Srinivasa got a place to dwell hereon
at Tir umala bef
Tirumala or
befor e
ore the condition that devotees offer first worship, and first Naivedya to
visiting Sri Varahaswamy. After getting the place Srinivasa grew in influence
Venkates
enkateswar
tesw as
aras wam
aswamyy. and became the prominent deity. But the same practice of first worship
T he temple of Var aha
araha is continued.
swam
amyy stands in the The first inscription naming Varahaswamy in Tirumala is from
nor th east cor
north ner of
corner 1379. One devotee, Tirukkalikanri dasar arranged Naivedya to this
Sri Swam
Swam y Pushkarini.
amy deity on that day. In the epigraph of 1380 A.D. this God has been
Mahavishn u in the
vishnu
Mahavishn named as ‘Varaha Nayanar’. Another epigraph of 1476 calls him
incar na
incarna tion of Di
nation vine
Divine ‘Jnanappiran’. The embodiment of knowledge. One who worships
Boar pr otected
protected this God enters the Jnanamaya Kosha. The next stage will be
Bhudevi fr
Bhudevi om
from Anandamaya Kosha which can be automatically achieved by a
Hir an
Hiran
anyyaksha and with Sadhaka. One epigraph published in 1454. Salivahanasaka (AD.
her stood on these 1532) Manmatha Nama Samvatsara Vaishakha Poornima details the
hills
hills.. T he place g ot
got services of Tallapaka Pedda Tirumala Iyengar son of Vaggeyakara
the name Annamacharya. It is three copies two in Telugu and one in Tamil
Var ahakshetr
arahakshetr a.
ahakshetra. grantha lipi (script). These are on the walls of the entrance gopura.
(Padikavali gopuram). The inscription Vividly describe the services
SRI VARAHA JA YANTI ON
JAY
24.08.2017 rendered by the Author poet in Seesa malika Vritta. This is the only

SAPTHAGIRI 25
inscription of pedda Tirumala Iyengar which is in
Telugu. All the other inscriptions of this
Sankeerthana kartha are in Tamil. The complete
seesapadyam can be found in Annamacharya
Charitra (Ed. Veturi Prabhakara Sastry) that too
extracted from written manuscript. (Not from any
inscription) Pedda Tirumala Iyengar renovated the
dilapidated outer walls of Varaha swamy temple
and created a pradakshina pathram.
When the reconstructed temple became
wornout, the Moolaberam (Moola Vigraha) was
kept in the Narasimha Swamy enclosure of
th
Venkateswara swamy temple for 12 years. In 20
century, Mahanth prayagadasji desahu renovated
the temple and reconsecrated the Lord Bhu
Varahaswamy the newly constructed Garbhagriha.
The idol was at a lower level. In 1982, a Balalaya
was erected and the Moola Murthy was brought to
a higher level above the ground; and a
‘Jatabandha’ (fixing the idol strongly) was done.
the Moola Vigraha ‘Bhuvaraha’ and some
Salagramas. But no utsava murthy (processional
deity) comes out on the streets.
The God is worshiped thrice a day according
to Vaikhanasa Agama regulations. This is done
earlier to that of Venkateswara swamy temple.
The Pushkarini in front of the Temple is a
rectangular one and is having a Madhya mandapa
(Neerali mandapa). The half of the Pushkarini
towards the Venkateswara swamy temple is
Srinivasa Teertha. The front side of Varaha swamy
temple is varaha teertha. Srinivasa Teertha is
having wells and called by the names of dikpalakas
and Saraswathy. All the Theerthas are combined
to make a big pushkarini.
Let us have a glimpse of Lord Varahaswami
residing on Tirumala Hills on this auspicious Varaha
Jayanti and be blessed.

In the north west corner of Swamy Pushkarini SOLUTION TO PUZZLE

facing the east stands Varahaswamy Temple. The
1 2 3 4 5
Temple door open to the north. First we come H D
B U R I S A
across the Mukhamandapa with its doors opening
to the east. But this gate way will be opened on A S N M A
special occasion of Chakrasnana (bathing the 6 7
Sudarshana Chakra in the waters of swamy N I A N D A P N
pushkarini). From Mukha mandapa one enters
Antharala of the Temple wherein one can see an N I R D
inner Pradakshinapatha. After Antharala there is a 8 9 10 11
small ‘Sukhanasi’ interior chamber where the S H A M M A Y A
Jayavijayas are standing. Devotees have to stand 12
U A P E E
in this inner chamber to see the God Bhuvaraha
13 14 15
swamy in the Garbhagriha, who is handling facing
T E L A D U S K
north and having Bhudevi in his left hand side. He
stands on a pedestal of two feet height. The upper H Y H E
two hands hold the Chakra and Sankha. There are
16 17
small idols of (Panchaloha) Srinivasa, a replica of
A N G A A I R Y

26 AUGUST, 2017
 A RELIGIOUS PLANT POSSESSING MEDICINAL VALUES
Mandara-kunda-kurabotpala-campakarna-
punnaga-naga-bakulambuja-parijatah
gandhe ’rcite tulasikabharanena tasya
yasmiAs tapah sumanaso bahu manayanti
(Srimad Bhagavatam)
Although flowering plants like the mandara,
kunda, kurabaka, utpala, campaka, arna,
punnaga, nagakesara, bakula, lily and parijata
are full of transcendental fragrance, they are still
conscious of the austerities performed by tulasi.
- Dr. Renu Dixit
worships Lord Vishnu, it is worth several ordinary
pujas and lakhs of Godan (donation of cows).
Tulasi leaves are the essential part in the worship
of Lord Vishnu and his avatars, including Lord
Krishna and Lord Ram, and other deities such
as Hanuman, Balarama, Garuda and
Goddess Lakshmi.
Auspicious
Tulasi is auspicious in all respects. Simply

Tulasi is given special place by the Lord. by seeing, touching, remembering, praying to,
bowing before, hearing about, or sowing this tree,
In Ayurveda, tulasi is known as “The
there is always auspiciousness. Anyone who
Incomparable One”, “Mother Medicine of Nature”
comes in touch with the Tulasi tree in the above
and “The Queen of Herbs,” and is revered as an
mentioned ways lives eternally in the spiritual
“Elixir of life” that is equal for both its medicinal
world.
and spiritual properties. Within India, tulasi has
been adopted into spiritual rituals and lifestyle Tulasi in Sanskrit means “One that is

practices that provide a vast array of health incomparable or matchless”. Tulasi was

benefits that are just beginning to be confirmed recognized thousands of years ago by ancient

by modern science. This emerging science on Rishis to be one of the India’s greatest healing

tulasi, which reinforces ancient Ayurvedic herbs. They saw this herb is so good for health.

wisdom suggests that, tulasi is a tonic for the It is the herb with its own mythological background.

body, mind and spirit that offers solutions to many It is supposed to be beloved of Lord Krishna, the

modern day health problems. incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Tulasi was established
as one of the eight indispensible items in any
A person who cares for the Tulasi daily is
Vedic worship / ritual to ensure that every house
believed to attain moksha (salvation) by the
divine grace of Lord Vishnu. Every part of the
Tulasi plant is considered as sacred. Even the
soil around the plant is holy. If a Tulasi stick is
used to burn a lamp for Vishnu, it is like offering
the lakhs of lamps for all the Gods. If one makes
a paste of dried Tulasi wood (from a plant that
died naturally) and smears it over his body and

Tulasimahatyam on 04.08.2017

SAPTHAGIRI 31 31
and temple had at least one Tulasi bush in
its proximity.
Tulasi is an aromatic herb called 'Holy
basil' in English with Latin name 'Ocimum
sanctum Linn' and Family 'Labiatae'. It is
mentioned in Surasadi gana (Group of drugs
used as aseptic agents and also to treat
asthma, cough etc.) by Charaka and
Vagbhata Acharyas.
Different types of Names
Tulasi plant has got many synonyms
which include Gramya (common herb brown
in villages), Sulabha (easily found
everywhere), Vishnu vallabha (Lord Vishnu
likes this plant), Puta patri (Leaves are
regarded as sacred), Svadu gandhichada
(Leaves has got sweet aroma), Surasa (Leaf
juice is useful in many ailments), Surabhi
(Entire plant is aromatic), Apetarakshasi (It
repels evil organisms), Cakra pushpi
(Flowers are set densely in a circle),
Bahumanjari (It has numerous spikes),
Devadundubhi (Inflorescence is shaped like
32 AUGUST, 2017
trumpet), Kayastha (It maintains body by alleviating
diseases), Sulaghni (It is efficacious drug in Colic).
Tulasi in Ayurvedam
Types of Tulasi include mainly Krishna Tulsi
(Ocimum sanctum Linn.), Rama Tulasi (Ocimum
gratissimum Linn.). Other species include Ocimum
americanum, Ocimum kilimandscharicum, Ocimum
campechianum etc. Its seeds are useful in treating
Dysuria. Its leaf juice is externally applied in diseases
like Earache, wounds, Insect bites, Greying of hairs and
Skin disorders etc. The drugs of Surasadi gana taken
along with honey in case of worms for deworming. The
juice of these drugs is sprinkled on wound which destroys
the maggots in wound. Oil cooked with these drugs should
be filled in the ear and it removes ear ache.
Juice of tulasi is mixed with honey should be used
as collyrium and it destroys conjunctivitis. The juice of
black tulasi is mixed with honey is very useful in cough
which is caused by kapha dosha.
In malarial fever juice of tulasi is mixed with maricha
powder should be taken that checks malarial fever. In
case of poison located in head, one should take black
tulasi with other drugs and used as snuff to alleviate
poisoning.
Pain caused during post-partum is alleviated by
intake of juice of tulasi leaves mixed with old jaggery
removes pain. In conditions like indigestion water boiled
with the root of white tulasi and sonthi (dried ginger)
removes indigestion immediately.
Tulasi leaves are given along with lavanga and
borax powder and all are pounded together should be
given to the child. It alleviates fever, cough, asthma and
abdominal disorders in child. Local application of Tulasi
juice is an excellent remedy in cases of Urticaria and in
Leprosy and other skin disorders etc.
Like this Tulasi plant is not only for worshipping Lord
Vishnu, but also for curing many diseases
and disorders that occurs in man.
Mahabharatha and Srimad Bhagavatam authored by Sage Krishna Dvaipayana, otherwise
called Vyasa are two important treatises that narrate the heroic deeds of Balarama and Krishna.
Apart from that, Alwars’ hymns also exuberantly narrated the story of Balarama and Krishna.
Balarma is the incarnation of Sriman Narayana in the series of seventh place of Dasavathara.
It is said in Sri Vishnu Purana that Bhuma Devi prostrated before the Lord and requested Him
to eradicate the evil doings of giants like Kamsa, Arista, Kesi, Denukan, Pralamban and so
on. Accordingly the Lord informed Brahma and other Celestial Gods that he plucks a white
and a black hair from His head which in turn will assume the form of Balarama and Krishna
respectively and born in the world to kill the giants. It is said that Adisesha on the advise of
Sriman Narayana assumed the form of Lakshmana in Treta yuga, Balarama in Dwapara Yuga
and in Kaliyuga he was born as Sri Ramanuja. The servitude of Balarama is like Lakshmana
to Sri Rama in Ramavatara.

Balarama was born to Rohini, the wife of

Vasudeva and Krishna was born to Devaki. He was
married to Revati, the daughter of King Revata in
Dwaraka. The marriage of Balarama with Revati
is very interesting. There was a King named Revata
who is well versed in Dharma Sastra and also
earning the wealth. A renowned girl was born to
him and he named her Revati. At the ripe age, the
King desired to find a suitable person for her
marriage. He approached Brahma. When he
visited Brahmaloka, two Gandharvas were singing
in the assembly. The King stood outside and at
the end of the concert, respectfully enquired
Brahma about the marriage of his daughter to a
prince. Brahma asked him to mention the names
of a princes which are in his mind. Revata referred
to the various names of various regional princes.
Having heard the names, Brahma laughed loudly.

SRIKRISHNAASTAMI ON 14-08-2017
BALARAMA JAYANTI ON 23-08-2017
33
SAPTHAGIRI 33
He said that he has passed by several ages just
as a moment, hearing the music of these two
Gandharvas and where are those kings suitable
for his daughter. Further, he said there are two
promoters of Yadava race named Balarama and
Krishna, born in the house of Vasudeva in Mathura.
Brahma advised the King to give Revati to
Balarama, who is an incarnation of Samkarshana.
The king made obeisance to Brahma and returned
to his city and performed the marriage of his
daughter to the mighty Balarama.
Description
It is said in Srimad Bhagavatam that,
Balarama who had plough as his weapon, his
deeds being celebrated by the gopis, who was
intoxicated, roamed in the woods just like the
intoxicated Indra’s Iravata elephant. Describing the
beauty of Balarama, Suka says in Srimad
Bhagavata that, Balarama is powerful, wearing a
bright ear ring with a pearl necklace, called
Vaijayanti, wearing a smiling lotus like face and
decorated with sweat like dew drops. He invited
the river Yamuna for water sport. But Yamuna
In Vishnu Purana
Sri Vishnu Purana says “Ekada thu vina
ramam Krishno Brindavanam yayow” which
means that at one time when Krishna was
dancing on the hoods of Kaaliya, a Chief
Serpant in Yamuna River, Balarama was not
near to Him. In the same Purana, it is said
“sandesahi sama mathuraihi prema……”
which means that Balarama was sent by
Krishna to give message to Gopis, who were
restless in the separation of Krishna and
Balarama pacified them and enriched love
towards Krishna.
34 AUGUST, 2017
declined. Immediately, Balarama angered very
much and dragged the river with the tip of his
plough by saying that he will tear her into hundred
pieces. Having afraid for this action, Balarama
compassionately released Yamuna. Then
Balarama like the elephants play with female
elephants, sported in the water with the Gopis. In
the end, Yamuna gave blue garments, beautiful
ornaments and a brilliant wreath of flowers which
were adorned by Balarama. This indicates the
boundless strength of Balarama.
According to a Story
Srimad Bhagavatam mentions a very
interesting story where Balarama’s role is
memorable. At one time, Sathrajit, a King, who was
very devout to Sun God, got Syamanthaka jewel
which is very precious, offers wealth and prosperity
wherever it is. He always wore it around the neck.
After some time, it came to his brother Prasena,
from whom it passed into the hands of the monkey
chief Jambavan who got possession of it after
having killed Prasena and then it was tide over the
child’s swing in the cave of Jambavan.
One day, when Sathrajit was sleeping in the
palace, Satadhanvan at the instigation of a Yadava
named Akrura, who desired to have the jewel for
himself, killed Sathrajit and gave it to Akrura. During
this incident, Krishna was not in Dwaraka. Having
known this, Krishna assured Satyabhama that he
will take revenge Satadhanvan. He consulted
Balarama. They planned to kill Satadhanvan.
Satadhanvan requested the help of Akrura and
Kritavarma. They denied to help him. At that time,
Satadhanvan gave the jewel to Akrura for safety.
He left in a horse to safeguard himself. Following
him, Krishna and Balarama chased him from the
chariot. The horse died in the middle. Krishna alone
went to kill Satadhanvan. He killed him by his
chakra. He could not find the jewel. Krishna had a
doubt on Akrura. Krishna thought of Akrura, who
was a great soul and he asked him to show the
jewel in the Sabha. Akrura also showed the jewel,
which was safeguarded secretly in his fold. The
jewel was scintillating all the places and everybody
was happy to see this. Balarama also desired to
possess the jewel. Krishna also feels to have the
jewel with him, as this is the property of his father-
in-law. Satyabhama feels that this jewel is her
property. Having noticed the feelings of these,
Krishna told in the Sabha (court) that we can
possess this jewel with us, but this is the property
which Satyabhama has every right to possess. But,
anyone of us will not possess this jewel. Because,
this must be with the person, who is pure and
practising Brahmacharya. Krishna is living with
16000 wives, Satyabhama is a beloved wife, Of
course, Balarama desired to possess this, he must
dispense with drinking habit. Hence, all the three
are not eligible to possess this jewel. He said that
Akrura is the right person to possess this jewel
continuously for the sake of prosperity of the world.
Akrura also accepted the order of Krishna and
immediately he wore this jewel in his neck without
any fear.
When Krishna and Balarama returned from
Dwaraka, heard that there will be a war between
Kauravas and Pandavas. Having heard this,
Balarama was very much distressed. Both groups
are close associates of Balarama and Krishna.
Hence, Balarama decided to sojourn and to
perform Theertha yatra. Balarama during his
sojourn, visited Tiruchchukanur, now called
References in Ancient Tamil Literature
Apart from Alwars’ hymns, there
were several references in ancient Tamil
Literature. In Paripadal, it is said that,
Balarama who is elder to Krishna, is very
powerful. He wears very dark cloth. He has
three kinds of beautiful flags adorned with
the symbol of palm tree, plough called
Nanjil and Elephant. He is an amsa of
Sankarshana, one of the four Vyuhamurtis.
It describes that his weapon like plough’s
mouth is in bend shape to pierces through
the chest of foes like the dust from the mud
ploughed with his mighty strength and
sound. Like Krishna, Balarama is also very
beautiful but white in complexion.
Periyalwar says Vellipperumalai kuttan
which means that Balarama is like silver
lined hill . He wears kundala, a kind of
earring in one ear.
In Akananuru, a classical Tamil
poetic work in Sangam Literature, one of
the pranks of Krishna is mentioned. When
the Gopis were taking bath in the river,
Krishna, having taken their clothes and
climbed up the Kurunta tree. At that time
Balarama came there. Having noticed this,
Krishna thought that if he happens to see
this situation, he will be blamed and hence
immediately bent the branch of the tree,
where he climbed, to enable the Gopis to
cover them with the leaves and avoided
appearing before Balarama.
Tiruchanur, where one can worship the temple of
Krishna and Balarama in Sri Padmavati Tayar
Temple, with sacred sandals in the Mulavirat of
SAPTHAGIRI 35
Balarama. This is a rare Sannidhi where one can
ask the priest to show the feet of Balarama and
worship the feet. Having seen him in Theertha
Yatra, all Risis welcomed him and honoured, except
Suta. Balarama got angry with him. Suta was well
versed in eighteen Puranas and hence feels that
he is superior to others. Balarama pronounced a
mantra and sent dharba towards Suta and at last
it cut off the head of Suta. All other Risis prayed
him to rectify the defeat and give Suta, a life. Then
Balarama prayed with mantra and Suta was alive
like awaked from the bed. He worshipped and
apologise him for his ignorance. Pallava, a King
was doing evils to those Risis. Balarama killed him,
visited many places and reached Kurukshetra. At
that time the war between Kauravas and Pandavas
is nearing. Duryodana is the only person existing.
Bheema and Duryodana were doing war. Dharma,
Arjuna and others welcomed Balarama and
honoured with pujas. Balarama asked them to stop
the war and compromise each other. But in vein.
Bheema killed Duryodana with his Gadha. Having
seen this, Balarama felt sad by this action of
Bheema. Since Bheema acted against dharma in
beating Duryodana, Balarama with red eyes, asked
Bheema to fight with him. Immediately Krishna
informed all the facts to Balarama that were
happened during his absence and requested him
to be calm. Then Balarama pleased with these
words and returned to Dwaraka.
The end of the Avatara of Balarama and
Krishna is very interesting. By the curse of Risi,
Yadava lineage was ruined. When Dharukkan was
looking the chariot of Krishna, the horses dragged
the chariot to the sea and disappeared. The
36 AUGUST, 2017
weapons like Conch, Chakra, Gadha rounded
Krishna and disappeared in the sky. Balarama
seated in Yoganista under a tree. From the face of
Balarama, a snake with so much of glittering
appeared. At that time from the sea, Siddhas and
Nagas worshipped him with Stotras. Along with
Siddhas and Nagas, the King of Sea prayed and
worshipped him. Then the snake disappeared in
the sea. Krishna sent a message to Arjuna through
Darukkan, that He will go away from this world by
Yoga and the city Dwaraka will be submerged in
the sea. Hence, no one should be in Dwaraka.
Vedanta Desika in his Dasavatara Stotra
prays that the unique sports of Balarama whose
symbol is the palm tree, such as the leaning of
the city of Kauravas and killing giants like
Pralamban, confer all welfare on us and being
associated with these, the sports of Krishna
beginning from his infancy, with enhanced
excellence, became more enjoyable to the
world, like milk admixture with
sugar.
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 Lord Vishnu,
Srimannarayana has
taken many
incarnations in which
He is worshipped. He is
the Supreme God, yet He
is marked by His
soulabhya, easy
accessibility. The one form
in which He is listed as part
of a triad, Brahma, Vishnu, and
Siva, is perhaps His First Avatara.
So is he described by Sri Parasara Bhattar.
The next, or perhaps His first avatara in reality,
is as Hayagreeva. He bears the face of a Horse.
In this Avatara, he recovered the “stolen” Vedas
from the thieves, Madhu and Kaitabha.
All other avataras follow only later.
Incidentally, the final avatara as Kalki is yet to
occur, at the end of this Kali Yuga. We now
mentally travel to the 11 th century back. Sri
Ramanuja, accompanied by his dear disciple,
Kooresa, (Koorathazhvan in Tamil), walked to the
Kashmir State to Consult the Saraswati-
Bhandaara Library. Why? What for? Sri
Ramanuja wished to consult the Bodhayana Vritti
(a brief commentary) on Brahma Sutras. These
had been commented upon by Sri (Adi) Sankara,
but our Ramanuja was not happy with it. He
wished to write to his own satisfaction, but it
should be authentic, not rebellious. He had heard
that one Bodhayana Vritti, an ancient abridged
explanation was available, but it would not be
SRI HAYAGREEVA JAYANTI
ON 07-08-2017
lent out. You did’nt have
Xerox reproducing
facilities in those times.
But, Sri Koorathazhvan
was a master-prodigy, a
live Xerox, he read once
and remembered the
whole in a photographic
memory. So, what Ramanuja
required could be accomplished.
Sri Ramanuja wrote; rather he
dictated. Sri Azhvan would write if
acceptable. Otherwise, he would sit silently. As
an implicit and obedient disciple, he would not
dare to correct Bhashyakara. Thus we owe Sri
Bhashyam to Ramanuja=Kooresa pair !
It is said that Goddess Saraswati, in charge
of the Vidyapeeta showed Her admiration and
approval by presenting her Deity, namely
Hayagreeva to Sri Ramanuja what a masterly
achievement! And what a divine approval!
The Deity later came to Desika. As a master
exponent of Sri Bhashya, Desika had delivered
the Kaalakshepa on Sri Bhashya more than 30
times, A Vaishnava has this duty foremost:
propagation of Sri Bhashya commentary on
Brahma sutras and Desika’s Invocation verse to
his favourite deity was-
Jnaanaanandamayam Devam nirmala spatikaakrutim |
Aadhaaram sarvavidyaanaam Hayagreevam upaasmahey ||
Hayagreeva Stotram-1
This verse comes first in Desika’s famous
hymn-
“I pay homage to Lord Hayagreeva (the
neck and face are like the horse). He is made
SAPTHAGIRI 3737
up, as it were, of pure knowledge bliss. He looks
crystal like. He is the basis, foundation, for all
knowledge.”
Our children must all emulate Desika,
Whatever may be the subject Physics, Philosophy,
Literature, engineering, whatever it might be,
Hayagreeva will surely bless those whose mind
revolves around the Lord reciting the verses
praying to the Lord.
Madhu Kaitabhas’cha rodham vidhooya
Trayee divya chakshu: Vidhaatur vidhaaya |
Smarasyanga Rangin! Turangaavataarah
Samastam jagat jeevayishyas-akasmaat ||
(Verse 52)
Then Sri Bhattar goes on to the other
avataras, Matsya, Koorma etc., It is said that, Sri
Hayagreeva had been sung of by Alwars also. For
example, Tirumangai Alwar :

Temple for Hayagreeva 1) Parimukhamoy aruliya em paraman ………

Most Vishnu shrines have a small temple for - Periya Tirumozhi VII. 8.2
Hayagreeva. Hayagreeva is otherwise housed 2) Parimukhamoy isaikoll veda nool
along with Swami Sri Vedanta Desika, because of pagarnthavan.
the special closeness between the two, His avatara
- Periya Tirumozhi V .3.2.
had been necessitated in a very ancient period
when two demons, by name, Madhu and Kaitabha, 3) Ovaathuyirppiravi…. Maavaahi Aamaiyaay
stole the Vedic knowledge and Brahma “wept”. meenaahi…
Then Lord Vishnu incarnated as Hayagreeva - Tiruvoymozhi, II.8.5.
chased them and killed them and retrieved the
Some References in Mahabharata
whole of Vedas. Each person requires Veda for
his own reason. Brahma requires Vedic help. To In Shanti Parva, Moksha Dharma Bhaagaa,
know the person’s previous punya and papa stock. Sarga 357… 96 slokas. This is titled, traditionally
To help Brahma, Vishnu had to chase the demon as Hayasira Upakhyanam. The Head of Sri
pair, and kill them. This occurred almost at the most Parakala Math is a regular Worshipper of
primitive times. Hayagreeva, He has composed masterly
invocation hymns on the Deity.
Sri Parasara Bhattar, the son of the great
I wish more people learn more about the
savant, Sri Koorathazhvan, has composed a hymn
Great Potency of Sri Hayagreeva worship and
on Sri Rangarajas. In that hymn in Poorva Sataka,
benefit thereby.
he sings of this avatara as -
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HOW TO MAKE TIRUMALA PILGRIMAGE A PLEASANT ONE
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s The moment you think of a trip to Tirumala, reserve your Railway/Bus tickets, accommodation
and seva tickets well in advance.
s If you find leisure time stay at Tirupati and visit local temples.
s TTD is plying free buses from Railway station to Alipiri for the benefit of the devotees who walk
up the Hills.
s The pilgrims can deposit the luggage, properly locked in the counter at Alipiri Foot path, before
they start climbing holy steps and the luggage will be delivered at mandapam near CRO,
Tirumala. The service is rendered free of cost.

38 AUGUST, 2017
 The word “Raksha” itself means
“Protect”. God prevails everywhere
and protects us through some means of
living beings in the world. Those
who protect the weak is
considered as representative
sent by Lord. Thus, saying,
let’s hear the conversation and
get more insight on Raksha
Bandhan.
There lived grandparents of
Keshav in a small village called
Lakshmipur. They were waiting for their
grandchildren’s arrival from various places.
Most of them live in other countries and few from
other states. They were very much lonely. Soon,
the most awaiting day dawned. The huge family
house was filled with grandchildren, sons,
daughters and all having fun. The family get
together was to celebrate temple function
conducted by this family.
While playing, one day, the kids (Keshav,
Lakshmi, Ram, Siya, Govind, Gauri) got into fight
with each other. It became noisy and started hurting
each other. Grandfather stopped their fighting and
started narrating the importance of Raksha
Bandhan. Here are the conversations.
Grandfather: Children, This is the land which
celebrates “Rakhi” and you kids who are brothers
and sisters fight? It is not at all good for your future.
Keshav: “Rakhi”? What is that?
Grandfather: “Rakhi” or “Raksha Bandhan” is
celebrated to strengthen the bond between
brothers and sisters.
Govind: Is it so? When it is celebrated grandpa?
Grandfather: It is usually celebrated during the
month of Shravan purnima which is mostly in
August.
Lakshmi: We only celebrate this or any
other states in India celebrate?
Everybody in the house
gathered to listen….
Father: It is mostly celebrated in
North India. It is also celebrated
from South India but names are
different.
Siya: Dad, how should we celebrate?
Lakshmi: I have seen in movies, sisters tie knot to
brothers in their wrist.
Dad: That’s right but there is more to it.
Ram: What needs to be done on that day?
Grandfather: Sister will make Harathi Plate which
has unbroken coconut, Dia (small lamp), Kumkum
(Vermilion), woolen thread (colorful), small water
pot and Akshath.
Siya: What is Akshath?
Grandfather: Akshath is unbroken rice mixed with
turmeric. This is to be poured on the head before
tying the knot. This is considered auspicious.
Lakshmi: Interesting, How to start the festival?
Dad: Sister has to take head bath and can wear
new dress. This year, it falls on 7th August 2017
Monday and the thread can be tied between 11:04
a.m to 21:17. Before tying, sister will pray to God
for the safety of her brother, perform Harathi with
Diya, apply vermilion on his forehead (tilak) and
then tie the sacred knot in the wrist. Now-a-days, it
comes with style and multiple colors.
SAPTHAGIRI 39
 Ram: Gauri, this time will you tie for me?
Gauri: Yes, of course.
Ram: What else Dad as a brother that I need to do?
Grandfather: You need bless her and give her gifts.

Siya: How about sweets?

Dad: Yes, Sweets can be prepared and to be offered to God
and distribute as prasadam to everybody.
Lakshmi: Maa, Can you tell me about the celebrations in
other states?
Mother: This festival came from Aryan civilization and
celebrated across India in different ways. In Maharastra it is
called Narali Purnima (mainly for coastal areas), Tamil Nadu
is Avani Avittam (but not like Rakhi) mostly performed by
men, Kajari Purnima in Madhya Pradesh for farmers, in
Jammu they celebrate by flying colorful kites, in West Bengal,
Many Avatars of Vishnu and Orissa it is Jhulan Purnima in addition to Rakhi they worship
many Puranas detail the Sita Ram, in Uttarakand they keep special fair on this day, in
existing of Celebrating Gujarat as Pavitropana where people offer water to Lord
Raksha Bandhan for a
Shiva to forgive sins and generally as Upakarma day.
purpose. It dates during
Nepalees also celebrate this day by preparing special item
Vamana Avatara and many
with 7 grains.
instances in Krishna Avatara
too. The importance of Gauri: Wow! Are there any other celebrations on this day
Raksha Bandhan is that apart from Rakhi?
Lord protects his devotees
Grandfather: Rightly guessed. This year Hayagriva Jayanthi
to sustain the world live in
peace. The experience on is also celebrated on the same day. Hayagriva is God of
celebrating Raksha Learning. Kids, you are all at learning stage, so you must
Bandhan emphasis the love pray to Lord Hayagriva (Vishnu Avatar) and get his blessings
and good relationship (primarily Gnana).
between the all beings. It
Govind: In Hinduism, I hear that every festival originates
also teaches us how
from Legends. Is there any specific Legend for this festival?
important that every being
should help others Grandfather: Yes!There are many legends related to this
and protect each other festival. Foremost is during Vamana Avatar. When Mahabali
during crisis. was pushed down to pathala loka, he prayed to Lord that he
should stay with him in Pathala Loka. Mother Lakshmi wanted
Lord to be with her in Vaikunta. So, she tied Rakhi to Mahabali
RAKHI POORNIMA ON
07-08-2017 and requested him to allow Lord Vishnu to be back in
Vaikunta. As it was sister’s wish, Mahabali allowed Lord
Vishnu to go back to Vaikunta.

40 AUGUST, 2017
Siya: Nice to hear. So, brothers should always fulfill
the true wishes of his sister.
Dad: There is an incident in Mahabharatha. During,
Rajasuya Yaga, Lord Krishna injured his finger due
to killing of Sisupala. Seeing that, Draupadi at once,
tore a piece from her new saree and applied
bandage to the wound.Thus, celebrating Raksha
Bandhan.
Govind: I have read similar incident when Lord
Krishna flying kite injured his finger and Draupadi
immediately tore her saree piece and applied
bandage to the wound.This incident turned out as
Raksha Bandhan.
Mom: Yes, Lord Krishna promises Draupadi that
he would save her at all times. And it’s true, that
throughout Mahabharatha, Krishna comes on time
to rescue Pandavas and Draupadi. In Srimad
Bhagavatham, when Lord Krishna ends his Avatar
on earth, he says that he still owes to Draupadi
and feels that he should have helped her more.
Thus is the compassion of Lord towards his
devotees.
Keshav: These incidents teach us that sisters pray
for brothers’ wellness and in turn brothers protect
sisters at all times.
Mother: It is not only brother sister relationship,
but also this knot protects from evil. It is believed
that mother Yasodha tied knot to Lord Krishna in
order to save from evil Kamsa. The entire
Vrindavana Vasis (people) pray to Lord Vishnu to
protect each limbs of Lord Krishna.
Grandfather: Another story depicts that Raksha
Bandhan is a sign of victory. Goddess Indrani, the
wife of Indra ties knot to Lord Indra before war with
Asura. Finally, Asura lost and Indra won. The
strength and the prayer during this day is powerful.
It also indicates the victory of good over evil.
Keshav: Interesting, there are so many legends!
Dad: Not only this, there are other legends related
to Santoshi Maa, River Yamuna and her brother
Yama are some of them.
Govind: Very heartening to hear about the legends
and the celebrations. We feel proud of our culture
and the bonding of relationship. We should not
have fought while playing. Sorry to everyone.
Siya: Right Govind, I have read that in my Sanskrit
Class that “World is my Family - Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam” and I realize when we celebrate this
festival.
Lakshmi and Gauri: Hey all, let’s look forward to
celebrate Raksha Bandhan!
Grandfather: Let’s all pray to Lord for this happiest
moment, lets pray for the happy world!
SARVAROGOPSHAMANAM SARVASHUBH
VINASHANAM; SAKRITKRITEBDAMEKAM YEN
RAKSHA KRITA BHAVET!
Gauri: Can I know the meaning for this Sloka?
Grandmother: It is “The sacred thread worn on
this festival will protect and destroys all the
diseases and inauspiciousness for the whole year”.
Grandfather: Also, recite the below sloka –
Om Saha Naavau-Avatu |
Saha Nau Bhunaktu |
Saha Veeryam Karavaavahai |
Tejasvi Naava Adheetamastu
Maa Vidvisaavahai |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
May God Protect us; May God Nourish us;
May we work together with energy and strength
for body and mind; May our Study be enlightening
and not giving rise to Anger; Om, Peace, Peace!
Everybody repeated and got excited.
Grandparents were very much contented to see
the family together for this celebration.
SAPTHAGIRI 41
 Alavandar was born as the child of Isvara
muni in the year 976 C.E. in Veeranara-yanpuram,
Tamilnadu in the month of Adi or ‘Kataka’ under
the constellation ‘uttiradam’ on a full moon day. The
child was Yamunaitturaivan as per the wishes of
his grandfather, Sriman Nadhamunigal the first and
foremost Acharya before he departed from this
world and entrusted the task of grooming and
imparting instructions in esoteric doctrines to his
disciple Uyyakkondar which devolved from him to
his disciple Sri Ramamisrar or Manakkal Nambi
since the child was not born until much later.
Yamunacharya displayed marks of a prodigy and
had became a scholar par excellence in ‘tarka’,
‘nyaya’ and other ‘sastras’ before he was twelve.
By a quirk of fate he was at that stage pulled into a
situation of debating with the king’s court ‘vidvan’
named ‘Akkialwan’ who had been extorting an
annual levy from all less accomplished scholars
as a tribute to his superiority. The young Yamuna
took up the cudgels in defence of his master saying
that the latter would no longer pay that levy. The
debate ensued in the royal court before the king
and queen. Struck by the effulgence on the face
of the young boy, the queen took his side and
ALAVAND
ALAV AR VARSHA
ANDAR
TIRUN
TIRUN AKSHA
UNAKSHATRAM ON 06.08.2017
AKSHATRAM
42 AUGUST, 2017
wagered with the king that her protege would win
handsomely. The king who backed the royal scholar
wagered half his kingdom on his behalf. Yamuna
easily defeated the vidvan by his uncanny logic to
the exultation of the queen who hugged him
exclaiming ‘emmai ala vandeero’ or ‘thou come to
rule us’. Hence he came to be called Alavandar.
Yamunacharya now became a ruler at a
young age and immersed himself in affairs of the
state as well as the pomp and pleasures of that
ensued a life of position and power.
Meanwhile, Sri Manakkal Nambi who had
been wondering how to approach the now
inaccessible Yamuna finally gained an audience
with him. Yamuna thought that he had come to ask
some favour from him and asked Nambi what he
wanted from him. Sri Manakkal Nambi told Yamuna
that he had not come to ask anything but make
over to him the patrimony deposited with him by
his grandfather. His curiosity aroused, Yamuna
asked him what possibly that could be. Manakkal
Nambi then imparted instruction in all the eighteen
chapters of the Bhagavad Gita in exquisite detail.
As the message of the Gita unfolded verse after
verse, Yamuna asked Nambi how to actualize the
bliss of that Divine Being. Manakkal Nambi then
explained the message of the ‘Charamasloka’ of
the Gita to Yamuna when the latter’s mind filled
with a deep yearning for communion with the Lord.
Nambi then took Yamuna to the sanctum of the
reclining Lord at Sriragam and pointing to the lotus
feet of the Lord told him that those feet were the
patrimony his predecessors had left for him. As
Yamuna’s vision traverse the spread of the
Immaculate Lord, from His lotus feet to the long,
broad, shining eyes, his eyes opened up in a torrent
of tears like rain drops.
From that time, Sri Alavandar settled in
Srirangam and became the chief pontiff of the mutt
donning the mantle of a ‘sannyasi’. Some fifteen
devotees had joined him as disciples among whom
the principal ones were Peria Nambi, Tirukkottiyur
Nambi, Peria Tirumalai Nambi, Tirumalai Andan,
Tiruvarangattu Perumal Araiyar, besides others
who belonged to other sects like Tirukkacchi Nambi
and Maraneri Nambi. Manakkal Nambi had
informed Sri Alavandar of the ‘Yoga Rahasya’ of
Sriman Nadhamuni which had been imparted by
him only to his second disciple Sri
Kurugaikkavalappan in Veeranarayanapuram and
exhorted him to approach him since his patrimony
would be fully served only then. Accordingly,
Alavandar proceeded to Appan’s place of
residence in Veeranarayanpuram and prayed to
him to initiate him in ‘yoga rahasya’.
Kurugaikkavalappan did not do so at that time and
instead set a date and time for him to come and
receive instruction. Unfortunately that was not to
happen since by some strange turn of events,
Alavandar happened to be at Tiruvanandhapuram
on the appointed day, having come to worship the
Lord there. When he went back to Srirangam, he
found out that Kurugaikkavalappan had departed
to the Lord’s abode on the same day. The ‘yoga
rahasya’ was unfortunately lost to posterity.
After this, Alavandar made a visit to
Kanchipuram to offer benediction to Lord Devaraja
when he learned from his disciple Kanchipurna of
Ilaizhvar’s (Ramanuja) perilous experience at the
hands of Yadavaprakasa during a trip to Kashi and
how the grace of the Lord Devaraja and the Divine
Mother saved him and led him safely back home.
On his visit to the temple, Alavandar came face to
face with Yadavaprakasa with his entourage of
students entering the shrine at a distance. After
ascertaining from Kanchipurna who in the group
was Ilaizhvar, Alavandar blessed him from distance
and prophecied a glorious future for the tradition
with the words of Swami Nammalwar “Mudhalvan
Ivan”, ‘he is the leader’ – the ‘bhavishyadacharya’
predicted by Sri Nammalwar who would herald a
glorious future for the Sampradaya and become
the guiding light of the Visishtadvaita Siddhanta.
After he returned to Srirangam, he deputed his
prime disciple Peria Nambi to bring Ramanuja to
Srirangam to anoint him as the next Pontiff of
Srirangam mutt. But as Peria Nambi and Ramanuja
reached the banks of river Cauveri, they saw the
mortal remains of Alavandar laid on the funeral
pyre. Ramanuja was distraught. But even in that
state he noticed that three fingers of the Acharya
were bent. When he inquired about it, he got to
know that the Acharya had three wishes -
i. to write a ‘bhashyam’ on sage Vyasa’s
‘Brahma Sutras’
ii. popularize the name of sage Parasara author
of ‘Vishnupuranam’ by way of expression of
gratitude to him, and
iii. to bring out a ‘vyakhyana grantha’ on
Nammazhvar’s Tiruvaimozhi. Ramanuja then
openly vowed before the crowd that with
Lord’s grace, he would fulfill the Acharya’s
wishes. At that very instant, the bent fingers
of the preceptor straightened out to the
amazement of the assembled crowd. Sri
Yamunacharya had lived for sixty-six years
departing in the year 1042 C.E.
SAPTHAGIRI 43

He was blessed by the Lord Himself. By the command
of Srivaru, he began worshipping Lord Venkateswara at
Tirumala. Because of this noble act, for the last 5117 years,
from the start of Kaliyuga, we have all been offering our
prayers and are getting the divine blessings of Lord
Venkateswara, as the self-manifested icon of Lord Srinivasa
was first discovered and revealed to the world by him. This
is a divine story which has never been told in detail and is
hidden away in the Puranic accounts. We have come across
the name Chengalavayi in the previous articles. He is none
other than the 'first Vaikhanasa Archaka' of Tirumala hill
shrine, who performed Aradhana and the first Abhishekam
to the Dhruva Beram of Lord Venkateswara Swami at
Tirumala temple.
yata: sarvAni bhutAni bhavantyAdi yugAgamE |
yasmimScha pralayam yAnti punarEva yugakshayE ||
- Sri Vishnu Sahasranama
He is the one from whom all beings come into existence
at the beginning of a cycle of time, and He is also the one into
whom they all dissolve at the end of the cycle.
The above sloka from Sri Vishnu Sahasranama has an
indirect relevance to Srivari Friday Abhishekam at Tirumala.
Thesloka indirectly refers to the dissolution – Pralaya and in
consequence, about the divine incident by which the self-
manifested icon of Srivaru first appeared in Tirumala. After the
last complete dissolution called pAnchabhoUtika praLayam,
all the Jivatmas and Prakriti lay preserved and protected by
Sriman Narayana, in and as part of His own body as He lay on
the serpent bed of Adi Sesha.
44
44 AUGUST, 2017
Somewhere around 3102 BC,
during the very last moments of
Dwapara yuga, the Omnipotent,
Ultimate Brahman Lord Sri Krishna,
resolved that the reason for His
appearance on Earth to establish
righteousness has been fulfilled and
thus decided to complete His
incarnation. By His will, the holy sage
Durvasa, aggrieved by the act of
Yadavas, cursed that a pestle born in
the Yadava clan will completely
destroy them. By seeing this pestle, the
terrified Yadavas approached
Bhagavan Sri Krishna and asked for a
solution. Lord Krishna advised them
to grind away the pestle and throw
away the remnants in the ocean. So
they did; a small piece of stone that
was left was thrown into ocean and
washed ashore. It came into the hands
of a hunter named ‘Jara’. Lord Sri
Krishna having accomplished His self-
imposed task on earth and desiring to
cast off the material body went into
Yoga trance resting His body on the
ground in a thick forest, with the right
foot placed upon the left knee. The
hunter came that way in search of
game and mistook Sri Krishna for a
beast of prey. Instantly he shot a deadly
arrow shod with a piece of the pestle,
the remnant left after grinding the
pestle. Immediately a powerful light
appeared as if a thousand Suns glowed
together. Sri Krishna appeared as Lord
Vishnu, being unique with four hands
and all the Rishis, Munis, Devas and
others headed by Brahma gathered at
the spot and praised Krishna for
having rid the earth of all evil elements. All the Devas
were waiting for the celestial spirit of Sri Krishna
(Lord Vishnu) to come to Sri Vaikuntam. But to their
pleasant surprise …
The Spirit of Krishna ascended the celestial
heavens illuminating the earth and the Heavens. As
it entered the Surya Mandala, the Solar system, it
took a shape and form with four hands but made of
lifeless stable matter. Simultaneously, a voice from
Heavens aSarIravANi exhorted the Devas and the
others to behold that form which was to descend, or
had already descended, on earth where, He would
dwell forever and which form they should worship.
Sri Vedanta Desika in his Tamil tract known as SrI
tattva mAtrukaI quotes Sri Bhagavan’s own words
then uttered as given in Sri Mahabharata – Chapter
V, Mausala Parva – bhUmaU gatAm pUjyatAm
pramEyam.
It was a direction given to Brahma, Devas,
Munis and others in response to their request, so
that by offering prayers and other acts of worship
for this iconic form they might obtain salvation.
(Perhaps this might be the reason until today, that
there is a unique practice in Tirumala Hill Shrine.
After Ekanta Seva, the last worship of the day before
closing all the doors, holy perfumed water is filled in
a golden pot along with divine sandal paste, for use
in the worship to be offered by Brahma and other
Devas, every night. It is believed that the Gods and
Demi-gods offer worship every night to Srivaru and
hence this theertham is called as ‘Brahma Theertham’
which is given to all devotees as soon as Suprabhatam
is over, everyday).This self-manifested Archa icon
of Lord Krishna, which appeared to all the assembled
Devas as Lord Srinivasa with four hands –
chaturbhuja, was worshipped by all.
Many lakhs of years elapsed and the country
was ruled by a King belonging to the dynasty of the
Sun (Surya Vamsa) named Sankhana. He was very
noble and well educated in all Sastras. His only wish
in his life was to worship Sriman Narayana and
wanted to offer some kind of service to Lord Vishnu,
which would continue till the sun and moon continue
to shine upon this earth. One fine day, Lord Narayana,
advised him in a divine voice to go to Venkatachala
hills and do penance for him.
sAkshAtpujASrayO nityam aham
bimbAntarENa cha |
yathA sRushTam vimAnam tE
madrUpam purusharshabha ||
tEnOkta mArgENa vidhAya puNyam
vimAnavaryam pratimAmcha puNyAm |
praKhyApya SanKhO naralOkasamGhE
jagAma vishNO: padamavyayam Subham ||
- brahma purANam
Pleased by his austerities, Lord Srinivasa
appeared to him and instructed to build a temple with
vimanam (Gopura or Shikhara) and consecrate His
self-manifested icon.
Again at the end of this yuga great deluge
happened. It is explained in SrI vEmkaTAchala
mahAtmyam – skAnda purANam. According to the
time calculations of Sanatana Dharma, for Brahma,
1 day is equal to two kalpas and one Kalpa equals to
14 manvantaras. The great deluge is night for
Brahma. For 100 years there would be a severe
drought. All crops dried up and there was no food.
The sun glowed like a blazing fire and in that fire,
the land, cities, mountains, trees, forests all turned
into ashes. Then dark coloured clouds emanated from
Brahma and it rained severely for about 100 years.
Due to these rains the severity of fire from the Sun
decreased. Again these clouds rained for another 9
years. Due to these rains, oceans overlapped lands
and all the celestial worlds along with the earth,
Bhuloka, Bhuvarloka, Suvarloka were in complete
darkness. The earth drowned into the nether worlds.
The horrific night period of Brahma came to an end.
Sriman Narayana assumed the form of a white boar
and lifted up the earth on its crest. Brahma by the
command of Lord began to create the world again.
One may become doubtful as to where in this
great deluge, the self-manifested icon of Lord
Srinivasa was safeguarded. SrI vEmkaTAchala
mahatyam – brahma purANa elaborates a beautiful
story as an answer:
A Beautiful Story
During this Sveta Varaha Kalpa, Vaivaswata
Manvantara, 25th Mahayuga – Kaliyuga, there lived
a noble Vaikhanasa sage. He lived near a Sri Krishna
temple, situated on the banks of River Haridra. This
temple of Sri Krishna is described as Krishna
worshipped as the Great Cow-herder. The country
was then ruled by a King Dhruta Varma during that
time.
kRushNa kshEtrE chOla dESE yA
haridrA nadi SubhA |
tattIrE vartatE prItyA
harirgOpAlavEshavAn ||
- brahma purANa
SAPTHAGIRI 45
 Haridra is the tributary of River Kaveri. In
Puranas it is described as chOla dESa – haridrA nadi,
which would mean that the temple is situated in
modern day Tamilnadu. At present the temple at
Mannargudi of Sri Rajagopala is identified with the
one mentioned in the Puranas as Krishna Kshetra.
The Vaikhanasa sage is also mentioned as
chengalavAyi in the family history of the priests of
Tirumala. Chengalavayi was a staunch devotee of
Lord Krishna. He admired the playful acts of Lord
Krishna. He lovingly read and sang the glories of
Krishna .He also worshipped the Lord Rajagopala
Swami in the temple everyday as per Sri Vaikhanasa
Bhagavachhastram. He also nursed a strong ambition
to obtain the divine darsan of Lord Vishnu in his
incarnation as Sri Krishna. To realise the same, he
began a severe penance meditating on Lord Krishna.
Pleased by his penance Lord Vishnu appeared before
him with a pleasant smile and showed him his
beautiful form of Sri Krishna for a split second, and
told the sage, “Oh dear Sage! I am very much pleased
with your penance. You are indeed a blessed soul. It
is difficult to get my darsan even to Devas but only
by your severe penance I am now before you. The
Sutra Karta or the perpetrator of your clan, Sage
Vikhanasa is very dear to me. You belong to a great
lineage. Your daily routine has always been focussed
on rendering pious kainkaryams (services) to me.
Hence, you have achieved a result more than that of
Yajna, Dana and Tapas. You wished to seek my Nija
rupa Darsan which is very apt. But according to
Sanatana Dharma, those born as humans must adhere
and follow their journey toward liberation to the
principles laid down according to their Varnasrama
Dharma and Sastric injunctions. You cannot follow
or wish for something born out of your mind. There
is a principle in Mantra Sastra called arvaNa, which
tells that a human who is born in certain Nakshatra
and Rasi, and having certain nature shall worship a
particular deity. It is a principle everyone should
follow. It also depends upon time and the country he
lives on.
Arvana means something which is aptly
suitable for an individual. In this context, according
to this principle, every person will be suitably blessed
if He continues to worship certain deities as per his
Horoscope. Not all will have the same rules, as it
depends on the astrological combination and it is
much like the principle that the same medicine may
not cure all. Sometimes, if we do not follow the
prescription, it may harm us. So based on this criteria,
worshipping and doing Upasana of Sri Krishna is
46 AUGUST, 2017
not suitable for you. Based on the place and time of
your living, you do not have the strength of Arvana.
But I can understand your urge and passion to
worship my form. So now I shall suggest you an
alternative to get your wish fulfilled. Believe me and
do not be anxious!”
tvayA dhyEyaSSrInivAsO nAham
dhyEyO dvijOttama ||
yO yOgyO yasya jIvasya tEna
dhyEya ssa Eva hi |
yOgyOpAsanayA jIvAmuktim
yAnti na samSaya: ||
abhidhA SrInivAsasya
tava yOgyA dvijOttama |
vEmkaTAdrim tatO gacHHa
SrInivAsassvayam hari : ||
- brahma purANa
Sri Bhagavan advised Chengalavayi that
worshipping and chanting the mantra of Lord
Srinivasa in Archa rupa, is very apt and suitable for
you. By doing this, you not only please me, but also
benefit crores of Jeevas on this earth. So don’t delay
please go to the sacred mountain Venkatachala and
worship Lord Srinivasa.
Oh dear twice born! During the great deluge
that happened in the previous yuga, the temple, its
Vimana are ruined. This temple and Vimana were
built by my dear devotee, the great king of Solar
race, Sankhana Maharaja. By my divine will, the
consecrated self-manifested icon of Sri Srinivasa in
that temple, is protected from the damage of the great
deluges. I myself willed and protected the icon which
is hidden inside an anthill until its knees, beneath a
tamarind tree to the south side, on the banks of sacred
Swami Pushkarini. There is a sacred pond called bhU
thIrtha to the north-east of that icon, which was built
by Bhudevi for using the waters of the pond to make
the havis (Maha Naivedyam) to the Lord. Also to
the north-west of that tamarind tree, there’s a holy
cow called gaUtamI which worships by pouring milk
on the icon of Lord Srinivasa. Remember all this signs
and look for the icon in the Venkatachala Kshetra.
Consecrate the icon as per the tenets of Sri
Vaikhanasa Bhagavachhastra and offer worship,
continuing the same beginning from now. After you,
by my will, your children, kith and kin, lineage will
continue the worship to my icon.
purA kRutayugE paSchAt
bhAgE SanKhEna vai kRutam |
vimAnam kalpapralayE
nashTaprAyamabhUddvija: ||
 valmIkasyAntarE vishNO:
pratimA vartatE SubhA |
SankhEna nirmitA puNyA
sarvapApaharAmalA ||
jAnumAtrE nimagnA hi
tintriNIvRukshamUlata: |
- brahma purANa
“Do not fear you are alone in this thick and
dense Seshachala forest.Another devotee, a
bhagavata, called Ranga Dasa, hailing from Pandya
Desa, will assist you in accomplishing the above
tasks. From now you will be known as 'Gopinatha
Deekshitulu' - EtadavaduktvA svapnEtu
gOpInAthEti nAma cha |
[ This is the reason the Archakas / priests of
Tirumala temple are assigned an end name called
‘Deekshitulu’, similar to that of their ancestor
Gopinatha Deekshitulu, the first Vaikhanasa priest
of Tirumala Srivari temple, who performed Aradhana
and the first Abhishekam, took a vow (Deeksha) to
continue the worship of Lord Srinivasa for all
generations henceforth.]
So saying, the Lord disappeared and left
Gopinatha in a divine ecstacy. Thus, he happily set
out to Venkatachala. On the way, he met Ranga Dasa.
Both of them exchanged Lord’s playful acts with
them and continued their journey. They reached the
top of the hill which was in the midst of a thick forest.
It reminds us the words of the peripatic Vaishnava
saint poets, the Alwars, who sung of this hill shrine
in a divine ecstatic fervour. They have described the
hills as difficult of ascent and dangerous with huge
elephants and wild boars roaming about, and leopards
and lions lurking. A general notion prevailed at that
time that the mountain itself was held sacred and it
is also indicated that the entire region, hill-ranges
with peaks as well as the plains around them was
one vast and thick jungle, at quite a few places
impenetrable. The hill Vengadam, abounded in huge
black elephants, poisonous snakes, wild boars,
monkeys, lions and yalis, which roamed about freely.
The slopes were marked by tall bamboo bushes
‘growing upto the sky’, decay and sprout again
growing to great heights. The forest on top of the
hills rubbed the sky. There were numerous streams
with flowery creepers entwined on either bank, which
developed into torrential rapids due to heavy rain.
There was dense fog on the hills most of the time,
and the woods were cool and fragrant. There were
flower-groves with honey dripping from their
branches, sucked by humming beetles and buzzing
bees, there were ponds filled with lovely lotuses.
Both of them enjoyed this celestial beauty of
Venkatachala and approached Swami Pushkarini.
Gopinatha remembered looked out for the signs the
Lord had told about and found the self-manifested
icon of Lord Srinivasa hidden beneath an anthill. They
paid respectful obesiances and Gopinatha offered to
the Lord, the first abhisheka or sacred bath with milk
from a black cow (a cow with specific features and
is generally termed Kapila) until the anthill
completely disappeared. Gopinatha marked out the
ideal place to install the icon and cleared the
surrounding vegetation. He then consecrated Lord’s
Dhruva bera as per Vaikhanasa Agama. They installed
four pillars, temporary walls with sand and a roof
with leaves, which is the first sanctum preserved till
date. Gopinatha continued to worship the deity
everyday and Rangadasa assisted him by way of
collecting flowers and other articles required for
worship. This Rangadasa in his next birth was born
as the King Tondaman, who built the first temple
with a Vimana and prakara.
Since Gopinatha Deekshitulu is the first sage
blessed by the Lord to offer worship in this Kaliyuga,
he is the rishi who coined the Sri Venkateswara
Astakshari Mantra 'Om namO vEmkaTESAya'. This
maha mantra japa is recited daily by Vaikhanasa
Archakas while renderingpAda sEva, to the Lord
along with the dhyAna mantra. An excerpt of the
mantra is given below:
Asya SrI vEmkaTESvara ashTAksharI mahA
mantrasya gOpInAtha rishi: anushTup cHanda: …
dhyAnam: vidyutkOTi divAkarAbha maniSam ….
Lord Srinivasa at Tirumala enjoys the
Kainkaryams offered by the Vaikhanasa Archakas,
belonging to the lineage of Sriman Gopinatha
Deekshitulu till date.
We shall continue further with the significance
and other interesting details of Srivari Friday
Abhishekam at Tirumala, while reminiscing the divine
incidents connected with the history of Tirumala
temple and Lord Venkateswara from ancient times.
We shall pause a moment to pay our respects to divine
personalities, who are beloved to Lord Srinivasa.
|| SrInivAsO vijayatE ||
(to be continued...)
SAPTHAGIRI 47

In Kerala State, one of the
ancient temples dedicated to Lord
Krishna is the ‘Partha Sarathy
Temple’ at Aranmula. In this
temple, the idol of Lord Krishna
in the form of Partha Sarathy
(Charioteer of Arjuna, in
Kurukshetra war). This temple is
situated at a higher level, on the
left bank of Pampa River, a river
famous as the last destination of
pilgrims going to “Sree
Dharmasastha” (Ayyappa)
Temple, at Sabarimala. In fact,
almost all pilgrims take a holy
bath in the Pampa river after
that, ascending the Hill shrine of
Sabarimala, on foot. Some people
offer oblations to the departed
souls of their ancestors on the
banks of river Pampa.
48 AUGUST, 2017
Legend has it that, Pandavas after the coronation of
Pareekshit as king, went on a pilgrimage throughout India,
and on reading Kerala, each one of the Pandavas built a
Maha Vishnu Temple here. Yudhishtira built a temple at
Trichitattu, Bheema, at Thrippulliyoor, Arjuna at Neelakkal,
Nakula at Tiruvammandoor and Sahadeva at
Trikkodithanam. It is believed that the idol of Lord Krishna,
in the form of Partha Sarathy, was brought to the present
site on a raft (boat) made of six bamboos, and installed and
consecrated with all attendant rituals at the present site,
and the place came to be known as ‘Aranmula’ (six pieces
of bamboos).
The important festivals in the Temple are : Ashtami
Rohini (Janmashtami), Thiruvonam, Makara Sankranthi,
Ponnumthottathu arattu, Ramayana Parayanam. Out of the
above festivals the most important ones are Ashtami Rohini
and Thiruvonam.
This temple has a long tradition, connected with the
famous Sree Ayyappa Temple, at Sabarimala. The sacred
jewels of Lord Ayyappa (Thiruvabharanam), which are taken
in a grand procession from the Panadlam Palace,
are kept here for a while, before taking them to
Sabarimala. The ‘Tanka Ankhi’ (golden attire)
donated by the king of Travancore to Lord Ayyappa,
are stored in this temple, and are taken to
Sabarimala during Mamdalavillakku.
Palliyodams: These are Aranmula’s unique
snake boats (known as Chundan Vallams). These
are held by devotees in great esteem and
reverence, as the divine vessels of Lord “Sree
Parthasarathy”. These belong to different places
on the banks of Pampa river, and each will have a
separate flag, 2/3 ornament umbrellas, four
helmsmen, towers and singers. The making of
Palliyodams begins with locating suitable tree,
preferably Anjali, cutting it down to size, and taken
to the construction site. The work starts on an
auspicious day (muhurtham). Each boat will have
a length of 100 - 138 ft. with its rear portion with a
height of 20 ft and a long tapering portion. It
resembles a snake with its hood raised. Its hull is
built of planks 83 ft. in length and six inches wide.
These Palliyodams are oiled every year with fish
oil, coconut shell and carbon. Each Palliyodam is
named after the particular village.
Ashtami Rohini (Janmashtami)
The most important festival in this temple is
Janmashtami (birth day of Lord Sree Krishna). On
this day, an unique mass feast, which has
devotional moorings, is given to the crew of
Palliyodams at “Sree Partha Sarathy Temple” at
Aranmula. Vallasadhya is conducted as a
‘Vazhivadu’ (offering) to the Lord. A large number
of Palliyodams (snake boats) will arrive at the
temple ghat and the carsmen offer Mirapara (filling
of a vessel with paddy/rice) at Nadappanthal near
the golden flag post, and after offering prayers,
they circumambulate the temple, singing folk sings
(Vanchi pattu) praising Lord Krishna. After Ucha
Pooja and Nivedyam (noon offerings), a grand
feast is served to the devotees, numbering nearly
a lakh, with rice and 44 side dishes and four types
of puddings, served on banana leaves. Prior to this,
the Melsanthi (chief priest) of the temple transfers
the sacred fire from the Sanctum Sanctorum to the
temple kitchen, to begin preparations for the feast.
The 44 side dishes consist of banana chips, Aval
(flattened rice with jaggery mixed), ghee, Avial
(mixed vegetable curry), Olen (mixed vegetable
curry with coconut milk), kalan (curry with curd/
butter milk) mango curry, Kichidi (curry made with
rice and gram) etc. Adaprathaman, Aravana
Payasam, Kadala Prathaman and Kadali
Prathaman are the puddings served to the
devotees, that day.
Thiruvonam
‘Thiruvonam’, which falls in the month of
Chingam, (August-September) is the most
important festivals of Malayalees. This is celebrated
in memory of the demon king, Mahabali, when
there are all round prosperity, equality, on
discrimination based on caste, creed or status and
there were no evils of theft, telling of lies, cheating
etc. When Lord Maha Vishnu, in his Avatar as ‘Lord
Vamana’, vanquished Mahabali and sent him to
the nether world, Mahabali sought for and obtained
a boon to visit his subjects on ‘Thiruvonam’ day,
which was readily grants. People of Kerala start
welcoming Mahabali from the star ‘Atham’ for 10
days by offering Pookkalam (ornamental flower
arrangement) in front of their homes until the day
of ‘Thiruvonam’, on which day there will be a grand
feast.
At Aranmula “Sree Partha Sarathy” Temple,
Onam is celebrated by holding ‘Thiruvona Sadhya,
after special poojas at noon. A day prior to
Thriuvonam, i.e., Uttarashada star day, a specially
decorated boat called “Thiruvoni Thoni”, carrying
provisions and vegetables for ‘Ona sadhya’ at the
Aranmula Temple, starts its journey from Kattoor
SAPTHAGIRI 49
Maha Vishnu Temple - Ghat at 6.00 p.m. The eldest
member of Mangattu, Bhattathiri, with 18 of his
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati
Assistants, board the Boat and this reaches
Aranmula in the early hours of Thriuvonam day.
There will be an every burning lamp in the boat.
Throughout the journey of the boat, there will be
Donate Blood in Tirumala!
Nadaswaram recital and will be escorted by a
number of Palliyodams. People will be thronging
the river bank for a darshan of this divine vessel Have the blessings
and will offer prayers by floating lighting lamps in
of Lord Srinivasa!!
the river. On reaching Aranmula temple, Melsanthi
of the temple, transfers the sacred fire from the
Sanctum Santorum to the ceremonial lamp kept in “Service to human being, is
the boat and the provisions and vegetables will be Service to God” says our Ancient
carried to the temple kitchen for preparing of food Dharma. Any help is done to the
and side dishes. After the Ucha Pooja and helpless or saving the lives of co-
Nivedyam (noon offering) a sumptuous feast will human beings from disasters, will
be served to all the devotees.
provide infinite benefits to the
ARANMULA UTHRUTTATHI RACE donors and their families.
Aranmula Vallamkali (boat race) is world
The donation of blood in the
famous water carnival, which has its origin with the
abode of Kaliyuga Vaikuntadhi-
temple rituals. It is believed that the installation and
pathi i.e. at Tirumala is a sacred act.
consecration of the Idol of Lord “Sree
ParthaSarathy” at Aranmula was on Uthruttathi You can save the life of co-human
star and the boat race is held in commemoration being, by donating your blood.
of this, every year. This is one of the most important
Anybody can donate blood at
water carnivals in Kerala.
Aswini Hospital in Tirumala
ARANMULA MIRROR (KANNADI) between 8 a.m. and 12 noon.
Aranmula is also famous for its mirror, which
Contact for further information
is popularly known as ‘Aranmula Kannadi’, though
Ph. 0877-2263601
instead of glass, it is made of five metals with a
front surface reflecting mirror. Exact used in
preparing this mirror is still unknown. Legend says COME.. DONATE BLOOD
that the then chieftain (ruler) of this area brought !! SAVE THE LIVES OF
craftsmen from Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu and
one of their descendants make the mirror.
HELPLESS FROM
CALAMITIES!!
Let us all pray to Lord “Sree Partha Sarathy”
to guide us in our tribulations, as he
did in the case of Arjuna.

50 AUGUST, 2017

Tarigonda Vengamamba was
born in 1730 in the village of
Tarigonda. She was a divine
lady who was in the grace of
Lord Venkateswara at all times.
Vengamamba's father was
Krishnaiahmatya and her mother
was Mangamamba. She was an
ardent devotee of Lord
Venkateswara of Tirupati and her
devotion towards the God, made
villagers believe that she was
bestowed with special powers. Her
husband was Venkatachalapati.
She married him at a very young
age, which was common in those
days. Shortly after her husband
died and she became a widow.
Though she got a chance to
remarry, she refused to accept
anyone but Lord Venkateswara as
her husband. Thus, she continued
to dress like a normal married
woman (wearing mangalasutra,
ornaments etc.) and she did not
don the white garments as widows
were expected to wear. She had
been invited by all the priests and
descendants of Annamayya to
Tirumala, who had heard of her
devotional endeavours. She had become a yogini, after learning
yoga from her teacher, Acharya subrahmanya.
Muthyala Harathi (Pearl Harathi)
It is mentioned in the legends that Lord Venkateswara
asked Vengamamba to visit Him after the closing of the temple,
out of interest to hear to her poems and songs. She was a good
poetess and had composed many notable works. After reciting
the poem, she offered a 'Pearl Harathi' as a gift to the Lord.
Observing pearls in the sanctum, every night, the priests who
investigated, were led to Tarigonda Vengamamba. All the people
began to seek Vengamamba to solve their problems. So, she
decided to go far away to continue her prayers in Tubura Kona
which is 15 km away from Tirumala. But, still the legend goes
on that Lord Venkateswara created a secret underground
passage from Tumburakona to Tirumala to continue her
devotional service. The practice of her good work and night
harathi continued for 6 years.
Eventually, the priests recognized their fault and realized
Vengamamba’s devotion and dedication and requested her to
return back to the temple. She was allowed to participate in
Ekanta seva and take the final Harathi of Lord of Seven Hills.
The great lady, lies buried on the Tirumala Hills close to the
temple. The area around her grave was later c o n v e r t e d
into a school, S.V.B.N.R. high school,
Tirumala, with the grave still open for
piligrim’s worship in the school’s play
ground. Vengamamba reached the
lotus feet of Lord Venkateswara in
1817 (after 87 years). Since the
Lord accepted Vengamamba’s
devotion, the night harathi and
offerings of pearls are done by
one of the descendants of
Ve n g a m a m b a
even to this day.
51
SAPTHAGIRI 51
 BOOK REVIEW
- J.C. Gnana Prasuna

Name of the Book :

A COMPENDIUM OF NALAYIRA DIVYA
PRABANDHAM AND ITS COMMENTARIES
Author : Dr. M. Varadharajan
No. of pages : 211
Price : Rs.300
Size : 1/8th Demmi
Available at : Dr. M. Varadharajan,
Sri Ananth Publications, Bhaktamrutam,
18/33 Madhavapperumal Koil Street,
Mylapore, Chennai – 600 004,
Ph : 044-24660990, 9841884972.

Alwars’ NalayiraDivyaPrabandham
occupies first place in Sri Vaishnava
Tradition.This contains the compositions of the example, we can take Tiruppallandu, Tiruppavai,
Alwars about different deities in different temples. NachchiyarTirumozhi, KanninumChiruttambu etc.,
Thisis also popular as ‘Dravida Veda’. the author clearly and simply co-related the
commentary of the elite. The commentary of the
The present book forms the basis for the
great Acharyas is itself the serendipitous rendition.
incessant flow of devotion towards the Lord in
the form of NalayiraDivyaPrabandham. The The content of this magnum opus book is
Alwars are one of those Sri Vaishnava devotees worthy. The author mainly focussed the main
who have immersed themselves in theme elaborately highlighting the gist of the
DivyaPrabandham, apart from spirituality, the commentaries. The first part of Prabandham
writings and the commentaries of the Great elucidates the meaning; the last explains the
Acharyas are also explained in an elegant way. theme; the second and third part reveals the
The speciality of this book is that the author had meaning of the word ‘Narayanaya’. The last part
elaborately explained the contents’of the is the elaboration of Dwaya Mantra. The part-wise
NalayiraDivyaPrabandham to the readers in a
explanation and summary is given for the benefit
lucid way. The theme of the Alwars’ work is simply
of readers.
stated as a concept.
Let us have a glimpse of the compendium
This book is divided into 31 concepts
of NalayiraDivyaPrabandham and its
starting with the growth and development of
commentaries at a glance and enjoy the
NalayiraDivyaPrabandham and concluded with
quintessence of the nectar of this
the Acharya’s commentaries and with the
book and be blessed by the Alwars.
reference books. For each and every content for
52
52 AUGUST, 2017
 PUZZLE
1 2 3 4 5 ACROSS
1. Lord Siva (5)
4. Opposite to happy (3)
6 7
6. Carrier of Siva (5) (Jumbled)
7. Short sleep (3) (Jumbled)
8. False (4)
8 9 10 11
10. Architect of ancient times (4)
12 12. Large monkey with no tail (3)

15
13. After the proper time (4) (Jumbled)
13 14
14. Evening (4)
16. Ancient Kingdom ruled by Angaraja (4)
17. Not serious (4)
16 17

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WEAR HELMET DOWN

Pilgrims must
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Tirumala and
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Tirupati and
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Viceversa on Two
wheelers to
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accidents. 11. Opposite of no. (3)
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SAPTHAGIRI 53
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54 AUGUST, 2017