ஈசானாம் ஜகதோஸ்ய வேங்கடபதே விஷ்ணோ:பராம் ப்ரேயஸீம்
தத்வக்ஷஸ்தல நித்யவாச ரசிகாம் தத்ஷாந்தி ஸம்வர்த்தினீம் |
பத்மாலங்க்ருத பாணிபல்லவகயுகாம் பத்மானஸ்தாம்ஸ்ரியம்
வாத்ஸல்யாதி குணோஜ்வலாம் பகவதீம் வந்தே ஜகன்மாதரம்||
ஸ்ரீமந் க்ருபாஜலநிதே ஸ்ருதஸர்வலோக ஸர்வக்ய ஸக்த நதவத்ஸல ஸர்வசேஷின் |
ஸ்வாமின் ஸுசீலஸ்ருத பாரிஜாத:ஸ்ரீவேங்கடச சரணௌ சரணம் ப்ரபத்யே||
It is probably not possible by me to describe the greatness of Sri Alarmelmanga-sametha-Sri Srinivasa Perumal. However, I shall try to do my best to present here in this page about this Punya Sthalam and my wonderful blissful experience every time I visit Tirumalai or Tiruvengadam.
According to the legend, Lord Srinivasa came down to earth in search of His Divine Consort (Sri Mahalakshmi) after She left Vaikundam in anger when She was insulted by Brihu Maharishi (the rishi kicked Lord Srinivasa in His chest - the permanent abode of Sri Mahalakshmi). The place He landed on earth was Narayana Giri - the highest peak of Tirumala Hills (pilgrims can visit the spot quite easily by foot). Standing there He was bewitched by the tranquil beauty of the Hills and also the of Holy Tank (Swami Pushkarani). He decided to meditate by the side of the Pushkarani and He approached Lord Sri Adhi Varaha (whose temple was by the side of the Pushkarani) and asked for His permission to do so. Having been granted His wish, Lord Srinivasa did His Tapas (or meditation) and was also subsequently united with Sri Mahalakshmi.
Readers to this page, may be surprised to note such a small noting on the legend surrounding this Holy Temple. My humble request to them is that there are many pages on web which offer a detailed story on this and hence, I have decided to leave the story aside for the present (also, it will take a substantial space, which many of you would have probably read in some other site), so that I can devote this page to my experience vis-a-vis this Temple. (You shall however, see a separate link (Tiruvenkadam - Part II) on this page leading to Legends surrounding Tirumala and Lord Srinivasa, in due course, where I propose to give the story as complete as possible - in the meantime, kindly bear with me).
Of the eight swayamvaktha (ஸ்வயம்வக்த) idols (or also known as Archavatara) of Lord Sri Vishnu, one has been installed in this Temple and have been worshipped according to agama practice established by the Saint Ramanuja.
My Observations and Experience
Suprabhatham: This is the Holy Prayer to the Lord Srinivasa to awaken Him from His Yoga Nithra. The first few lines of this holy prayer -
"Kausalya Supraja Rama Poorva Sandhya Pravarthathe | Uthishta Narasardhoola Karthavyam Thaivamahnigam ||"
கௌசல்யா சுப்ரஜாமா பூர்வா சந்த்யா ப்ரவர்த்ததே |
உத்திஷ்ட நரசார்தூல கர்த்தவ்யம் தைவமாஹ்னிகம்|| ||
The above verse was composed by Sage Vishwamitra to wake up Lord Sri Rama (Vishnu's incarnation) when Vishawamitra took Rama and his brother Lakshmana along with him to protect the rishi's yagams from the constant disruptions by the asuras (refer the famous epic Ramayana on this point). It is also pertinent to note that the Suprabhatham in all Vaishnavite temples begin with the above verse and then the subsequent verses change from temple to temple (that is in regard to the presiding diety).
Suprabhatham is followed by Sri Venkatesa Stotram starting as under -
"Kamala Kucha Soochuka Kunkumatho ... " (கமலா குசசூக குங்குமதோ ... ) "
and Prabathi, meaning surrender, (the opening verse offering salutations to Thayar and the first verse of the Sloka have been given in the beginning of this page).
I understand that the Suprabatham, Venkatesa Stotram, Venkatesa Prabathi and Venkatesa Mangalam were composed by the famed saint Manavala Mamunigal. And later, when one of his disciples (Prathivathi Bayangaram Swamigal) came across these lovely verses these were used to arouse Lord Srinivasa from His Yoga Nithra.
The First Karpoora Harathy of the day is offered to Lord Srinivasa at the conclusion of Srinivasa Mangalam. One cannot but appreciate and fall in love with each of the verses in the above three Slokas, with each sloka competing with the other for poetic excellence. It is but natural that when verses are composed in praise of the Lord, they excel. (However, during the tamil calendar month of Margazhi - or Dhanur maasa as is referred in Sanskrit - it is Thiruppalli Ezhuchi followed by Thiruppavai which are recited instead of the Venkatesa Suprabhadam).
(During the Suprabhatham, pilgrims are allowed to perform Anga Pradhakshanam (அங்கபிரதஷினம் ) (that is circumbulating the temple prakara by rolling on the body - instead of walking) to fulfill a vow to the Lord as a part of one's prayers).
Following Suprabhatham, Thomala (renewal of flowers adorning the Lord) is performed. During Thomala it is customary to recite Thondaradi Podi Azhwar's Thiruppalli Ezhuchi and Thiruppavai. After this, Sahasranama Archana (that is offering prayers to the Lord invoking the 1000 names by which He is known and also offering Thulasi at His Lotus Feet with each name - for example: Om Kesavaya Namaha). In the calm surrounding and during the early hours of the day when the usual hustle and bustle not yet started, it is a pleasure to hear the Sahasra Namavali of the Lord - particularly the mellifluous voice of Shri Padmanabhan who recites the Sahasra Namavali, who I feel perhaps forgets everything around him and totally immerses himself with the Lord; otherwise, this cannot be as enchanting as it is now (even as I am writing this, as I close my eyes I can hear his voice reverberating in my ears just as though I am present in the temple or Tirumalai). Oh, what a gifted voice he has and a lovely way of rendition!
Then comes the First Bell and the offering of Prasadham to the Lord (Thiruvaradhanam) followed by Saathu Murai. Every devout vaishnavite will avow that reciting the concluding two verses of Thiruppavai (Chitram Siru Kalae ... and Vangak Kadal Kadaintha ... ) (சிற்றஞ்சிறு காலே வந்துன்னை சேவித்து .... வங்கக் கடல் கடைந்த மாதவனை கேசவனை)... and Pallaandu (பல்லாண்டு) to the Lord is a unique experience (this practice is followed in every Perumal temple and even at homes after Thiruvaradhanam) and of course of Azhwar / Acharya Dhanians (salutations to the Azhwars and Acharyas). Personally, I would rate this as one of the Best Darshans I have had of Lord Srinivasa and also when I feel that I transcend the time and space to feel oneness with Him.
During Thirumanjanam (Abhishekam), which is performed on Lord Srinivasa every Friday, it is a veritable feast for both our eyes as well as ears - for the eyes by the very sight of abhishekam being performed on the Lord and for the ears it is by hearing the Vedic chantings by the Veda pandits. Lord Srinivasa delights in this Holy bath especially when the vedas also sing in His praise. (refer Narayana Anuvaham -
Narayana Param Brahma Thathhvam Narayana:para: | Narayana Paro Jyothirathma Narayana:para: ||
நாரயண:பரம் ப்ரஹ்ம தத்வம் நாராயண:பர: | நாரயண:பரோ ஜ்யோதிராத்மா நாரயண:பர: ||
For people who are accustomed to seeing Lord Srinivasa decorated with flowers and ornaments making the Diety look very large, it will come as a surprise when one will find the Diety looks just about five or six feet tall and of average build (or is it my imagination!). However, one also cannot but see the Thejas or the magnetic attraction He has even when shorn of ornaments. It is indeed a darshan one must have atleast once in his life time. For the benefit of readers - one can get tickets for Abhishekam (but the waiting list is very long) or one can see the Lord in this form by getting tickets for Nija Pada Seva. Please note that such darshan can be had only on Fridays immediately after Abhishekam. After the Nija Pada Seva, the Lord is once again decorated with ornaments and flowers during Thomala. During Thomala on Fridays, "Siriya Thiru Madal" will be recited instead of the normal Divya Prabandham verses - for during Thirumanjanam, Goddess "Sri" is separated from Thiruvengadavan and this lovely composition of Divya Prabandham wonderfully describes the longing due to separation. Oh! How the Azhwar had positioned himself as a "Nayagi" awaiting to join her "Nayagan"!
It is customary to visit Sri Alarmel Manga Thayar Sannidhi at Tiruchanoor before going to Tirumala. Again, after reaching Tirumala, one should first visit the Adhi Varaha Shrine situated on the banks of the Swami Pushkarini before seeking the darshan of Lord Srinivasa. However, I find in today's world, many persons are either ignorant of this practice, or in their hurry and anxiety to have darshan of Lord Srinivasa forget the conventions. It is also a common knowledge that the tour operators have the habit of first going to Tirumala and then come down to Tiruchanoor before going back home (this is true especially in the case of one-day tours organised by them).
True to the words "Punar Darsana Prapthi" , I have been to Tirumalai many times - especially in the last couple of years and have come back home in a delightful frame of mind. But, I let my mind wander in time - to be precise to the year 1982 - when seeing the crowd and the kind of arrangements and the rude behaviour of the staff present in the temple precincts I decided never to go back to this temple. However, things were to change in just a span of two years. During one of my official visits in 1984, I had a very harrowing experience in completing my job. I then prayed to Lord Srinivasa asking me to help me out of the crisis. Believe it or not, within half an hour of my prayers to Him, my job was completed successfully. And what was more, my uncle (who could have proceeded to Tirupathi without taking a long detour, came to my house the next morning and spent just ten minutes with us, took from me the twenty rupees which I had promised to drop in the Hundi at the earliest opportunity, so that He ensured that my promise was kept up without any delay). Again, without any advance plans, my wife and I left for Tirupathi the next morning (I did not bother about the probability of a large crowd being there in the temple) with the sole idea of performing Anga Pradhakshinam. Wow! it is an experience which I am never going to forget in my life time. I had darshan of the Lord three times on the first evening and had a blissful one hour or more during the Thomala and Archana seva. There were hardly twenty or thirty people in the temple during that time. What a joyous moment!
It is not as if all my visits to Tirupathi had been so satisfying as the one described above. There had been disappointments, anxious moments waiting for accommodation, etc. But overall, I have been an extremely content man as far as my darshans of the Lord here is concerned. And naturally, I am looking forward to my next visit to Tirupathi.
I have had the privilege of having His Darshan so many times, often I can visualize Him when I close my eyes. On one such occasion, I started composing poems in praise of Him and seeking His Divine Feet for salvation. These poems can be viewed by following relevant link.
திருவேங்கடமுடையான் திருவடிகளே சரணம்
ஆழ்வார்கள் திருவடிகளே சரணம்
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