sri vEnkatEswara mahatyam part -1

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srI:

SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama:

SrI krishNa parabrahmaNE nama:

SrImAn nArAyaNa charaNau saraNam prapadyE

 

dear vaishNavAs,

 

It is a great pleasure to read Sriman mAdhava kannan's postings on sri srInivAsa

vaibhavam. The renderings are heart touching to even impure hearts like that of

mine. This inspired me to share some of the avathAra viseshAs of the Lord, thus

learn some thing about our Lord. Please correct me wherever I have mistaken.

 

 

part I

 

1. SrI sUta Maharishi tells Sownaka and other sages the leelas of SrI

vEnkatEswara swami.

 

Naimisharanyam is a denseforest in the northern part of India. Great sages

gather there to perform great sacrifices and penances for the welfare for every

one. Their presence which is hallmarked by the discussions about the supreme

Lord sanctifies the place. In that very holy place Sri sUta maharishi revealed

the 18 purANas (the stories that happened in the past) composed by Sri vyAsa

bhagavAn to the great sages assembled there. Sownaka, the best among the

brAhmaNas inquisitively enquired about the supremely relishable pastimes of Sri

vEnkatEswara swami from sri sUta maharishi. SUta maharishi who is always

immersed in thoughts of Supreme brAhmaN, Sri mahA vishNu, is very happy about

such enquiry and started to explain the whole vrittAnta (entire history).

 

He said> ?Sri vEnkatEswara swami appeared on earth as a savior to help the

people who are suffering with theunsurpassable samsAra (cycle of repeated birth

and death). The great compassion of Sri mahA vishNu is the only reason for His

appearance on earth. His form in Sri vaikuntha is inconceivable to the mankind,

hence He mercifully took a form that is easily conceivable to all men without

any difficulty and attract them with all His kalyANa guNAs to develop devotion

unto Him. For the same reason our AchAryas call His ?prathyaksha daiva?. He is

always ready to answer the calls of His Bhaktas(devotees). You are fortunate to

hear the pastimes of such incomparable Lord and gave me the opportunity to

meditate on His activities. All those who read or hear His story and visit His

shrine to have His darshaN will be lifted up beyond the knots of material

existence and granted mOksha. Please hear to my narrations carefully.?

 

SrI sUta maharishi first offered his prayers to his guru vyAsa bhagavan to be

able to describe the Lord?s pastimes. By the Mercy of Sri vyAsadEva, the entire

story of Sri vEnkatEswara reeled in his mind.

 

2. Narada meets brahma in ?satya lOka?

 

Brahma is the demigod for the task of creating the material word as a service

to SrimAn nArAyaNa, from whose navel sri Brahma appears. NArada is the mAnasa

putra of Sri brahma. Narada is renouned in the three worlds as a great devotee

of the Supreme Lord, SrimAn nArAyaNa, whose name dances ever on his lips. He is

the spiritual guide for the fourteen lOkAs and can travel to any place at his

will. He is also famous for carrying the news of rivals and create apparent

troubles, though they all end up in universal welfare. In this way he helps the

maintanance of dharma.

 

One day , brahma is seated on his lotus seat. By his side was his consort,

saraswathi dEvi, playing on the celestial veeNa (A string musical instrument).

The assembly is attended by Indra, dik-pAlakAs(controllers of different

directions), the sun god, nava grahAs (the nine planets), sapta rishis (the

seven celestial sages) and other prominent people. They are all offering their

prayers to the universal creator, lord brahma.

 

It was that time that nArada entered the sathya lOka chanting the names of

SrimAn nArAyaNa. He saluted his parents- saraswati and brahma and after getting

blessings occupied the seat offered to him. Every one is anxious to learn the

news from Sri nArada who travels the fourteen lOkAs at his will.

 

NArada says to his father brahma: ?Father, after krishNa avatAra (incarnation),

srI Hari has not gone to bhooloka again. In the absence of Supreme Lord, the

earth became like hell. Lawlessness is prevailing there and people have gone

fearless. ?might is right? is the order of the day. The innocent are teased by

the wicked. The time has come when Lord has to appear again on earth to restore

dharma.?

 

Brahma said: ?My dear child, you are a great devotee of SrImAn nArAyaNa and the

well wisher of every one. By your mere will you can create a problem and solve

it as well. There is nothing unknown to you. Please carry on with what is

necessary. I wish you all good?.

 

NArada took leave his father and proceeded towards bhoolOka.

 

3. Narada asks: ? who is the ultimate enjoyer of all sacrifices?

 

>From satya loka, nArada reaches the banks of the holy ganges river chanting the

names of Sri Hari and beautifully singing the glories of ?neela gagana Ghana

syAma?. There, sages like kasyapa and others are performing a great sacrifice

(yagya) for universal good. Upon seeing the great sage nArada, all the sages

respects him duly and informed him of their desire to perform a great sacrifice.

 

NArada appreciates such an effort for the welfare of every one and asked ? who

is going to be the enjoye of the proposed great yagya? Among trimurthis, who is

most suitable?? That is too big a question for the sages to answer. They looked

each other for an answer. The sages were all divided in their opinions and

formed into groups.

 

Devotees of Siva says, the sacrifice shall be made to satisfy mahEswara. But the

vaishNavAs insists on the supremacy of SrimAn nArAyaNa, and wants to offer the

sacrifice to Hari. Some others prefer brahma as a suitable god for receiving the

sacrifice. Each of them argued in support of their stand.

 

NArada suggests a way to resolve this apparent dispute. He says: ? you can elect

a worthy person to test the trimurthys (trinity). But you must also consider

that testing trimurthys is like playing with fire. I suggest Brighu, who is

super excellent mysic, fit for accomplishing such a great task?. Every one in

that assembly approves this plan of nArada. In such circumstances, bhrigu is not

left with other option but to accept.

 

In selecting Bhrigu for this job, nArada has a purpose to teach a lesson to the

proud bhrigu for having super natural powers. Having succeded in his plan,

takes leave of the sages and left the places chanting the names of the Lord.

Bhrigu is set on his job.

 

4. Bhrigu tests Lord brahma

 

In satya lOka, brahma and saraswati are seated on a golden throne. Assembled

there are maharishis, dEvarishis, brahmarishis on one side and surAs, yakshas,

gandharvas, kinnaras , kimpurushas on the other side. Brahma is explaining them

about the secrets of vEdAs.

 

Just then, there arrived Bhrigu, and glanced at the audience. Without saluting

the creator of the universe, the proud bhrigu occupied his throne in the court.

Though every one in the assembly are happy for Bhrigu?s sudden visit,

nevertheless they do not appreciate his negligence towards brahma. They all

considered it a willful haughty act. Brahma considered the disobedience towards

him seriously and cannot tolerate such misbehaviour. In an angry voice he burst

out: ?Bhrigu, you belong to my own dynasty. By dint of great sacrifices, you

have acquired somany supe natural powers. I expect you to behave well. How

could you think that you are greater than all the great sages present in this

great assembly? Are you greater than sage atri?s wife anasUya, the chaste woman,

who converted even the trimurthys as babies? Are you greater than Gowthama who

cursed even dEvEndra? Are you more powerful than jamadagni??

 

Bhrigu immediately gets down from his throne and thinks, how uncourteous brahma

is? Only those with tamO guNa should possess such temperament. He is not fit for

the fruit of sacrifice.

 

Addressing brahma he said, ? Oh Lord, you never tried to understand why I came

here. You unnecessarily rebuked me. Therefore, behold my curse: You will not

have any temples on earth and none will worship you.? He then marched towards

kailAsa, the abode of Lord Siva.

 

5. Bhrigu curses Lord Siva

 

KailAsa is a silver mountain, the abode of Lord Siva. Just when Bhrigu entered

kailAsa, nandeeswara, bhringeeswara, chandeeswara and all other devotees of lod

Siva are changing the names of Lord Siva and entire kailAsa is echoing with

those prayers. He directly proceeded towards siva?a apartment. In this private

room, Siva is in the company of his wife, pArvathi dEvi. Bhrigu was warned by

the guards near entrance not to enter that room as Siva is in private company of

his wife. But Bhrigu doesnot care for their warning and entered it.

 

At that time, celestial couple are in the process of enjoying one another?s

private company. On seeing Bhrigu suddenly, pArvathi grows in shy and at once

flees to a side of the room. Siva became extremely angry at such an uncourteous

behavior of Bhrigu and burst out: ? you are coming from the same family(dynasty)

of the creator, a great scholar of

vEdAs, and a great mystic. Yet you lacked a decent behavior, and it is a shame

on your part to behave this way?. So saying, he even raised his trisool (trident

weapon) towards bhrigu as if to kill him. But pArvathi intervened and stopped

lord Siva.

 

Bhrigu also becomes very angry at the behavior of Siva and says ?MahEswara! Even

without knowing the purpose my arrival, you treated me in such an ugly way. Only

a person of tamO guNa can behave in this manner. Therefore you hold this my

curse, You will not be worshipped on earth in your original form but only in

linga form?. Saying so, Bhrigu leaves that place and heads towards sri

vaikuntham.

 

6. Bhrigu kicks mahA vishNu on His chest

 

Sri Vaikuntha, the abode of Sri Hari along with Sri dEvi and nitya sUris, is the

most excellent place. Just when Bhrigu arrived in Sri vaikuntham, sri dEvi is

massaging the feet of the Lord with Her tender hands.

 

Bhrigu has already tested brahma and Siva and found them to be either of rajO or

tamO guNa and hence unfit to recoeve the benefit of yagna. Hence Vishnu alone

is remained to be tested. Thinking so, he reached Sri vaikuntham.

 

Sri Hari, the antaryAmi (omni present in every one?s heart) knows the arrival of

Bhrigu as well as his intentions, yet pretended as if He has not observed the

arrival of Bhrigu. This reminds Bhrigu of his treatment in satya loka and

kailAsa. He feared that he may receive the same fate here as well. This thought

provokes him to rush towards mahA vishNu and kicks His sri vakshasthala (chest)

with his right foot.

 

Maha vishNu is least perturbed by such an act of Bhrigu, instead He knw got up

from His serpent bed and fondly holds Bhrigu?s hands, made his sit on his bed

and pressed his feet. Sri Hari showed His concerns for having bhrigu?s tender

feet hurt for being hit by his hard chest. While massaging his feet, Sri Hari,

tactfully pinched the third eye that is embedded in Bhrigu?s right foot. The

whole powers of this sage as well as his pride rest in that eye.

 

Then the Lord gracefully says: ?oh! Greatly learned one! Forgive me for my

negligence and kindly let me know the purpose of your visit?. Having lost all

his power and pride, Bhrigu realized his folly to attempt to disrespect the

Supreme Lord, and begs pardon.

 

Sri Hari says, : ? Oh mahArishi, you are not to be blamed, you have not done

anything that is out of way. This is all due to happen, and you are only

instrumental, do not be bewildered, I wish all good luck?.

 

Bhrigu then explained the purpose of his visit and requested mahA vishNu to come

and receive the benefit of yagna(sacrifice) which the sages are performing.

Maha vishNu agreed to the same. Bhrigu is very much pleased at the Lord?s

behavior and returned to ganges bank where the sages are performing the

sacrifice. He explained in great detail about his visit to the three lOkAs

(abodes) and explained how mahA vishNu is the supreme deity and eligible for the

fruits of the sacrifice. All the sages thanked Bhrigu for solving such a big

problem.

 

(to be continued...)

 

dAsOham,

srIperumbUdUru vEnkaTa vinOd.