Sri Srinivasa Vaibhavam- theerthas at Tirumala

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SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya namah:

 

Dearest Srivaishnavas,

 

Continuing on the glory of Tirumala Sri Srinivasa

perumAL:

 

Tirumala hill is a vast area dotted with peaks from

which rise lakes and waterfalls. Of these 108 are

believed to be sacred and associated with various epic

characters and leelas of Sri Srinivasa.

[Reference material: Book- Balaji- Venkateswara- Lord

of Tirumala- Tirpuati- An introduction written by

Nanditha Krishna]

 

Swami Pushkarini- The Swami Pushkarini- was Vishnu’s

tank in Srivaikuntha, and was brought to the earth by

Garuda. It is the sacred tank in front of the temple

of Tirumala, even regarded as equivalent to the Ganges

and other sacred rivers. A dip in the tank cleanses

the bather of all sins. The performance of the daily

rites or even occasional rites on the banks of the

Swamy pushkarini is said to cure deformities of the

body and ensure the avoidance of all types of narakam.

It grants the wishes of those bathe in it. Like the

hill, all the tanks and lakes of Tirumala are sacred

and known as theerthas.

 

There are seventeen teerthas (holy waters) whose

waters are believed to combine in the Swami

Pushkarini.

 

Swamy Pushkarni rewards those who bathe in its waters

[due to the most merciful kataaksham of Sri

Srinivasan] by granting their heart’s desires. Bathing

in this pushkarini is equivalent to bathing in all

sacred rivers.

 

There are seveneteen sacred lakes which mingle with

this Swami Pushkarini.

 

Kapila theertha- a sacred pool in front of which Sage

Kapila worshipped.

Shakra or Vajra theertha- situated on the hill above

Kapila theertha- where Indra [Devendra], Shakara was

released from the curse of Sage Gautama.

 

Vishvaksena saras- where Vishvaksena, meditated.

Agni kuNda theertha- siyuated above the Panchayudha

theerthas- which is inaccessible

Brahma theertha, that which is believed to cleanse

great and grave sins;

Panchaayudha theertha- five pools named after the five

divine weapons of Lord Sriman Narayana

Saptharishi theertha- seven water names after seven

rishis – namely Kashyapa, Atri, Bharadwaja,

Viswamithra, Gauthama, Vasishta, and Jamadhagni.

 

Like these there are other theerthas, namely:

Akaashaganga theertha- situated in the north of

temple, this is the site where Anjanadevi performed

penance for 12 years and Hanumaan was born. Every day

silver potful of water from this theertha are brought

by one of the seven families of Acharyans, for the

daily Thirumanjanam [divine bathing] of the Lord

Srinivasa

 

Vaikuntha theertha- Situated in a cave to the north

east of the temple, a few members of Rama’s monkey

army saw Vishnu’s Vaikuntha inside the cave – and

hence the name.

 

Sanaka Sanaadhana theertha – Once the home of saints

and yogis, it is believed that a dip here would confer

yogic powers. A bath in the month of maargazhi would

be divine and benefit spiritually.

 

Jaabaali theertha – This was the site of the hermitage

first of Jaabali rishi and his disciplies and later,

of Agasthya and his sishyas, and is located two miles

of north of the temple. It is believed to have

miraculous powers to relieve bodies possessed with

spirits / ghosts.

 

Paandava theertha- situated a mile away from the

temple, to the North east, it is named after the five

Paandava brothers, who lived on the Hill for a year.

At the end of the year, Yudhishtra dreamt that as they

had lived here for a year, they were absolved of their

sins, and would be victorious in the war. Theertha was

named after them.

 

Paapavinaasa theertha – A low waterfall three miles

from the temple, a bath on its holy water opn the

seventh day or the 12th day of the waxing moon in the

month of Ashada (July- Aug) will wipe out the sins of

earlier births, it is believed.

 

Chakra theertha- to rid of demons, who were a menace

to life, a devotee names Padmanabha meditated on Lord

Sri Srinivasan for 12 long years at this theertha,

till the Lord sent His charka to destroy the demons.

Images of Sri Mahalakshmi – Narasimha and Sudharsana

are consecrated here. On the 12th day of the waning

moon in the month Kaarthika an offering of

ThirukkaNNamudhu [Paayasam] – sweetened milk and rice]

is offered and prasadham is distributed to thos who

bathed in this theertha.

 

Kumara theertha- An elderly Brahmin lived alone on the

Hill meditating on Lord Venkatesa. One day, when he

had lost his way, a young boy appeared and led him to

a lake and asked him to take a dip there. The old man

followed his instructions and was transformed into a

16 year old youth. The young boy revealed himself to

be Lord Srinivasan and blessed the old man and

disapeeared. From then on the lake was known as Kumara

theertha.

 

Kumaradhara theertha- In order to absolve himself from

the sin of Brahmaharthi [killing of a Brahmin] when he

killed the wicked Tarakasaura, Kumara or Kaarthikeya

performed penance at this theertha which was named

after him.

 

Rasayana, Valighna and Jarahara theerthas – are three

theerthas not visible to the human eye.

 

Thotti theertha – situated in the sanctum sanctorum,

the sandal and saffron mixed thirumanjanam waters used

for the ritual ceremonial bath of The Lord are

collected on Fridays in this theertha. Drinking this

water will destroy all sins.

 

Kayarasayana theertha- Also hidden from the view, the

waters of this theertha if drunk, will purify the

body. Thondaimaan had been entrusted by a Brahmin with

the care of his pregnant wife when the latter went on

a pilgrimage. Unfortunately the woman died.

Venkteshwara instructed Thondaimaan to dip her corpse

in this water. He did so, and she came back to life.

 

Ramakrishna theertha- Six miles to the north of the

Venkatesa temple, a person named Krishna excavated

this pool. Later a rishi named Ramakrishna meditated

here for centuries till an ant hill grew around him.

To test his concentration, Indra sent down thunder,

lightning, and torrential downpour; but Ramakrishna

did not budge. But the crest of the anthill broke,

Lord Sri Srinivasa appeared before him, with the

promise, that whoever bathes in that theertha on full

moon would be released of all sins.

 

Thumba, Thumburu kona- Gandharva, Tumburu cursed his

lazy qwife to become a toad and live in this lake till

Sage Agasthya arrived at this theertha and descrbed

the merit of the theertha to his sishyas. On hearing

his words, she regained her form. It happened this and

she became a gaandharva again. Hence the name.

 

Viraja theertha- The divine Viraja nadhI is supposed

to flow under the feet of Lord Venkateshwara. The

water is collected in a small tub at the entrance to

the temple store room.

 

Deva theertha- Located in a thick forest to the north

east of the temple, a bath in this theertha on a

Thursday combined with the constellation of Pushya or

on a Monday with the constellation of Shravana, will

remove all sins and confer longevity and happiness- it

is believed.

 

Phalguni Theertha – Arundhathi wife of Rishi Vasishta,

meditated on the banks of this lake till goddess

Mahalakshmi appeared and blessed her with immortality.

 

 

Let us enjoy further more on His vaibhavam on Tirumala

in the next post

SrI PadmaavathI samEtha Sri Srinivasa ParabrahmaNE

Namah:

Acharyan ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Regards

Namo Narayana

dAsan

 

 

 

 

 

 

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