'Avatara Dina' - Greatness of Tirupati Part-8 By Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji

[Guest guest]

Radhe Krishna To all,

 

Sadguru swami desired to find the lost Samadhi of Sri Bodendra swami. Fearing

that his feet might touch the earth below which the Samadhi may be, he tied his

legs and rolled all over the area in his attempt to locate the Samadhi though

the sound of Rama nama (which Sri Bodendra incessantly chanted). So too, now,

Sri Ramanuja ties his legs and began to climb the mountain on his knees. In his

days, there were no proper roads or paths to climb the mountain. One had to

climb on the unpaved mountain.

 

He reached the foot of Tirumala hills and was about to place his foot in an

attempt to climb up. But he pulled his leg away as he perceived the hill to be

the divine serpent Adi sesha. How could he place his feet on the divine serpent

that forms the umbrella for the Lord when He stands, the throne when He sits and

the bed when He lies down? However, his deep desire to have darshan of the Lord

on the hill did not abate and so he tied his legs and began to climb on his

knees! Tirumalai nambi learnt that Sri Ramanuja was climbing the hill on his

knees. He at once rushed down and met him half-way up the hills. He learnt the

reason behind Sri Ramanuja walking on his knees but advised him, " I fully

understand and appreciate your bhava. But your behaviour would only scare away

ordinary people; they would never even dream of stepping on Tirumala. The Lord

has come here only to bless and grace the mass. If people do not come to have

darshan of the Lord who has

come down as 'Kali Yuga Varada' (boon giver in the age of Kali), the purpose of

His Avatar would stand defeated. Please, untie your legs and walk on your two

feet. " Sri Ramanuja, in obedience to the words of the elder, untied his legs.

 

Sri Ramanuja said to Tirumalai nambi, " Should you have taken the trouble to walk

all the way down to meet me? Could you not have sent a subordinate, someone of

smaller disposition? "

 

Tirumalai nambi said humbly, " Yes, I could have done that but I did not find

anyone smaller than me. Hence, I walked down to convey this message to you. "

 

This is verily the quality of a Bhagavata: quality of true Vaishnava. Tirumalai

nambi possessed this quality.

 

Thus, this place earned the name 'muzhangaal mudicchu' (knot at the knees). Sri

Ramanuja thereafter climbed the mountain on his two feet. On the way up we also

come across a place called 'Kaali gopuram'. Does the word kaali refer to mother

Kali? No. kaali means wind. Here one enjoys good breeze, as he rests below the

tower (gopuram); hence, the name 'Kaali gopuram'.

 

During his stay on top of the mountain, an old lady served Sri Ramanuja with

buttermilk, butter, etc. to cool his body that would get heated up due to his

japa and dhyana. At the time of his departure, Sri Ramanuja desiring to pay the

price for the buttermilk, butter, etc. enquired how much he owed her. The old

lady came to the doors of Sri Ramanuja and began to make a hue and cry. Sri

Ramanuja was shocked at her behaviour and wondered, 'I wanted to pay the cost of

buttermilk, butter, etc. that she had supplied me all these days. What wrong

have I done for her to berate in this manner?'

 

Sri Ramanuja asked her the reason and she said, " Oh, did I supply you with all

these for mere cash? "

 

Sri Ramanuja, " What do you want then? "

 

Old lady, " I want Moksha! I thought you would give me Moksha. Give me a letter

addressed to Lord Venkateswara here to bestow Moksha on me. I will carry it to

him. "

 

At once Sri Ramanuja wrote a letter to Lord Venkateswara requesting Him to

bestow Moksha on the old lady. She received the letter from Sri Ramanuja and

went to the Temple. She placed this letter at the Lotus Feet of the Lord and

attained Moksha.

 

All Mahans have taken refuge in this Lord here. This Lord is the first of

'Archavatars'. Many kings have served the temple in various ways.

Krishnadevaraya, the famous king of the Vijayanagara dynasty, has been a chief

contributor towards the Temple construction here. The compound wall of the

Temple, seen even today, was built by him. This king was a disciple of Sri

Vyasaraja, a Mahan of Madhwa sampradaya. The care of the Temple rested with the

Madhwas for a long time. Once, the priest (Bhattar) was found celebrating his

grandson's birthday using the 'Garuda vahanam' (the divine vehicle) of the Lord

for the boy. Angered, the king beheaded him. The Temple was then placed under

the care of Sri Vyasaraja.

 

!!! Will Continue !!!

 

The discourse in english by our swamiji covers about Meditation. Enjoy the You

tube...

 

" Goodness to Godliness "

 

 

 

Regards

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

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