Has Srila Prabhupada has mentioned anything about Sri Venkateswara ?

[jeevatma]

Hari OM,

 

Has Srila Prabhupada has mentioned anything about Sri Venkateswara

 

I would like to use this forum to find out if Srila Prabhupada has mentioned anything about Sri Venkateswara.

I found the following interesting Article. It might be of interest to many of you.

 

Sri Hari OM TAT SAT.

 

"Krite Nrisimha Bhoothosou Tretaayaam Rgahunandanah

Dwaapare Vaasudevas Cha kalao Vemkatanaayakah

 

(meaning)

 

"While Narasimha was the Lord of Kritayuga, Rama (Raghunandana) was the Lord of Treta yuga, Krishna (Vaasudeva) of Dwaapara yuga, it is Venateswara (Venkata naayakah) who is the Lord of Kaliyuga."

 

Dear Bhagavatas,

 

We discuss below the significance of Thiruvemkatam and Sri Venkateswara in the context of Saranagathi. This is an excerpt from my talk delivered at the Pittsburgh temple in connection with the Sri Venkateswara Mahima Bhakta Sammelanam held recently. I am sure by the time you reach the end of this article, you would have made up your mind to vote for Tiruvemkatam as the most favored Divya Desam.

 

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

 

============================================================

 

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TIRUVENKATAM AND SRI VENKATESWARA IN THE CONTEXT OF SARANAGATHI?

 

For this, we have to look at the Mega Calendar of our faith and the number of Avatars the Lord took in each. Kaliyuga in which we live is said to have 4,32,000 human years; Dwapara double that (Dwa means twice) i.e. 8,64,00 human years; Treta, treble that of Kaliyuga (Tre means three times) i.e. 12,96,000 human years; Kritayuga, four times i.e.17, 28,000 human years. Thus a Mahayuga has 43,20,000 human years.

 

The first 4 Avatars (Matsya, Kurma, Varaha and Nrisimha) are deemed to have taken place in Krita Yuga; The next 3 Avatars (Vamana, Parasu Rama and Rama) in Treta Yuga; The next 2 (Balarama and Krishna) in Dwapara Yuga. The last 1, Kalki, the Apocalypse yet to take place in this Kaliyuga in the descending order in tune with the length of each yuga. And, the Lord appears in Archa Vigraha as Sri Venkateswara till then.

 

There is a Sloka which says-

 

"Krite Nrisimha Bhoothosou Tretaayaam Rgahunandanah /

Dwaapare Vaasudevas Cha kalao Vemkatanaayakah //

 

(meaning)

 

"While Narasimha was the Lord of Kritayuga, Rama (Raghunandana) was the Lord of Treta yuga, Krishna (Vaasudeva) of Dwaapara yuga, it is Venateswara (Venkata naayakah) who is the Lord of Kaliyuga."

 

As we are in KALIYUGA, we surrender to this KALIYUGA VARADA - Lord Srinivasa.

 

Some hold Lord Ranganatha in the place of Narasimha but all are agreed on the other three.

 

The word "Tiru Vemkatam" means One who is the Lord of both "Tiru" and "Vemkatam" or it might mean "Vemkatam" which is blessed by "Tiru" or Piraatti.

 

Again, of all the mountains where our Lord has taken his abode, Brahmaanda Puraana says-

 

" Krite Vrishaadrim Vakshyanti Tretaayaam Anjanaachalam /

Dwaapare Sesha Saileti kalou Sree Vemkataachalam //

 

The word "Vem" means 'sins' and the word "Katam' means 'that which destroys' - "Sarva Paapaani Vem Praahuhu Kata Ithyaaha Uchyate, Thasmaath Vemkata Sailoyam Lokae Vikhyaata Keerthimaan".

 

There is also a solitaire in Tamil, which reflects the same sense: "Vem Kodum Paavangal Yellaam Venthida Seivathaal Nal Mangalam Porundhum Seer Vemakata Malai Aanathu.".

 

Nammalwar in his Tiruvoimozhi 3.3.6 says-

 

Vemkatangal Meymmel Vinai Mutravum Thaangal Thangatku nallanave Seivaar /

Vemkatathu Uraivaarkku Namavennalaam Kadamai, Adhu Sumanthaakatke //

(Meaning)

It is our duty to offer our 'Pranaamams' to those who live in Tiruvemkatam. For us who are bearing the heavy burden of sins, this is the only way to get our sin extinguished- because they are the ones who perform their duties appropriately. (Remember that this was during the time of Nammalwar!)

 

In those days, people used to climb up the mountain on foot and worship the mountain itself. They would not wear footwear while climbing and would recite "Vemkata Vaasine Namah" echoing what Nammalwar has said above.

 

Nammalwar in his Tiruvoimozhi 3.3.8 further advises that if you go to the seven hills and pray, all your sins will vanish- "Senru Ser Tiruvemkata Malai Onrume Thozha Nam Vinai Ozhiyume"

 

Swami Desika commences his Daya Satakam by surrendering to the very mountain thus-

 

"Prapadhye Tham Girim Praayah Sreenivaasa Anukampayaa /

Ikshu Saara Sravanthyeva yan Moorthyaa Sarkaraayitham"

(meaning)

The mercy of the Lord of Tiruvemkatam flows like the juice of the Sugarcane. The mountain is like this juice that had solidified into Sugar Cube. I surrender to such a mountain of mercy". Here Srinivasa is Sugarcane; His mercy is the juice. It is He who raises the crop; it is He who allows His Daya to flow and become solidified. Daya can only tolerate our sins; but this mountain can even destroy all our sins.

 

Bhishma Pitaamahar refers to this Srinivasa in his Sahasranamam in 8 words: "Sridhah, Srisah, Srinivaasah, Srinidhi, Srivibhaavanah, Sridharah, Srikarah, Sreyo, Srimaan"

 

Bhagavad Ramanuja in his invocatory verse of his Sribashyam of Brahma Sutram says that Lord Srinivasa stands on top of the Mountain of Upanishads (Sruti Sirasi) and proclaims to the world that He is the very "Paramatma" (Brahmani Srinivase)

 

Sri Madvaachaariar in his "Theertha Prabandham" says that "Lord Srinivasa stands on top of the mountain and looks around all the directions to bless his devotees; He even stands on top of the Tall trees on the mountain top as if searching for us to shower his mercy".

"Drishtvaa Disi Disi Sweeyaan Dayayaa Paalayantha Iva/

Vardhate Viswatah Sakshuh Vemkate Vemkateswarah //"

 

Swami Desika describes the "Thiruvemkata Malai" in the ' Paasuram' in Sthana Visesha Adhikaram of his "Srimad Rahasya Traya Saram"thus-

Kannan Adyinai Emakkuk Kaattum Verpu,

Kadu Vinayar Iru Vinaiyum Kadiyum Verpu,

Thinnamidu Veedena Thigazhum Verpu,

Thelinda Perum Thirthangal Serinda Verpu,

Punniyathin Pugalidena Pugazhum Verpu,

Ponnulagil Bogamellaam Punarkum Verpu

Vinnavarum Mannavarum Virumbhum Verpu,

Vemkata Verpena Vilangum Veda Verpe"

(Meaning)

" The mountain that reveals to us the two holy feet of Sri Krishna;

the mountain where wicked sinners get rid of their 'Punya' and 'Papa';

the mountain on which flow holy streams perennially with pellucid waters;

the mountain that is extolled as the abode of all righteous actions;

the mountain that secures all the enjoyments of 'Paramapada' (the region of the dazzling gold);

the mountain that is longed for by the eternal 'Suris' and the people of this earth;

that is the only mountain that is described in the Vedas and famous as Vemkata hills"

 

Nammalwar in his Tiruvoimozhi 6.10.11 surrenders himself at the feet of Tiru vem kata Nathan in his famous Pasuram " Akalagillen Iraiyum Enru Alarmel Mangai Urai Malar Maarba" which he concludes by saying "Tiruvemkatathaane! Pugal Onrum Illaa Adiyen Unn Adik Keezh Amarndhu Pugundhene".

 

It is but proper that we also do our ' Bhara Samarpanam ' at the feet of Lord Vemkateswara .

 

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

 

 

[yasodanandana]

 

 

prabhupada was in tirupati for a few days, having some times darsan of sri venkatesvara, speaking also to the chief of the temple on the subject of how use the money collected by the visitors

 

the chiefs of tirupati had some idea to make some business to increase the money and increase their charity activities

 

prabhupada advised that money given to god has to be spent directly for god

 

and i have read that some brahmins helped in founding at least a famous iskcon temple in india.. there's nice stories how these brahmins had symptoms of ecstasy the first time they listened to harekrsna samkirtana

 

i have found all this in haurisauri's diaries

[jeevatma]

Somewhere on the net I saw the avathar photos recommended by prabhupada, but Sri Venkateshwara was not included. When Buddha and Jesus were included, why was Sri Venkateshwara missing? Does somebody has a list of Avatars ?

[yasodanandana]

sri venkatesvara is not a particular avatar... he is the supreme bhagavan sri krishna, like syamasundar or banke bihari in vrindavan, govinda in jaipur and so on... so he has not to be included in a list of HIS expansions or incarnations

[Subala]

heh, where did you see Jesus included in list of Avatars? Which church you were visiting?

[Guest guest]

Krite Nrisimha Bhoothosou Tretaayaam Rgahunandanah

Dwaapare Vaasudevas Cha kalao Vemkatanaayakah

 

 

[jeevatma]

yasoda nandana dasa, It was a beautiful Reply. My respects to your feet.

 

Regarding Jesus, I do not exactly remember the site. The latest Avatar mentioned was Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

Also I do not have any Idea about the source of following sloka

 

"Krite Nrisimha Bhoothosou Tretaayaam Rgahunandanah

Dwaapare Vaasudevas Cha kalao Vemkatanaayakah"

 

I will try to search it. Other Sri Vaishnavas devotees can share if they have such information.

 

govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

[Guest guest]

Jeevatama,

 

I checked the Vedabase and Lord Venkateswara is really only mentioned in one short purport of the Caitanya Caritamrta. The purport is for the verse in Madhya-lila where Lord Caitanya passes through Tirupati. I think the difference is that while the deity form of Lord Venkateswara is the Kali Yuga avatara for Sri Vaisanvas, Lord Caitanya is the Kali Yuga avatara for Gaudiya Vaisnavas.

 

Hare Krsna.

[jeevatma]

The glories of Sri Venkateswara is described in Varaha Purana,Bhavishyothara Purana,Markandaya Purana,etc

 

Salutations to Lord Venkateswara who is beyond Maya (Ignorance) and who is empowered to do all tasks in the universe. Salutations to Him who is the husband of Ramadevi, who is calm, possesses innumerable heads and hands, and an endless body which pervades the entire universe."

--Bhavishyothara Purana

 

govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami.