> Date: December 24, 2025 > From<[email protected]> > Subject: DWAJASTHAMBAM > > > The wooden core of the flagstaff (Dhwajasthambham) at Lord Venkateswara’s > temple on the Tirumala hill had completely decayed! > Along with polishing the Ananda Nilayam Vimanam atop the Lord’s temple, we > had taken up several repair works. > One day, suddenly, an engineer came running in panic and said: “The flagstaff > has decayed.” > When we slowly removed the golden covering, we found that the wooden core > inside had rotted all the way through. Then how was it standing? Only because > of the support of the golden plates on it. > Service to the Lord with a decayed flagstaff? … It was sacrilege. I was > filled with anxiety, restlessness, agitation, fear. > When we checked the records, there was no evidence of when the old wooden > core had been installed. In the available records of the past 180–190 years, > there was not even a mention of this flagstaff. So how old was it? What > should we do now? > We needed to procure and install a teak tree 50–75 feet tall. The tree must: > Have no hollows > Have no branches > Have no cracks > Have no bends — it must be perfectly straight > Hopelessness set in. Was this even possible? > Still, hope did not die. Immediately, I contacted our State Forest Department > officials. They said clearly: “It is impossible to find such a teak tree with > these characteristics in our state.” They added that it might be found in the > Western Ghats forests of Karnataka or Kerala. > Hearing this drained my strength. Meanwhile, media friends began spreading > rumors that there was hidden treasure beneath the flagstaff! > A sense of helplessness enveloped me. In that state of utter confusion, I > surrendered myself to Lord Srinivasa alone… > That night, around 10:30 PM, just as I was about to leave the temple, a > devotee named H. S. R. Iyengar from Bengaluru called me. > Though tired, I answered. He spoke rapidly: “Sir, I heard on the radio that > you are planning to replace the flagstaff. For such a flagstaff, you need a > teak tree at least 280–300 years old. Such a tree may be found only in the > Dandeli forests of Karnataka. The Chief Conservator of Forests there is a > close friend of mine. If you permit, I will search the forests with his help > and select a suitable tree. Please write a formal letter to him. Leave the > rest of the coordination to me.” > Immediately, even while sitting in the temple, I spoke over the phone with > the Karnataka Chief Secretary and the Chief Conservator and obtained their > assurance. By then, it was past 11 PM. > With Iyengar’s initiative, the Chief Conservator and his staff searched the > forests and, after examining nearly 100 trees, identified 16 teak trees in > the Dandeli hills as potentially suitable. > Coincidentally, that very week, Karnataka Chief Minister Sri Gundu Rao > visited Tirumala with his family. When I explained the issue to him, he > immediately declared: “Let Karnataka donate the new flagstaff timber to TTD.” > That weekend, along with our engineers, Iyengar, and the Chief Conservator, > we inspected those 16 trees. Only six trees met the required standards. Of > those, two were taller than our needs. Keeping TTD’s future requirements in > mind, I requested all six trees. > Wonderful! When we met the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary in Bengaluru, > they declared that all six trees would be donated. > Tree-felling began — and then another complex problem arose. The forest > terrain was so uneven that the main road was several kilometers away. How > could such massive logs be transported? > Strangely enough, timber cutters working for Somani Paper Mill in that forest > learned about our situation. The mill management and staff came forward and > said: “Sir, leave this work to us. Consider this our service to Lord > Srinivasa.” > Within a week, the trees were felled and brought to the road using ropes, > pulleys, and chains. Iyengar again took initiative and arranged a 16-wheeler > long truck. > Within two days, the truck carrying all six logs reached Bengaluru. Near > Vidhana Soudha, after a small prayer, the Chief Minister formally handed them > over to TTD. As I touched those logs amidst thousands of people, my body > thrilled with indescribable joy. (Why was that so?) > The very next day by 4 PM, the truck reached Tirupati. Near the dairy farm > outside town, thousands of men and women gathered. They welcomed the logs > with lamps, chanting “Govinda, Govinda.” > Within another hour, the truck reached Alipiri, the start of the ghat road. > Until then, it was all joy. The driver got down, looked at the hill road — > 18–19 km long, with 7–8 dangerous hairpin bends — and came to me. > “Sir, this is the greatest challenge of my life. I must drive continuously > uphill without stopping. Some parapet walls may break. Rocks may fall. It may > take any number of hours — but I must do this.” > I assured him: “Even if rocks fall or walls collapse, you are not > responsible. We will handle everything.” > Traffic going uphill was diverted to the old ghat road. > As dusk fell, bathed in crimson twilight, the teak logs — destined to become > the Lord’s flagstaffs — began their ascent. > Just as feared: > At some bends, the logs hit the mountainside and rocks fell > At others, parapet walls collapsed > At some turns, trailer wheels slipped over the edge > Watching from behind, we trembled with fear. At a couple of bends, half the > trailer seemed ready to plunge into the valley. > Minutes felt like hours. “Govinda… Govinda…” > And then — in just 55 minutes, defying all odds, the truck reached Tirumala. > Hundreds of devotees and TTD employees burst into joyous chants of > “Govinda–Govinda.” The Tirumala hills echoed. > I could not believe my eyes. Waves of joy surged within me, touching the sky. > Tears of devotion flowed from my eyes, and I stood frozen in bliss. > What a wonder! The truck that started from Alipiri at sunset reached the > hilltop before the sun fully set behind the Western Ghats. > Even more astonishing — the truck owner, who followed us by car, folded his > hands and said: “This is my fortune — to serve the Lord in such a way. I will > not take a single paisa as transport charges.” > Iyengar, the truck owner, and the driver were honored with Vedic blessings, > special darshan, and the Lord’s sacred garments. > Now came the next question: How do we install the flagstaff? > After endless discussions till midnight, exhausted, we postponed the decision > to the next day. Sleep eluded me. > After enduring such hardships to bring the teak logs, why couldn’t we solve > this final step? > Then a thought arose: “The same power that accomplished all this — won’t it > complete the rest? If it is destined that this flagstaff be installed through > me, it will happen. Otherwise, it won’t.” > Peace returned. I slept soundly. > The next morning, someone suggested: “Why not bring the log through the main > gateway, lifting the top end high, keeping the base on the ground like a > lever, and raise it directly through the pavilion opening? Let us take help > from the Papavinasanam Dam engineers and skilled artisans.” > A brilliant idea! Measurements were taken rapidly. Engineers confirmed it was > feasible without obstructing pilgrim queues. > Without delay, at an auspicious time, the chosen teak log was brought through > the temple streets, the Gollamandapam, and the main gateway. Supports were > erected carefully. As artisans slowly pushed the log forward, it rose > perfectly and entered the pavilion opening. By evening, without any damage, > the Dandeli forest teak tree stood erect as Tirumalesa’s flagstaff. > What a miracle! What compassion of Lord Srinivasa! > One final moment: As per scriptures, nine gems and nine grains were placed > beneath the flagstaff. Suddenly, I felt an impulse — I removed the gold chain > with Lord Srinivasa’s pendant from my neck and placed it inside. Immediately, > priests, donors, VIPs, and devotees followed, filling another box with > jewelry. > After sealing them and pouring concrete, the flagstaff was installed exactly > at 90 degrees, as prescribed. (The old flagstaff was ceremonially laid to > rest at the Papavinasanam Dam.) > Within a month, the platform, gold plating, flag, and sacrificial altar were > completed. > On June 10, 1982, amid Vedic chants and blessings, the flagstaff and altar > were consecrated. Six days later, on June 16, I handed over charge and was > transferred. > As I left that morning, I looked at the teak tree that came from Dandakaranya > and became the flagstaff. The bells near the flag fluttered gently, as if > greeting me. > An elderly scholar nearby smiled and recited: > “I am not the doer — Hari is the doer. All worship and actions are His. If > any good is done through me, It is only by His grace.” > (Source: Former IAS officer P. V. R. K. Prasad — “Nāham Kartā, Hariḥ Kartā”) > Om Namo Venkatesaya! Share this — may good happen to everyone > > 🙏🙏
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