*The Legends of Venkatachala, Jagannatha and Badari Kshetras*
*Venkatachala *: Skanda Purana described that King Akasha performed an
elaborate Yagna on the banks of Arani and while tilling in course of the
Yagna tilled the land of Yagna and found a girl child whom he named as
*Padmavati
*and brought her up with care and affection. Sage Narada who visited the
King saw the child and predicted that as she grew of age would wed Lord
Srinivasa of Venkatachala. Padmavati as she grew up went out to a forest
along with her companions and encountered a handsome youth called
Anant ( *Srinivasa)
*who tried to draw her into conversation and
proposed but she rebuffed out of semi-acceptance. But Anant desired
Padmavati immensely and sent an emissary named Vakulamala to King Akasha
and the latter was happy at the alliance and soon the
holy wedding took place in style. Among the various celebrities, Devi
Lakshmi too attended and congratulated the new couple! [ But Srinivasa had
to borrow hefty money from Kubera to defray the wedding expenses and the
interest money itself continues to be repaid till date from the earnings of
donations being made by the lakhs of devotees!] Padmavati’s earlier birth
was Vedavati who was a companion of Devi Lakshmi and when the latter became
Shri Rama’s spouse, Vedavati proceeded for
Tapasya to forests but Ravanasura misbehaved with her and she ended her
life by jumping into fire and cursed Ravana that soon he and his clan would
be wiped out by Lord Vishnu’s Avatara. As the drama unfolded of Sita’s
abduction following Lakshmana’s insult to Ravana’s sister Surpanakha,
Ravana’s masquerading as a Maya Tapaswi, Maricha’s taking to the Form of a
Maya Mriga (Deer),
Rama-Lakshmana’s battle with Ravana and his clan and the latter’s
great destruction, then the question of Sita’s purity of character was
raised by Rama. Agni Deva who had for long concealed real Sita’s identity
as she was transferred to Patala, Maya Sita was actually the wife of Agni
viz.
Swaha Devi; indeed Swaha Devi was Vedavati who turned later as Maya Sita
and thereafter as Padmavati Devi!
Skanda Purana delineated some telling episodes highlighting Venkateswara
Mahatmya. One was that of a *Nishad *(Hunter) named Vasu, his wife
Chitravati and son Vira. Nishad was the Chief of his clan
living honestly and peacefully. His daily practice was to offer cooked rice
and honey as ‘Naivedya’ to Venkatachalapati and eat the ‘Prashad’. One day,
the Nishad who to go out and entrusted the task of
offering the Naivedya to his son Vira but instead of performing the offer
to Shrinivasa, he gave some to Agni, some to tree bushes and the rest was
consumed. On return, the Nishad was extremely agitated
that the daily offering was not made to Venkateswara and was even about to
kill his son for the greatest sin that he committed; just at that time Lord
Venkateshwara appeared before the Nishad in full glory with his four hands
ornamented and armed and prevented him from harming the son and
said that the acts of his son was in fact worth emulation but not
condemnation for he performed a ‘homam’ as an offering to Agni Deva, a
homage to Nature and only the remainder as the left over ‘Prashad with
devotion. Bhagavan thus appreciated the father and son and blessed them.
The above happening was reported by the Nishad to the King of the Land
named *Tondaman. *Even as a Prince, the King was noble, intellectual and
devotional. Once as a Prince, he went on hunting in a forest and chased a
wild elephant which crossed the River Swarnamukhi and reached the Ashram of
Suka Maha Muni and found a parrot in the Ashram which was always screeching
the name of ‘Srinivasa, Srinivasa’. The Prince chased the bird upto the
mountain top where it vanished but he met
the Nishad who said that the parrot was a pet of Suka Muni and was always
in the habit of screeching the name of Srinivasa. The Nishad then narrated
his story of worship to Srinivasa by offering cooked
rice and honey. In fact the Nishad took the Prince to have a darshan of
Srinivasa and the latter was thrilled. On return to the Kingdom, the Prince
was informed by his faher to take over as the King since the latter was
retiring. On taking over the responsibility, Tondaman was busy; suddenly
after a few monnths, the Nishad approached the King agitated and conveyed
that in a dreamt he visioned a Varaha Murti and said: ‘Nishada! You must
reach the King atonce and command him to perform
‘Abhisheka’with lots of milk to a ‘Shila’ (Stone) underneath a specific
thick bush, pull it out and ask a Shilpi (Sculptor) to form a Varaha Murti
with Bhu Devi on his lap. King Tondaman followed the instructions of
Venkatachalapati as per the Nishada’s dream and consecrated the Temple in a
magnificent manner. Among the Brahmanas who attended the function, one
requested the King to please arrange look after his pregnant wife till he
returned from a Tirtha Yatra . The King agreed and
after a few months, the Brahmana returned but found the woman had a
miscarriage and expired. The King felt extremely guilty and approached
Srinivasa who in a dream directed his wives to take dips in Asthi Sarovara
Tirtha; as they did so, the Brahman’s wife who had a miscarriage and died
also emerged along with the Queens. This miracle was witnessed by thousands
of devotees and the Brahmana was overjoyed!
King Tondaman was in the daily habit of worshipping Bhagavan
Venatachalapati with golden lotuses.
He wondered one day how Tulasi leaves pulled out of muddy plants got mixed
up with the lotus flowers and a voice came from the Skies that there was a
pot-maker (Kumhara) in Karmapuri who also did daily puja to the Lord and
that he accepted both the pujas of the King and the Kumhara too
in the same manner! The King reached the Kumhara and the latter and his
wife denied that they never perfomed any puja but they heard a voice that
the King would knock at their door and simultaneously a Pushpaka Viman
would land to take them to Vishnuloka! Apparently the Kumhara couple did
great pujas in their previous births! The King returned to Venkateshwara
and a benign Lord appeared and bestowed lasting bliss to him too!
In the vicinity of Tirumaleshwara Temple are *Tirthas *like Swami
Pushkarini, Papanashana Tirtha, Krishna Tirtha, Akashaganga Titha, Chakra
Tirtha and so on; each *one *of these Tirthas had a Sacred Background. For
instance Swami Pushkarini washed off the sin of Brahmana Kashyap who had
the power of saving a curse; King Parikshit was cursed by Shringi , the son
of Samika Muni, as he was infuriated that the King put around a dead snake
around the neck of the Muni who was engrossed in deep tapasya. The Great
Serpent Takshaka was to bite the King within a week’s time as a result of
the curse and Brahmana Kashyap had powers of preventing Daksha to do so but
the Brahmana was urchased by Daksha and thus did the sin of not saving the
King. Papanasha Tirtha eradicated the
extreme poverty of a Vedic Scholar called Bhadramati with several sons and
daughters and as per an advice of Narada Muni gave a token of ‘Bhudaan’of
five feet of Land that he received from a rich
donor. As the Bhudaan was given away to another vituous Brahmana the Lord
appeared in person and fulfilled all of his desires and provided Salvation
later; indeed the Brahmana who received the donation was Venateswara
himself! Akasha Ganga Snaan was prescribed by Matangi Muni to Anjana Devi
and Vayu Deva as the Snana bestowed to them an Illustrious Son Hanuman! On
a subsequent time, a Brahmana called Ramanuja did Tapasya of extreme rigour
with Panchagnis or Five Sacred
Flames around him irrespective of Heat-Cold-Rain and attained Narayana
Darshana and gave the double boon of Enlightenment and the presence of an
Eternal Water Spring of Akasha Ganga.
*Eight-folded approach to Venkateshwara: *While Suta Muni narrated Skanda
Purana to the congre -gation of Sages at Naimisharanya he prescribed an
Eight-fold Bhakti Route to Lord Venkateshwara:
1) To display ‘Snehabhava’ or feelings of Friendship sincerely towards His
Devotees;
2) To provide Service and Satisfaction to the Devotees;
3) To perform Puja without expectations;
4) To direct or
dedicate all actions to Him;
5) To generate Bhakti and love in all the Jnanendriyas or Sense Organs
like eyes, ears, nose, mouth and skin and the corresponding Karmendriyas or
Actionable Organs like seeing, hearing, smelling, speaking and feelings of
the Lord;
6) To hear and cogitate about the ‘Mahatmya’of the Lord and accord
importance to whatever is said, described, sung, taught and
thought of the Lord;
7) To always keep the name of Srinivasa on one’s lips, thoughts and heart
and
8) finally dedicate oneself to Lord Ventateshwara and take comprehensive
and absolute refuge unto Him! Those who are fortunate of seeing even a
glimpse of the Idol of Venkateshwara are sure to experience the awe and
satisfaction of nearness and lasting memory and familiarity. Those who
think of Srinivasaeither of curiosity, greed, love of materialism, fear, or
a casual occurrence undergo a tangible tranformation of outlok, approach to
life and morality. If even a casual approach to the Lord has a multiplier
effect, one could imagine the far reaching impact of the Eight-fold
dedication to Him!
Just as Fire is capable of pulling down a huge mansion within minutes, the
stock-pile of sins gets ablaze into ash as fast, provided one takes the
shelter of Srinivasa. Human life is indeed difficult to attain compared to
several other species and asylum unto the Lord would surely assure
Salvation.
*Purushottama (Jagannatha) Kshetra: *Sage Jaimini narrated the Story of
King Indradyumna,an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu who was keen on having a
darshan of the Idol of Neela Madhava at a Temple situated in the Nilachala
Mountain on the East Coastal side of Bharata Varsha in the Utkala
Region and asked his Priest to ascertain the route and arrange for the
trip. One of the Pilgrims (Bhagavan Himself) who said that he just returned
from there and described the details of the route.
The King and his large entourage undertook an arduous journey and having
crossed Mahanadi camped overnight and the Local Chief of Utkal Region gave
the disheartening news that there was a huge sand storm and the Idol of
Neela Madhava was underneath a heap of debris. Brahmashi Narada appeared
and consoled the King and asked him perform hundred Yagnas and then
NeelaMadhava would manifest from under the debris. Narada further said that
a ‘Vata Vriksha’ (Banyan Tree) with four branches would appear near the
debris; that Vishvakarma the Celestial Artist would carve outfour Idols of
Jagannatha, Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra the sister of the brothers and a
Sudarshana Chakra; that a conch-shaped Purushottama Kshetra would get
materialised and that Lord Brahma himself would consecrate the Wooden Idols
but the instructions of Neela Madhava must be followed by the King in
spirit and deed. Sughat the son of Vishwakarma completed the construction
of the Temple within five days while made the Idol of Nrisimha Deva which
was installed by Narada. The task of carving wood from for the four major
Idols was taken up and a celestial voice was heard saying that the Idols
would emerge on their own, that the oldest worker be sent inside the the
Main Gate which should be closed till the job was over, that the sound of
drums be kept on till the task was going on inside to cover the sounds from
there, that if somebody heard the sounds from inside then he or she would
be stone-deaf forever and if somebody saw any activity from inside that
person would lose vision forever! On the fifteenth day a celestial
announcement was heard that the Idols were
almost ready; instructions were given about the colour schemes of the Idols
viz. deep blue cloud for Janannatha, white for Balabhadra, Crimson red like
rising Sun for Subhadra and deep red to the Sudarshana Chakra. As the
finishing touches were being provided, Indradyumna was in trance and at the
time of consecration, Narada, the King and the entire entourage entered the
Sanctum Sanctorium chanting Dwadasha Mantra viz.Namo Vaasudevaya in praise
of the Lord, Purusha Suktum addressed
Balabhadra, Sri Suktam for Subdhadra Devi and appropriate Mantras to invoke
Sudarshana Chakra.
Finally at the Muhurat Time , Lord Brahma initiated the most hallowed
function of ‘Kumbhabhisheka’ on Shuddha Vishakha Ashtami on Thursday with
Pushyami as the Nakshatra as witnessed by Deva-Yaksha-Kinnaras and
Maharshis. The famous nine day Ratha Yatra commenced on Shuddha
Ashadha Vidiya and returned from the banks of Bindu Tirtha on the eighth
following day.The Annual Ratha Yatra continues till date.
*Badari Kshetra: *Badari Kshetra is one of the most outstanding and ancient
Pilgrimage Points on Himalayas where Bhagavan Narayana resides. Maha Deva
himself was stated to have advised Skanda Kumara that among the various
Kshetras of Bharata Desha, Badari was the unique Place of worship as that
not only carried the footprints of Vishnu but Kedara Kshetra was in the
same region where the magnificent Shiva Linga was also present thus
affording double advantage of worshipping Shiva and
Narayana, signifying the unity of both the Swarupas of the same Deity.
Again, Badari had been the abode of Agni Deva as he was called
‘Sarvabhakshaka’ or the Consumer of each and every material
and was rightly acclaimed as ‘ Sarva Papa Naashaka’ or the destroyer of all
kindss of sins; Vishnu gave the boon to Agni that he would be a purifier
par excellence. Lord Shiva also sensitised Skanda that there were Five
Sacred Shilas (Rocks) representing Naradi, Narasimhi,Varaahi, Garudi, and
Markandeyi and each one of the Rocks was capable of bestowing boons to
whosoever worshipped to them as these were the very Shilas that the Five of
the Illustrious Personalities did extreme Tapasyas and secured the Vision
of Vishnu in His full and glorious Form.
Another legend ascribed to Badari Kshetra related to a mass Prayer by Devas
to Brahma that in the successive yugas access to Vishnu was a great
facility but in Kali Yuga it was not so easy. Brahma headed the Delegation
of Devas to Narayana lying on ‘Ksheera Sagara’ or the Ocean of Milk and
complained . Narayana replied that all the Devas were irresponsible and
ignorant that Narayana was difficult to reach in the Kali Yuga ! In fact,
he was far easier to access in the Kali Yuga than in the earlier Yugas and
the Delegation should realise that a fulfleged presence of His was readily
available to only to Devas but to human beings even at Badarikashrama! As
Devas were ashamed of their lack of awareness, they made instant Yatras
along with their families and that was how there was added
magnificence of the Kshetra. There is a strong belief down the ages in the
current Yuga that visitors who visit the Hallowed Place would have their
sins demolished and attain Vishnu Swarupa whose heart would be replete is
vision, whose tongue and ears with His glories, whose belly full of even a
morsel of the Prashad offered to Him, and whose kneeled head touched the
feet of His Idol.
Kapala Tirtha in Badarika is popular for performing ‘Pinda Danaas’ to
‘Pitru Devas’ as that was the hallowed place where Maha Deva snipped
Brahma’s fifth head as the latter did the great sin of infatuation of his
own daughter Devi Saraswati. Brahma Tirtha was the Place where Vishnu in his
incarnation as Hayagriva emerged and expanded his broad thighs to kill
Madhu-Kaitabha demonbrothers as the latter secured permission from the
Avatara that they should be killed simultaneously on the Sea where there
was no water. Badari is one significant Place where River Saraswati is
visiblewith her full force adjecent to the Kapala Tirtha where Pitru Karyas
are executed..
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K RAJARAM IRS 16626
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