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Sri Venkateswara Ashtotthram |
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Prev :: (pranavam) MaarkaNdEya Mahaa theertha jaatha PuNya pradhAya SrI VenkatEsAya nama: - 45 :: Next
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45) MaarkaNdEya Mahaa theertha
jaatha PuNya pradhAya SrI VenkatEsAya Nama:
Salutations to Srinivasa, who
blessed Markandeya Maharshi with the exalted merit of having bathed in all the
holy waters.
While the previous tirunama tells
us about the Venkatachala Yatra performed by Emperor Janaka, this one does the
same, with respect to Markandeya Maharshi.
Sage Markandeya once performed
long and hard penance on the banks of the Ganga, prompting Brahma to appear
before him and seek the object of the tapas. Markandeya told the Creator that
he wanted the strength and good fortune to bathe in all the holy waters in all
the three worlds. Brahma laughed in amusement at this impossible request
and suggested to Markandeya that he go to Tiruvenkatam and have a bath in the
Swami Pushkarini, in which there is a confluence of all the 35 million holy
waters, on every Margazhi month Shukla Paksha Dvadasi day, before sunrise.
Brahma also narrated in considerable detail the incomparable merits that could
be acquired by one who has a holy dip in the glorious Swami Pushkarini, which
is the Swami (Lord and Master) of all holy waters. Instructed thus, the
Mahrshi came to Tirumala, lived for three years on the banks of the Pushkarini,
bathing in it daily and on the special days as advised by Brahma, worshipped
Srinivasa to his heart's content and attained the almost impossible punya of
one who has bathed in all the holy waters in all the worlds.
The Markandeya Purana also tells
us in detail (with minor variations--instead of Brahma, the guidance to
Markandeya is provided by Garuda) and achieved his ardent desire of
unflinching faith and devotion in Sri Venkatesa. The Rishi has also
composed a beautiful stotra on his benefactor, the Lord of Tirumala, and some
of these slokas are included in the Stotra that is recited till date before
"Tiruvenkatamudayan" at the time of Suprabhaatam. The last three slokas
from the stotra beginning with "Kamalaa kucha choochuka kumkumata:"
(viz., the three slokas beginning with "Vinaa Venkatesam",
"aham doorataste", and "agyaanina maya doshaan") are
from the Maharshi's outpouring, these slokas reminding us till date of the
sage's devotion.
The other intrepretion for this Naama focuses on
a sacred theerttam named MaarkaNdEya Theerttam . According to this version ,
the Salutations are to the Lord of Venkatam hills , who blesses those
who bathe in the great theerttam at Thirumala known as MaarkaNdEya
theerttham with auspicousness (PuNyam) . Lord
VenkatEsa is the grantor of this anugraham
.
This nAmaa is thus in celebration of the
sacredness of another theerttam at Thirumala because of its association with
the Lord of Saptha Giri.
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