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Sri Venkateswara Ashtotthram 

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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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