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Sri Venkateswara Ashtotthram 

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62)  Vaikhaanasa muni shreshtta poojitaaya SrI VenkatEsaaya nama:

Vikhanasa Maharishi is the maanasa putraa (mind-born son) of Brahmaa.He is the author of several exalted works like the Kalpa Sutra and of texts laying down in elaborate detail the modes of worshipping the Lord in His arcchaa form, in various temples. Those who are born in the lineage of Vikhanas Maharshi and undergo purifying rituals as per these Sutras are known as Vailkhaanasaas. The Vaikhaanasa Agama is one of the two Vaishnava Agamaas (Manuals of Temple Worship), the other being Paancharaatra.
 
The worship at the Tirumala temple has been, for time immemorial, performed according to the Vaikhaanasa Agama, by the descendents of Vikhanasa Mahrshi. The Lord HImself, when He manifested from an anthill, advises Tonadamaan Chakravartthi to perform His worship through sages of the Vaikhanasa lineage--
 
"Kaarayitvaa shilpinaa atha pratishthaapya muneesvarai:
 Vaikhaanasai: munivarai: archayet Tondamaan api"  (Varaha Puranam)
 
Other details relating to the Kaimkaryams of Vikhanasa Muni are given below :
 
The renowned Rishi Vaikhaanasa had an overwhelming desire. Having heard and lost himself in the endearing exploits of Sri Krishna, the Rishi wanted badly to have his eyes' fill of the Lord's bewitching countenance and tiruemeni. To this end, he performed an extraordinarily severe penance. Sri Mahavishnu appeared before the Rishi in response and told the latter that it was impossible for him to have a dharshan of Sri Krishna in person, as the avataara had already been concluded. The Lord suggested to the Rishi that as an alternative, he could go to Tiruvenkatam and have a filling dharshan of Srinivasa, who was no less in beautiful and captivating than Sri Krishna. The Rishi dutifully set off for Tirumala Hills and, establishing an enchanting garden with myriad fragrant blooms, with the help of one Rangadaasa, worshipped Srinivasa to his heart's content, deriving on earth itself the boundless bliss that awaits the liberated soul in paradise.
 
It is this episode that is chronicled in this tirunaamam.
 
Further, when Srinivasa was performing penance on the banks of Padma Sarovaram near the Svarnamukhi river, it was those belonging to the clan of Vykhaanasaas who were of assistance to the Lord, even though He displayed none of His divine attributes or features.



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