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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00088 Mar 2005

 
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SrI:
SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya namah:

Dearest Srivaishnavas,

Continuing on the glory of Tirumala Sri Srinivasa
perumAL: 

Tirumala hill is a vast area dotted with peaks from
which rise lakes and waterfalls. Of these 108 are
believed to be sacred and associated with various epic
characters and leelas of Sri Srinivasa. 
[Reference material: Book- Balaji- Venkateswara- Lord
of Tirumala- Tirpuati- An introduction written by
Nanditha Krishna]

Swami Pushkarini- The Swami Pushkarini- was Vishnu?s
tank in Srivaikuntha, and was brought to the earth by
Garuda. It is the sacred tank in front of the temple
of Tirumala, even regarded as equivalent to the Ganges
and other sacred rivers. A dip in the tank cleanses
the bather of all sins. The performance of the daily
rites or even occasional rites on the banks of the
Swamy pushkarini is said to cure deformities of the
body and ensure the avoidance of all types of narakam.
It grants the wishes of those bathe in it. Like the
hill, all the tanks and lakes of Tirumala are sacred
and known as theerthas. 

There are seventeen teerthas (holy waters) whose
waters are believed to combine in the Swami
Pushkarini. 

Swamy Pushkarni rewards those who bathe in its waters
[due to the most merciful kataaksham of Sri
Srinivasan] by granting their heart?s desires. Bathing
in this pushkarini is equivalent to bathing in all
sacred rivers. 

There are seveneteen sacred lakes which mingle with
this Swami Pushkarini.

Kapila theertha- a sacred pool in front of which Sage
Kapila worshipped.
Shakra or Vajra theertha- situated on the hill above
Kapila theertha- where Indra [Devendra], Shakara was
released from the curse of Sage Gautama. 

Vishvaksena saras- where Vishvaksena, meditated. 
Agni kuNda theertha- siyuated above the Panchayudha
theerthas- which is inaccessible
Brahma theertha, that which is believed to cleanse
great and grave sins; 
Panchaayudha theertha- five pools named after the five
divine weapons of Lord Sriman Narayana
Saptharishi theertha- seven water names after seven
rishis ? namely Kashyapa, Atri, Bharadwaja,
Viswamithra, Gauthama, Vasishta, and Jamadhagni. 

Like these there are other theerthas, namely:
Akaashaganga theertha- situated in the north of
temple, this is the site where Anjanadevi performed
penance for 12 years and Hanumaan was born. Every day
silver potful of water from this theertha are brought
by one of the seven families of Acharyans, for the
daily Thirumanjanam [divine bathing] of the Lord
Srinivasa

Vaikuntha theertha- Situated in a cave to the north
east of the temple, a few members of Rama?s monkey
army saw Vishnu?s Vaikuntha inside the cave ? and
hence the name.

Sanaka Sanaadhana theertha ? Once the home of saints
and yogis, it is believed that a dip here would confer
yogic powers. A bath in the month of maargazhi would
be divine and benefit spiritually. 

Jaabaali theertha ? This was the site of the hermitage
first of Jaabali rishi and his disciplies and later,
of Agasthya and his sishyas, and is located two miles
of north of the temple. It is believed to have
miraculous powers to relieve bodies possessed with
spirits / ghosts. 

Paandava theertha- situated a mile away from the
temple, to the North east, it is named after the five
Paandava brothers, who lived on the Hill for a year.
At the end of the year, Yudhishtra dreamt that as they
had lived here for a year, they were absolved of their
sins, and would be victorious in the war. Theertha was
named after them. 

Paapavinaasa theertha ? A low waterfall three miles
from the temple, a bath on its holy water opn the
seventh day or the 12th day of the waxing moon in the
month of Ashada (July- Aug) will wipe out the sins of
earlier births, it is believed. 

Chakra theertha- to rid of demons, who were a menace
to life, a devotee names Padmanabha meditated on Lord
Sri Srinivasan for 12 long years at this theertha,
till the Lord sent His charka to destroy the demons.
Images of Sri Mahalakshmi ? Narasimha and Sudharsana
are consecrated here. On the 12th day of the waning
moon in the month Kaarthika an offering of
ThirukkaNNamudhu [Paayasam] ? sweetened milk and rice]
is offered and prasadham is distributed to thos who
bathed in this theertha. 

Kumara theertha- An elderly Brahmin lived alone on the
Hill meditating on Lord Venkatesa. One day, when he
had lost his way, a young boy appeared and led him to
a lake and asked him to take a dip there. The old man
followed his instructions and was transformed into a
16 year old youth. The young boy revealed himself to
be Lord Srinivasan and blessed the old man and
disapeeared. From then on the lake was known as Kumara
theertha. 
  
Kumaradhara theertha- In order to absolve himself from
the sin of Brahmaharthi [killing of a Brahmin] when he
killed the wicked Tarakasaura, Kumara or Kaarthikeya
performed penance at this theertha which was named
after him. 

Rasayana, Valighna and Jarahara theerthas ? are three
theerthas not visible to the human eye. 
 
Thotti theertha ? situated in the sanctum sanctorum,
the sandal and saffron mixed thirumanjanam waters used
for the ritual ceremonial bath of The Lord are
collected on Fridays in this theertha. Drinking this
water will destroy all sins. 
 
Kayarasayana theertha- Also hidden from the view, the
waters of this theertha if drunk, will purify the
body. Thondaimaan had been entrusted by a Brahmin with
the care of his pregnant wife when the latter went on
a pilgrimage. Unfortunately the woman died.
Venkteshwara instructed Thondaimaan to dip her corpse
in this water. He did so, and she came back to life. 

Ramakrishna theertha- Six miles to the north of the
Venkatesa temple, a person named Krishna excavated
this pool. Later a rishi named Ramakrishna meditated
here for centuries till an ant hill grew around him.
To test his concentration, Indra sent down thunder,
lightning, and torrential downpour; but Ramakrishna
did not budge. But the crest of the anthill broke,
Lord Sri Srinivasa appeared before him, with the
promise, that whoever bathes in that theertha on full
moon would be released of all sins. 

Thumba, Thumburu kona- Gandharva, Tumburu cursed his
lazy qwife to become a toad and live in this lake till
Sage Agasthya arrived at this theertha and descrbed
the merit of the theertha to his sishyas. On hearing
his words, she regained her form. It happened this and
she became a gaandharva again. Hence the name. 

Viraja theertha- The divine Viraja nadhI is supposed
to flow under the feet of Lord Venkateshwara. The
water is collected in a small tub at the entrance to
the temple store room. 

Deva theertha- Located in a thick forest to the north
east of the temple, a bath in this theertha on a
Thursday combined with the constellation of Pushya or
on a Monday with the constellation of Shravana, will
remove all sins and confer longevity and happiness- it
is believed. 

Phalguni Theertha ? Arundhathi wife of Rishi Vasishta,
meditated on the banks of this lake till goddess
Mahalakshmi appeared and blessed her with immortality.


Let us enjoy further more on His vaibhavam on Tirumala
in the next post
SrI PadmaavathI samEtha Sri Srinivasa ParabrahmaNE
Namah:
Acharyan ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam
Regards
Namo Narayana
dAsan


        
                
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