SAI CARES FOR ME #14 (My Tirumala Visit)

[avm171]

    I had been to tirumala 3 or 4 times. Recently we visited on 21st and stayed there for 2 days. In this
trip i had come across some informations which I would like to share with u sai ram. since this is Purattasi
month tirumala is getting crowded every day. We  waited 3 hours for sudarsan darshan. On seeing the crowd
and familiarity I remember my first visit to tirumala when i was in college during 80s.
  
    Our family went to tirumala and after waiting some half an hour or something we entered into the temple.
My unlce had a Prarthana Giving Tulabaram. We went inside the temple on the assumption that sugar will be available
inside the temple because in his previous trip he purchased it from a counter inside the temple. But they told that
the counters been moved outside the temple and tulabaram things should be purchased from outside. And they asked us to go
outside and purchase it and come back. We asked that  if we go outside for the purchase would they allow us
to come back straightly without waiting in the queue. They said "No" and they suggested us that any one of us would go
outside and others could wait inside. They asked us to sit near the Yoga narasimhar sannidhi.
  
    Now the time for "Ekanda Seva"  had come and the darshan for public was stopped. Except our family and few archakas
no body was inside the temple. After 15 minutes one archaka came with full of prasadam and offerd to
us to eat. we were very happily had it. After that he asked whether we were interested to have darshan. Immdiately we said yes
and he brought us to inside the Karuvarai. We stood very nearer to Balaji and had a beautiful darshan. Nowdays we can't even
imagine to stand before him for such long time and nearer to him. The archaka did individual archanai for us and again gave
handful of prasadam to all of us. Only our family members went around the "Prakaram" of the temple. After that the temple
was opened for public and my uncle came , we gave Tulaparam and had darshan once again.
At that time I didnot know the value of this balaji darshan but when I think of it now I realise how fortunate we are to have
such a darshan like VVIP.

jai sai ram

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[avm171]

     When I planned for the trip as ususal I asked my sai's blessings. He took care of us in the trip every minute and arranged
every thing for us. I booked railway reservation and sudarshan darshan through internet. But accomodation is full. When
i was casually speaking with my customer i told him that i am going to tirupathi this week and so i couldnot come to his
company. He asked me whether I reserved for accomodation. I said "I can't. it is Full" He said "don't worry. I know some building
donors of tirumala. If they recommed you will get accomodation at concession rate. I will arrange for it".  As told he
arranged for the slip and we stayed in the Rs.350 fare room for just Rs.100. Similarly sai arranged everything for us to make
our trip safe and pleasant.

    Before my trip I happend to meet one old orthodex Vaishnav. He asked me whether i am going to tirupathi as a tour or with
some prayer. I said everybody is going to tirupathi with some prayers only. He said then your should follow some rules to
worship balaji and see the results. He explained the rules as follows.

    First you should go to padmavathi thayar temple in keel Tirupathi and put your prayers there only. Because
at tirumala while seeing venkateshwara you may not find sufficient time to put your prayers completely. If you tell to
padmavathi thayar she will it recommend for you.
    Second you should go to the Govindaraja perumal temple. Once you enter into his temple he makes a note that
your past karma should be erased.
    Third you go to kapila theertham and have a dip. 

    There Donot put your legs immediately in the water.
First touch the water with your hand. Give a namaskaram. Put the water in to your head 3 times. Drink a drop of water. Then
put your prayers there. All your past karmas will go off now. Then go to tirumalai.
    At tirumala first go to pushkarni and have a dip. similar procedure like kapila theertham. Then go to varaga swami temple and
pray him. Without worshipping varagaswami you should not go to see our perumal. He won't like it. Also put atleast one rupee
in his hundial. You should not go to varagaswami with empty handed. should give some kanikkai.
Because there is a story behind it. The whole tirumala is owned by varagaswami. The only place owned by balaji is the place
10x10 where he is standing. That too he purchased on loan from varagasami and promised him that " My devotees will make the
payment for this loan. First they will pay you the money for me and then they will put the money in my hundial.
So by this way we have the oppurtunity to take care of venkateshwara's debt.
   After seeing balaji you should not visit kalasthi or other temples. you should directly come to your house.
Because you have already darshaned supreme god and what is the necessity to visit other temples.
    I followed this.  
    on hearing my trip one of my friends suggested me to go to venkateshwara darshan wearing new clothes. He told me
"Because if we go with new clothes our life will be shifted one step upper otherwise he will keep in the position where we are."
This is very new to me, whether right or wrong I followd this also.

[avm171]

There are two more things.
First the historical importance of the divine iron crowbar with which Lord was hit hanging on the MahaDwaram
of Tirumala Temple. It is called Ananthalwan CrowBar. Most of us may not noticed it. There is also a story behind this bar.

Ananthalwan was born in 1053 AD in Kirangur on the banks of River Cauvery, near Srirangapattanna  (Mysore District).  
He was born under Chitta Nakshatram in the Year Vijaya (4154 Kali) to Keshavacharya a Srivaishnava Brahmin.  
He was Bharadvaja Gothram.  He was known as Ananthan in his childhood and from his very tender
age was very interested in Shastras, Vedas & Acharya Bhakti.

   Ananthalwan surrendered to Bhagvad Ramanujacharya & made him his Acharya.  
Both Ramanujacharya & Ananthalwan were the incarnation of Adishesha, the cosmic serpent on which Lord Vishnu reclines.  
He was one of the many followers & students of Ramanujacharya.  Ramanujacharya wanted to do some service in Tirumala thru
his Students (Shishyas).  So in a meeting, Ramanujacharya announced who will take up the task of going to Tirumala Hills
and serving Lord Venkateshwara by growing plants of flowers and fruits on that Terrain.  
It was known for its wild animals and rocky surface covered with thick dense forest.  
Ananthalwan without a moments pause stood up and was ready to do this task.  
He and his wife went to Tirumala hills to perform Pushapa Kainkaryam or the floral service to Lord.  
With great effort he managed to reach Tirumala and without wasting time started to dig up the land cleaning the
surface and making a small piece of clean land to grow different fragrant flowers.  Things went as per his plan.  
He used to pluck the flowers which would blossom in few moments time and used to tie them firmly and decoratively
and would offer it to Lord Venkateshwara many times a day without fail.
 
   Once it was a peak of the dry Season and the water in Swami Pushkarni was evaporating very rapidly.  
He was very upset that the plants which would die if not properly watered.  So he decided to dig up a pond (Pushkarni)
which can hold sufficient water for these kinds of situations.  Even for this he didn’t wait to think about the gigantic
task in front of him.  He immediately marked the boundary of the Pushkarni and also marked a place where the dug up mud
should be thrown.  Ananthalwan felt that, Acharyan Ramanujacharya has allotted the work to him, so he felt only him and his
wife are eligible to do the service.  So he didn’t take the service or help of the locals.  
He and his wife alone started to work.
Ananthalwan’s wife was in Pregnancy.  Even then she was a great devoted wife to her husband and felt his words
are Command for her.  Without seeing or feeling her physical condition she started to pickup the basket of mud
which Ananthalwan dug up and used to throw it on a far distance already shown and marked by Ananthalwan.  
Without resting in between the shifts, she was performing the work.  At once instance she was so tired and was
unable to carry the load in the middle of the path.  Lord felt her pain and Lord Venkateshwara immediately took a
form of a young Brahmin boy and requested her to give the mud basket to carry.  She refused at once.  
But the young boy didn’t listen to her.  She had to loose that battle to him and gave the mud basket.  
Lord Joyfully used to walk on the same path and used to throw the mud.

Ananthalwan, who was digging the mud with a Crowbar, noticed his wife had pickup the pace of doing the work.  
She used to return the empty basket within a flash.  He was surprised at this.  Then he started to observe her
wife going on the trail route to throw the mud.  Ananthalwan was shocked to see a young boy taking the mud basket
and going to throw while his wife was resting under a tree.  The anger was spontaneous and high.  
Ananthalwan immediately started chasing the boy.

The boy noticed Ananthalwan chasing him ran away.  Ananthalwan shouted, don’t you ever dare to interfere in our work.  
Next time I will not warn but will hit you with this Crowbar.  The naughty young boy started teasing Ananthalwan.  
This sparked the anger of Ananthalwan to his peak and he started to chase the boy for a long distance.  Ananthalwan was tired,
he started to relax and allowing the boy to come near him so that he can catch him.  But the boy came near and before
Ananthalwan could catch he started teasing and running back.  Ananthalwan did not know what he was going to do and he
just pretended to throw the Crowbar at the boy.  But his muddy hands slipped the crowbar out of his hand towards the Boy.  
Lord tried to escape but hit his chin before falling on the ground.  Ananthalwan was so sad that he never meant
to hit the boy but was just chasing him away.  Ananthalwan ran behind the young boy calling him with sweet words
and in middle asking sorry for causing pain to him.  But the young boy ran into the temple and disappeared.  
Ananthalwan started searching for the boy to give him medication, but suddenly a scream from Garbhagruha
shouting “Blood….Blood from Lord” was heard.  All rushed to the spot.  The chin of Lord’s Moolavirat (Main Stone idol
of the Temple) was bleeding.  Ananthalwan immediately prostrated and loudly asked Mercy of the Lord for
hitting him with Crow bar.  Ananthalwan narrated the scene about Lord coming in the form of a young Brahmin boy
and meddling with the work & how he chased and mis-hit the boy with his Crowbar.

Soon Ananthalwan noticed the Paccha Karpooram (Raw Camphor) finely grinded for applying Lords Naamam.  
He immediately requested the Archakas to apply Paccha Karpooram on the bleeding area.  The bleeding immediately seized.  
All praised Ananthalwan for him having seen Lord as a Young Boy and not to feel bad for hitting the Lord on this Chin as
it would be the Leela of Lord to Play with Ananthalwan.

Even today, the Paccha Karpooram is applied twice a day keeping in mind the bleeding wound & Ananthalwan’s Bhakti.  
The Crowbar with which Lord was hit is hung on the MahaDwaram of Tirumala Temple on the command of
Bhagvad Ramanujacharya, so that all can have the divine visual of the iron Crowbar which actually touched the Lord.
 
 After the Deepavali Asthanam in Tirumala, Lord Malayappa Sridevi & Bhudevi return to Garbhagruha.
 Both the Ammavaru Sridevi & Bhudevi are taken inside the Garbhagruha but Lord Malayappa is taken anticlock wise
carrying and running around the Vimana Prakaram and going into Garbhagruha.  
This is called as BHAG SAVARI Utsavam which is Unique in Tirumala.  
This visualize the scene where Ananthalwan  was Chasing Lord with a Crowbar and Lord as a
Young boy running for his life.

source
http://www.srivenkatesa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=166:thirumala-ananthalwar&catid=37:famous-devotees&Itemid=60
    

[avm171]

Secondly Hathiramji Mutt. Many of us do not know the importance of this place. Lord himself visited this place.
This is the story of Hathiram Baba.
    
Bahavaji, popularly known as Hathiram Baba, was an ardent devotee of Lord Sri Ram.
The very first picture when thinking of Sri Hathiramji is of Baba playing dice with Lord Srinivasa himself.
Here’s the story of Hathiram ji, on the day of Puratasi Saturday.

He once undertook an piligrimage to Tirumala. His name was Bhavaji. He was so fascinated by the majestic
appearance of the Lord that he decided to stay in Tirumala for ever having darshan of the Lord all the time.
He constructed a Mutt (a place where the saints live near the temples) and settled there. Bhavaji used to have
the darshan of the Lord at least thrice a day. Still, he wasn’t satisfied of his darshan. He used to look
at the lord unmoved for long. This continued for a few weeks. Temple employees have observed Bhavaji visiting
the temple and gazing at the lord continuously for longer times. Finding suspicious about his acts, they reported
the matter to the Temple Authorities. Next day when Bhavaji entered the temple premises to have the darshan of the lord,
he was pushed out of the temple without allowing him to have his Ram’s darshan. He pleaded not to separate him from his Lord Ram.
No one listened to his cry. Instead, he was warned not to enter the temple for Lord’s darshan again. A sad and
dejected Bhavaji returned to his Mutt.

After getting back to the Mutt, he cried with the Lord. Hey Lord! My Ram! What is my fault? Is it a sin
to have your darshan? You know it very well that I can’t live without having your darshan. Why you punished me this way?
What am I supposed to do now?

Next morning, Bhavaji went to the temple as usual to have the darshan of the lord. But, he was pushed out of the gate.
A dejected Bhavaji retuned back to his Mutt. He was not sure how to pass his time without having the Lord’s darshan.
He then took up a dice board and started playing the dice himself assuming that he was playing with the Lord on
the other side. He himself used to throw his dice and the Lord’s dice on His behalf. In this way, he played the
game all along the day and fell a sleep. When he was in a deep sleep at night, he heard a pleasant voice calling,
Bhavaji! Wake up! It’s me, Your Ram! Bhavaji opened his eyes and saw the Lord standing in front of him.
He couldn’t believe his eyes. Is it real or a dream? Amazed Bhavaji asked the Lord. The Lord replied
that it wasn’t his dream. He really visited him to play dice with him. There was no boundary to the
happiness of Bhavaji. A jubilant Bhavaji laid a mat on the floor and sat with the Lord Balaji to
play the dice. Bhavaji defeated the lord in his game. The Lord then asked Bhavaji to seek any boon
against his victory over Him. Bhavaji politely said, Hey Lord, what can I ask you more than this?
I am satisfied with your Vishwaroopa darshan. I do not need any material pleasure or wealth.
Give me a little place at your feet to serve you. I need no favour than this. A pleased Lord blessed
Bhavaji and vanished with a promise to get back for the game again.

Next day, Bhavaji excitedly waited for the sun to set so that he again plays dice
with the Lord. Finally the wait was over. When the temple doors were shut at night,
the Lord moved out of his Ananda Nilayam and visited Bhavaji to play the game of dice.
After finishing the game, the Lord returned back to Ananda Nilayam promising to come back again.
It became a regular practice for the Lord to visit the Mutt and spend time playing dice with Bhavaji
at night when the temple doors were closed. One day when the Lord was playing dice with Bhavaji, He heard
a voice of someone calling Bhavaji. The Lord asked Bhavaji to go and check it out. When Bhavaji went out to see
if anyone was there, he found none. He then returned back to inform the Lord, but he found that the Lord has already
left the place without informing him. When he picked up the dice board to keep it safe, he saw a diamond studded
necklace of the Lord lying at the board. He picked up the necklace and kept it safe thinking that
the Lord might have forgotten it and he would return when He comes back to play next time.

Next morning when Pradhana Archaka was getting ready to give bath to the Lord, noticed a missing necklace.
He then took it to the notice of Temple Authorities. The Temple Authority was worried about the theft of
Lord’s necklace. All the employees were called up on and enquired about the missing necklace. The Pradhana
Archaka informed the management about the incident of Bhavaji in the recent past and straightaway raised
suspicion over him. The Temple Authorities ordered to get Bhavaji for enquiry.

On the other hand Bhavaji was waiting for Lord’s arrival to play the game of dice. For long,
the Lord hasn’t come to play. In the mean time, he heard someone shouting his name at the doorsteps.
By the time he reached there, the soldiers got in and started searching all over the place.
Bhavaji was surprised to see them searching all over. He tried to enquire what was going on.
He was told that someone has stolen the Lord’s necklace. Bhavaji immediately understood what they
were looking for and got the necklace he held it safely to return the Lord when he visits again.
Is this the necklace you were looking for? Asked Bhavaji! One of the sainiks said, here you go.
You have stolen the Lord’s necklace. You are under arrest! Bhavaji pleaded his innocence but
 they haven’t listened any of his word. They arrested and took him to the temple Authorities.
On enquiry by the Temple Authorities, Bhavaji told them that the Lord used to visit his Mutt
and Play dice with him every night when the temple doors were shut. The Lord had forgotten His
necklace at my Mutt after playing the game yesterday. When I noticed, I picked up the necklace
and kept it safe to return back when He comes again. The Pradhana Archaka of the temple raised his
eyebrows and said; we have been doing all sorts of poojas and sevas every day to the Lord for
so many years, the Lord hasn’t appeared to us and He appeared to you? Moreover He played dice game
with you? Whom are you bluffing? Are you a greater devotee than us? There should be a limit of
speaking false. Some of the Authorities suggested presenting him before the King’s courtyard for justice.

The next morning, he was presented in the courtyard of the Emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya, as a
culprit who had stolen the necklace of the Lord. After listening to the charges, Sri Krishnadevaraya
asked Bhavaji’s explanation. Bhavaji explained all that had happened with him. The Emperor felt him very
innocent. He thought it would be unjust to punish him without sufficient proof and proper investigation.
He therefore, decided to put Bhavaji on test. Sri Krishnadevaraya told Bhavaji that he will be given an
opportunity to prove himself innocent. For this, he will be dumped with heaps of sugarcane in the cell
and if he succeeds in consuming the entire heaps of sugarcane by the wake of the dawn tomorrow;
he will be released innocent and if he fails to do so, he will be punished for the theft.

Bhavaji never perturbed. He had no choice but to accept the Emperor’s decision. He was then taken
to the prison cell and tons of sugarcane heaps were dumped before him and locked the doors of the cell.
Bhavaji sat in the corner, closed his eyes and prayed the Lord. Hey Lord! I am innocent and you know the
fact very well. I have been charged of theft and put on test of eating this sugarcane heaps. Hey Ram! It’s
not my test. They have put you on test. They want to test your existence in this world. If anything I need
in this life is a little place before your feet to serve you till my last breath. He left everything on the
shoulders of the Lord and immersed in deep penance.

A little later, a giant Elephant appeared in the cell and by the wake of the dawn, the Elephant ate all the
heaps of sugarcane dumped there for Bhavaji. The Elephant then awake Bhavaji from his penance with its trunk.
Bhavaji was surprised to see an Elephant in the cell. When he saw the entire heaps of sugarcane were finished,
he realized that his Ram has arrived for his rescue and immediately fell upon his feet
and cried Ram…! Oh Ram..! My Ram…! You have come up for my rescue. How lucky am I? The Elephant
then blessed Bhavaji with its trunk and trumpeted at loud. On hearing the Elephant’s trumpet,
the guards peeped through the key wholes and wondered to see an Elephant inside a locked cell.
They immediately rushed to the authorities and informed the matter. Meanwhile, the Elephant broke
open the doors and ran away immediately. Some guards tried to follow the Elephant but it disappeared thereafter.

When the Emperor visited Bhavaji, he was found gazed at the direction where the Elephant has left,
 repeatedly uttering a word “Hathiram..!” When asked, who was Hathiram and how the elephant entered the
prison cell? Bhavaji told that his Ram has come in the form of a Hathi (an Elephant) to save him. Everyone
who had assaulted him on the charges of theft exclaimed at the great devotion of Bhavaji. One and all had
accepted his devotion to Lord Balaji is eternal. The Pradhan Archaka in particular begged his pardon for
the assaults made on him out of pride and ego.

Sri Krishnadevaraya relieved him of all charges and appointed Bhavaji as the Pradhana
Archaka of the temple of tirumala. He happily obeyed the orders of the Emperor as he got a
life time opportunity to serve his Lord. Since the Baba Bhavaji’s beloved Lord “Sri Ram” has
personally come to the rescue of Bhavaji in the form of a Hathi (an Elephant) he as been named as
Hathiram Baba. As a Pradhana Archaka of the Temple, Bhavaji served the Lord for many years. He later
sacrificed his soul to the Lord and entered into a Jeeva Samadhi. His body was cremated near Venu Gopala
Swamy Temple on the way to Papavinasam on the hills of Tirumala. A Samadhi of Hathiram Baba had been
constructed there and daily pooja is being performed even today. People visiting Venu Gopala Swamy Temple pay
their homage to this great devotee of Lord Venkateswara. The Hathiram Baba Mutt had been built on the
southern side of the temple in his remembrance.

source
http://ramanujadasan.wordpress.com/2011/09/24/story-of-sri-hathiram-bhavaji/
    

    Daily Night arthi is performed in this mutt at 8.pm. Very nice to watch. After arthi we are allowed to
touch the unjal at where  krishna idol of 500 yrs old is put. It is said that this krishna is very powerful
and if we invite him to our house he would come to our house immediately. Particularly if issueless couples
invite him he will come to their house in the form of little krishna.
    Another thing i experienced  at Hathiram baba's jeeva samadhi, there  they give some leaves as prasadam.
If you eat these leaves at that premises it tastes sweet. The same leaves if u come out of the premises and
eat it tastes differently not sweet. When u goto tirumala donot miss to visit these places and get blessings.

   Thank u sairam for reading this long post.

jai sai ram