The Fascinating Story Behind The Construction Of Tirumala Temple And The Launching Of Brahmotsavams
Thondaiman,brother of King Akasa Raja, had clearly noticed at the time of his brother's daughter Princess Padmavathi's (Goddess Padmavathi) marriage with Srinivasa (Lord Srinivasa), how all the Gods and Goddesses have specially come from the Celestial World (Deva Loka) to witness the marriage..
He had also seen, at the time of marriage, how so many great Sages like Agastya, Suka and Vasishta Maha Muni have come from far off places to bless the divine couple..
After that,Thondaiman was thoroughly convinced that his brother Akasa Raja's son - in - law Srinivasa is none other than Lord Sri Maha Vishnu Himself who had come to this world to save the humanity from the sins and evils of the Kaliyuga...
After that great realization,Thondaiman became a big devotee of Lord Srinivasa and took many favors from Him,including His Conch and Sudarsana Chakra which he later used during a war..
(It is for this reason alone Lord Sri Venkateswara's Moola Virat in Tirumala Temple, today, doesn't have the Sankha Chakras except only two decoration pieces that are hanging around His arms)
A few months after performing his daughter Padmavathi's marriage with Srinivasa, King Akasa Raja passed away.. Then there was a big battle between Akasa Raja's brother Thondaiman and son Vasudasa to capture the departed king's throne..
On Padmavathi's request,Lord Srinivasa intervened and divided the kingdom into two regions leaving thirty two villages to Padmavathi who rightfully deserves a claim in her father's property..
Later, Lord Srinivasa, along with Padmavathi, left for Sage Agastya Maha Muni's Asram (Hermitage) and settled there..
After a few months of ruling, King Thondaiman - who had by then earned a name for himself as a great king, a greater administrator and the greatest devotee of Lord Srinivasa - had started feeling terribly restless for not being able to see Lord Srinivasa as frequently as he would earlier see Him when He was staying close to his kingdom
There was also a feeling of guilt in Thondaiman's mind that he is solely responsible for the death of a few members of a noble Brahmin family who were great devotees of Lord Srinivasa..
Although Lord Srinivasa had brought all those Brahmin family members back to their life, He too was upset with King Thondaiman's irresponsible behavior towards His devotees..
One fine morning..
King Thondaiman went to Sage Agastya's Asram and sought the personal audience of Lord Srinivasa.. On being granted permission for the same, he prostrated before the Holy Lotus feet of Lord Srinivasa and said..
"..O' my beloved Lord Srinivasa.. You are the creator of this universe and You are also the only One who is controlling the life of every living being existing in this Universe.. Out of my ignorance I could not all these days honor You the way a divine Lord like You is meant to be honored.."
".I have done so may be because I have considered You more as my relative than as the supreme commander of the Cosmic forces ruling this world.. My Lord, I have now realized my mistake.. Please forgive me for my ignorance and also for all the mistakes I have so far committed - either knowingly or unknowingly - in my life "
".. Am fed up with this life I have so far lived and with all the politics I have so far conducted.. Am tired My Lord and do not wish to lead this life this way anymore.. "
" My Lord..This fame is miserable.. This glory is miserable.. This wealth is miserable.. These pleasures are miserable.. These luxuries are miserable.. These battles for supremacy are miserable and this way of leading a royal life with fake diplomacy is furthermore miserable.. "
"..O' my Lord.. I beg you to please understand my agony and grant me the permission to lead the rest of my life as a humble servant at your Holy Lotus Feet.. Only this noble service at your sacred Feet can offer some solace to this sin filled pilgrim's mind.. You have given me enough for this life and I don't need anything more My Lord.. Please bless me My Lord.. Please bless me.."
Saying so the powerful King Thondaiman, with tears rolling down his cheeks, broke down at the Lotus feet of Lord Srinivasa...
Holding him by his shoulders, Lord Srinivasa lifted him up and said..
"..O King.. You have pleased me with your modesty and devotion.. Am convinced.. Now listen to me carefully.. I have come to this world with a purpose and it's now complete after my marriage with Padmavathi.. "
"..Hereafter my duty and responsibility towards the mankind begins.. Time has now come for me to leave this human form and shift into the form of a stone idol."
".. I shall now go up the Seshadri hill along with Padmavathi and would reside there to offer My blessings to the devotees who would come to see Me.. It is also my responsibility to protect all my devotees from the evils of this sin filled Kaliyuga.."
"..However, to all the holy Sages,Gods and true devotees I would still be visible in a human form if not in this form but certainly in some other human form.. But in whatever form he may see me a true devotee would certainly identify me.."
"..Am now granting you the opportunity to construct a temple for me on the Seshachala hill at the place offered to Me by Sri Varaha Swamy on the Southern side of Pushkarini.."
Saying so Lord Srinivasa, accompanied by Padmavathi and Vakula Devi, took King Thondaiman personally on to the Seshachala hill and showing him a particular place near the Pushkarini said..
"..Atraiva Kaaryam, Rajendra Chaityam, Poorva Mukham Subham, Gopura Dwaya Samyuktham, Praakara Traya Mavyayam, Saptha Dwaara Varopetham, Dehalee Torananvitham, Dhwaja Sthambha Varopetha Sarva Lakshana Samyutham.." (Bhavishyathoththara Purana)
"O Raja in the Temple am asking you to build for me I wish to have seven entrances, three baileys and two domes with the main entrance facing the Eastward direction.."
" I also want all the facilities in the Temple like Asthana Mandapam, Yaaga Mandapam, Snapana Mandapam, Vastrala Gadhi (Room for silk robes),Bali Peetham (Altar Of Sacrifice) and Dhwaja Sthanbham (Flag Staff).. "
Saying so Lord Srinivasa took Thondaiman to a nearby place and showing a tree to him, said ".Look at this Tamarind tree Raja.. This tree offered me great service and hence is so beloved to me.. Preserve it carefully and leave ample space for this tree in the Temple.."..
Later, Lord Srinivasa had personally designed a plan and offered it to King Thondaiman..
PERIOD
Finally,King Thondaiman had built the holy Tirumala Temple exactly the way he was instructed by Lord Srinivasa to build it.. In fact Thondaiman, much to the pleasure of Lord Srinivasa, had recreated the entire Vaikuntam (Lord Vishnu's celestial abode) on the Seshachala hill..
Consecrated with Vedic hymns by the Sages and Gods, the Temple tower was named Ananda Nilayam, the abode of happiness..
During the celebrations, Lord Brahma took a promise from Lord Srinivasa that He (Lord Srinivasa) would reside on the Seshachala Hills till the end of the 28th Kaliyuga and redeem the sins of all the devotees who would visit the Tirumala Temple..
Lord Srinivasa smiled and agreed..
Later, amid chanting of Vedic hymns by all the Gods, Sages and priests, Lord Brahma lighted two oil lamps inside the Garbha Griha of the temple and said
"These oil lamps shall burn eternally until the end of this Kaliyuga and in the end these lamps would go off on their own thus signalling the end of Kaliyuga... After that, Lord Srinivasa would go back to Vaikuntam and this holy Ananda Nilayam collapses.."
Saying so, Lord Brahma turned to Lord Srinivasa and said.."..My Lord what else You want me to do for the welfare of Your mankind.."
Lord Srinivasa smiled again and said. ".. My son..now arrange for a separate festival for Me wherein right from Dhwajarohanam to Rathotsavam, Am taken out in a procession on one celestial vehicle each day.."
"..This festival shall not only enable My devotees to have a close look at Me but would also help them offer their services to Me. You must personally stay and conduct this festival every year as long as am residing on these Seshachala hills.."
Lord Brahma obliged and immediately called for King Thondaiman and told him..
"..O Raja.. Make quick arrangements for the construction of rich and colorful chariots that are decorated with Golden umbrellas.. Our celestial architect Viswakarma will assist you during the making of these Chariots and you may take his support in accomplishing this task at the earliest.."
Lord Brahma then called for Viswakarma and introduced him to King Thondaiman and ordered him to offer whatever support Thondaiman may require..
Later,personally supervising every aspect of the festival, Lord Brahma, as per the instructions of Lord Srinivasa, invited all the Gods and Goddesses to the festival,,
He had also sent invitations to the Kings of Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Kashi, Kambhoji, Kerala, Virata, Jaangala, Pegandula, Barbhara, Pandyam, Chedhi, Matsya and Sindhu kingdoms among others..
Finally,on an auspicious day (Vidiya), when the Sun God entered Kanya Raasi, and amid chanting of Vedic hymns by Lord Brahma and all other Gods and holy Sages, the first grand festival of Sri Vari Brahmotsavams began on a never before seen grand scale,with the first event of Dhwajarohanam on the holy Tirumala hill..
CONCLUSION
Initially,these Utsavams were called Srinivasotsavams but much later became popular as Tirumala Brahmotsavams..
"..Thiru Veedhula Merise Deva Devudu...Garimala Minchina Singaaramula Thodanu.. " -- Saint Annamacharya
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