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Re: Number 1 Divya Desam- Tiruvemkatam

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K V N Gopal • August 20, 1998 


On Thu, 20 Aug 1998 Ramanbil@aol.com wrote:

Dear members,

Can someone please tell me where in writing is Venkateswara ever written
as Vemkateswara (in any Indian script). Some confusion can result because
of the recent incorrect rendering of the word in Telugu/Kannada scripts -
using a '0' ('sunna') instead of the '~Nk' or as in tamil '~Ng'. The name
is a reference to the 'Lord of the Tiger infested hill' and I don't think
it can admit of some other meaning unless the word itself is changed to
'Vemkateswara'

gopal
 

> Dear Bhagavatas,
> We discuss below the  significance  of Thiruvemkatam and Sri Venkateswara in
> the context of Saranagathi. This is an excerpt from my talk delivered at the
> Pittsburgh temple in connection with the Sri Venkateswara Mahima Bhakta
> Sammelanam held recently. I am sure by the time you reach the end of this
> article, you would have made up your mind to vote for Tiruvemkatam as the most
> favored Divya Desam.
> Dasoham
> Anbil Ramaswamy
> ============================================================
> WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TIRUVENKATAM AND 
> SRI VENKATESWARA IN THE CONTEXT OF SARANAGATHI?
> 
> For this, we have to look at the Mega Calendar of our faith and the number of
> Avatars the Lord took in each. Kaliyuga in which we live is said to have
> 4,32,000 human years; Dwapara double that (Dwa means twice) i.e. 8,64,00 human
> years; Treta, treble that of Kaliyuga (Tre means three times) i.e. 12,96,000
> human years; Kritayuga, four times i.e.17, 28,000 human years. Thus a Mahayuga
> has 43,20,000 human years. 
> 
> The first 4 Avatars (Matsya, Kurma, Varaha and Nrisimha) are deemed to have
> taken place in Krita Yuga; The next 3 Avatars (Vamana, Parasu Rama and Rama)
> in Treta Yuga; The next 2 (Balarama and Krishna) in Dwapara Yuga. The last 1,
> Kalki, the Apocalypse yet to take place in this Kaliyuga in the descending
> order in tune with the length of each yuga. And, the Lord appears in Archa
> Vigraha as Sri Venkateswara till then.
> 
> There is a Sloka which says-
> "Krite Nrisimha Bhoothosou Tretaayaam Rgahunandanah /
> Dwaapare Vaasudevas Cha kalao Vemkatanaayakah //(meaning) 
> "While Narasimha was the Lord of Kritayuga, Rama (Raghunandana) was the Lord
> of Treta yuga, Krishna (Vaasudeva) of Dwaapara yuga, it is Venateswara
> (Venkata naayakah) who is the Lord of Kaliyuga."
> 
> As we are in KALIYUGA, we surrender to this KALIYUGA VARADA - Lord Srinivasa.
> 
> Some hold  Lord Ranganatha in the place of Narasimha but all are agreed on
> the other three.
> 
> The word "Tiru Vemkatam" means One who is the Lord of both "Tiru" and
> "Vemkatam" or it might mean "Vemkatam" which is blessed by "Tiru" or Piraatti.
> 
> Again, of all the mountains where our Lord has taken his abode, Brahmaanda
> Puraana says- " Krite Vrishaadrim Vakshyanti Tretaayaam Anjanaachalam /
> Dwaapare Sesha Saileti kalou Sree Vemkataachalam // 
> 
> The word "Vem" means 'sins' and the word "Katam' means 'that which destroys'	-
> "Sarva Paapaani Vem Praahuhu Kata Ithyaaha Uchyate, Thasmaath Vemkata Sailoyam
> Lokae Vikhyaata Keerthimaan".
> 
> There is also a solitaire in Tamil, which reflects the same sense:
> "Vem Kodum Paavangal Yellaam Venthida Seivathaal Nal Mangalam Porundhum Seer
> Vemakata Malai Aanathu.".
> 
> Nammalwar in his Tiruvoimozhi 3.3.6 says-
> Vemkatangal Meymmel Vinai Mutravum Thaangal Thangatku nallanave Seivaar /
> Vemkatathu Uraivaarkku Namavennalaam Kadamai, Adhu Sumanthaakatke //
> (Meaning) It is our duty to offer our 'Pranaamams' to those who live in
> Tiruvemkatam. For us who are bearing the heavy burden of sins, this is the
> only way to get our sin extinguished- because they are the ones who perform
> their duties appropriately. (Remember that this was during the time of
> Nammalwar!)
> 
> In those days, people used to climb up the mountain on foot and worship the
> mountain itself. They would not wear footwear while climbing and would recite
> "Vemkata Vaasine Namah" echoing what Nammalwar has said above.
> 
> Nammalwar in his Tiruvoimozhi 3.3.8 further advises that if you go to the
> seven hills and pray, all your sins will vanish- 
> "Senru Ser Tiruvemkata Malai Onrume Thozha Nam Vinai Ozhiyume"
> 
> Swami Desika commences his Daya Satakam by surrendering to the very mountain
> thus-
> "Prapadhye Tham Girim Praayah Sreenivaasa Anukampayaa / Ikshu Saara
> Sravanthyeva yan Moorthyaa Sarkaraayitham" (meaning) The mercy of the Lord of
> Tiruvemkatam flows like the juice of the Sugarcane. The mountain is like this
> juice that had solidified into Sugar Cube. I surrender to such a mountain of
> mercy". Here Srinivasa is Sugarcane; His mercy is the juice. It is He who
> raises the crop; it is He who allows His Daya to flow and become solidified.
> Daya can only tolerate our sins; but this mountain can even destroy all our
> sins.
> 
> Bhishma Pitaamahar refers to this Srinivasa in his Sahasranamam in 8 words:
> "Sridhah, Srisah, Srinivaasah, Srinidhi, Srivibhaavanah, Sridharah, Srikarah,
> Sreyo, Srimaan"
> 
> Bhagavad Ramanuja in his invocatory verse of his Sribashyam of Brahma Sutram
> says that Lord Srinivasa stands on top of the Mountain of Upanishads (Sruti
> Sirasi) and proclaims to the world that He is the very "Paramatma" (Brahmani
> Srinivase)
> 
> Sri Madvaachaariar in his "Theertha Prabandham" says that "Lord Srinivasa
> stands on top of the mountain and looks around all the directions to bless his
> devotees; He even stands on top of the Tall trees on the mountain top as if
> searching for us to shower his mercy".
> "Drishtvaa Disi  Disi Sweeyaan Dayayaa Paalayantha Iva/
> Vardhate Viswatah Sakshuh Vemkate Vemkateswarah //"
> 
> Swami Desika describes the "Thiruvemkata Malai" in the ' Paasuram' in Sthana
> Visesha Adhikaram of his "Srimad Rahasya Traya Saram"thus-
> Kannan Adyinai Emakkuk Kaattum Verpu, 
> Kadu Vinayar Iru Vinaiyum Kadiyum Verpu,
> Thinnamidu Veedena Thigazhum Verpu, 
> Thelinda Perum Thirthangal Serinda Verpu,
> Punniyathin Pugalidena Pugazhum Verpu, 
> Ponnulagil Bogamellaam Punarkum Verpu
> Vinnavarum Mannavarum Virumbhum Verpu, 
> Vemkata Verpena Vilangum Veda Verpe"
> (Meaning) " The mountain that reveals to us the two holy feet of Sri Krishna;
> the mountain where wicked sinners get rid of their 'Punya' and 'Papa'; the
> mountain on which flow holy streams perennially with pellucid waters; the
> mountain that is extolled as the abode of all righteous actions; the mountain
> that secures all the enjoyments of 'Paramapada' (the region of the dazzling
> gold); the mountain that is longed for by the eternal 'Suris' and the people
> of this earth; that is the only mountain that is described in the Vedas and
> famous as Vemkata hills"
> 
> Nammalwar in his Tiruvoimozhi 6.10.11 surrenders himself at the feet of Tiru
> vem kata Nathan in his famous Pasuram " Akalagillen Iraiyum Enru Alarmel
> Mangai Urai Malar Maarba" which he concludes by saying "Tiruvemkatathaane!
> Pugal Onrum Illaa Adiyen Unn Adik Keezh Amarndhu Pugundhene".
>  
> It is but proper that we also do our ' Bhara Samarpanam ' at the feet of Lord
> Vemkateswara .
> 
> Dasoham
> Anbil Ramaswamy
> 
> 

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