Tirupati Balaji

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Tirupati Balaji Temple is in the town of Venkatgiri on Tirumala Hills in Andhra Pradesh, India. The revered God here is Lord Vishnu as Tirupati Balaji also known as Venkateshwara, Sreenivasa and Govinda.

The Story Starts as.....

Once there was a Sage named Bhrigu, known for his wisdom and devotion. He wanted to test the three primary deities of the Hindu pantheon – Lord Brahma (the creator), Lord Vishnu (the preserver), and Lord Shiva (the destroyer) – to determine who was the most supreme. 

He went to Lord Brahma first, Lord Brahma immersed in music of Veena of Goddess Saraswati, he felt neglected and cursed him that he will not be worshiped. Second he visited Lord Shiva, who was performing Tandava with his consort Goddess Parvati in Kailash , he got angry for being neglected and curses him, that only Shiva in Linga form will be worshiped. Then he visited Lord Vishnu in Vaikunth but finding Vishnu sleeping with Goddess Lakshmi besides him pressing his feet, he feels neglected again, the enraged Bhrigu kicks on the chest of God Vishnu.

God Vishnu asks for forgiveness from Bhrigu and requests a chance to do hospitality. Then pressing his feets and eventually pressing an eye under his feet (eye in the feet represents the ego, anger and ignorance) and destroys it and Sage Brigu realises his mistake. Goddess Lakshmi feels dishonored and tells that now she cannot stay in the place where Bhrigu’s foot has touched (ie, in God Vishnu’s heart) and then leaves Vaikunth angrily and settles near River Godavari (Present day, we worship her as Kolhapur Mahalakshmi). In the state of longing for Goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu left Vaikunth and reaches Earth.

Lord Vishnu starts performing penance under an Ant Hill, he keeps calling for Goddess Lakshmi. Lord Shiva and Brahma takes the form of a cow and calf, and starts showering the milk in the ant hill for the Vishnu to calm his hunger. Seeing this, the angry cowherd throws the axe at the cow, which hits Vishnu’s forehead in trying to protect the cow and losses his memory. It is said that in Tirumala, Vakula (who is also claimed to be incarnation of Yahoda) was waiting for Krishna as her child. Vishnu who is wandering in the forest visits Vakula, seeing Sreenivasa she realises he is none other than her Krishna. He starts staying at her place and treats her as his mother.

On the other hand, Lakshmi incarnated herself as Padmavati who was the daughter of King Akasha Raja. One day she was playing with her friends, and an wild elephant starts chasing them, and she runs and falls in the embrace of Sreenivas who has come there for a hunt. 

They both gets a glimpse of past memories and later plans to get married. As for marriage Lord Vishnu needed money, so taking loan from Kubera promising him to pay in interest, he became a groom and married Padmvati grandly in the presence of all the Gods and Demigods. It is believed that Lord Vishnu is Still Paying the Loan. Goddess Lakshmi from then started knowing as Sreedevi and Padmavathi is known as Bhudevi.

Later a temple was made and People Visits this temple and seeks blessing from Venkateshwara by donating their hair. The main Prasad here is Laddu. It is said that after visiting Tirupati balaji one should visit Kolhapur Mahalakshmi temple to seek blessings from Goddess Lakshmi.

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Narasimha: The Incarnation of Lord Vishnu

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Lord Narasimha, also spelled as Narasimhadeva, is a significant deity in Hindu mythology and one of the ten primary avatars (incarnations) of Lord Vishnu. He is depicted as a half-man, half-lion form, symbolizing his ferociousness and divine power. The story of Lord Narasimha is recounted in the ancient Indian texts, particularly in the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana. Here's a summary of the tale:

The story of Lord Narasimha revolves around the demon king Hiranyakashipu. He was granted a boon by Lord Brahma that he will be neither killed indoor nor killed outdoor neither killed on sky nor on the ground. The boon made Hiranyakashipu believe that he was immortal and led him to become extremely arrogant and tyrannical. He demanded that everyone in his kingdom worship him as the supreme deity and refused to acknowledge the existence of any other gods. Hiranyakashipu's son, Prahlada, was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu from a very young age. Despite his father's threats and attempts to dissuade him, Prahlada continued to worship Lord Vishnu with unwavering faith. This enraged Hiranyakashipu, who considered Vishnu his mortal enemy.

In his desperation to eliminate Vishnu, Hiranyakashipu devised a plan to get rid of Prahlada. He ordered his soldiers to kill Prahlada, but each time they tried, they failed, as divine protection always shielded the young devotee. Frustrated and furious, Hiranyakashipu turned to his sister, Holika, who had a boon that made her immune to fire. He asked Holika to sit in a blazing fire while holding Prahlada on her lap, thinking that the boy would be burnt to death. However, Lord Vishnu intervened, and it was Holika who perished in the fire, while Prahlada emerged unharmed due to his unshakable devotion.

With his demonic rage growing, Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlada to show him where his beloved Vishnu resided. Prahlada fearlessly replied that Vishnu resides everywhere, even in the smallest atom. Mocking his son, the demon king asked if Vishnu was in the pillar next to them. Prahlada replied with utmost conviction that Vishnu was indeed present in the pillar. Enraged beyond measure, Hiranyakashipu struck the pillar with his mace. To the amazement of everyone present, Lord Narasimha emerged from the shattered pillar at twilight. He was neither fully man nor fully lion, but a fearsome and magnificent form.

Lord Narasimha then proceeded to attack Hiranyakashipu, fighting with him in a fierce battle. The Lord chose the threshold to sit and placed Hiranyakashipu on his lap (neither indoors nor outdoors & neither sky nor ground) as the battleground. It is said that Lord Narasimha killed Hiranyakashipu with his sharp claws, thus fulfilling the boon that the demon king had received, which made him immune to death by any living being.

Lord Narasimha's form as the half-man, half-lion is considered a divine amalgamation of rage and compassion. He embodies the essence of protection and the destruction of evil forces. Devotees worship Lord Narasimha to seek his blessings for courage, strength, and protection from adversaries and challenges in life. His story remains a revered tale in Hinduism, inspiring devotion and admiration for his divine presence.

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Padmanabhaswamy Temple

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Padmanabhaswamy Temple, also known as Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, is an ancient Hindu temple located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is worshipped here in the Anantha Shayana posture (reclining on the serpent Ananta). The temple is renowned for its rich history, architectural beauty, and immense wealth. 

The exact age of the temple is uncertain, but it is believed to be several centuries old, with its history dating back to the 8th century. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the holiest abodes of Lord Vishnu mentioned in Hindu scriptures. The temple exhibits a unique blend of Dravidian and Kerala architectural styles. The main entrance features a magnificent Gopuram (tower) with intricate carvings and sculptures. On the day of the equinox (when day and night have the same duration), sunlight passes through all five windows of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple tower, during sunset.

 The principal deity, Lord Padmanabha, is represented in a reclining posture on the serpent Ananta (Sesha) with one hand resting on Shiva Linga. The temple is also known for its rare representation of Lord Vishnu with a lotus flower emerging from his navel, on which Lord Brahma is seated.

The temple gained global attention in recent times due to the discovery of hidden vaults (Kallaras) containing immense wealth. Several underground chambers were opened in 2011, revealing an unprecedented amount of gold, silver, precious stones, and historical artifacts. The wealth found in the temple's vaults is estimated to be one of the richest in the world. However, the exact value of the treasure remains uncertain, as access to some vaults has been restricted by the Supreme Court of India, citing security and religious reasons.

The temple hosts several festivals throughout the year, including the Navaratri festival, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm. The Alpashy festival is another significant event when the deity is adorned with pure gold ornaments.The temple follows a strict dress code, and visitors are required to wear traditional attire. Men are expected to wear mundu (a traditional dhoti) while women should wear sarees or skirts and blouses. The temple is managed by a trust headed by the royal family of Travancore, with the titular Maharaja of Travancore serving as the trustee. The administration of the temple follows a hereditary system.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple's historical significance, architectural grandeur, and the mystery surrounding its hidden treasure make it a prominent cultural and spiritual landmark in India. It continues to attract devotees, historians, and tourists from around the world.

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Previous Life of Ravan and Kumbhakaran

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In Hindu mythology, Ravana and Kumbhakarna are two prominent characters associated with the epic Ramayana. In their previous lives, Ravana and Kumbhakarna were originally two celestial beings who were known as Jaya and Vijaya. They served as the gatekeepers of Lord Vishnu's abode, Vaikuntha (the divine realm of Vishnu), in their celestial forms. Four Kumaras (four divine sages) also known as Sankadik Muni, visited Vaikuntha but were stopped by Jaya and Vijaya. As they wasted 3 seconds of Sankadik Rishi, the four kumara's cursed Jaya and Vijaya that they will be born on Earth as demon princes for three lifetimes and will be killed by Lord Vishnu. These lifetimes are depicted in three different contexts in Hindu mythology:

In the first incarnation, Jaya and Vijaya were born as the demon brothers Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha. Hiranyakashipu was the father of the demon king Prahlada, who became a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, leading to the defeat of Hiranyakashipu by the Narasimha avatar of Vishnu, half-lion and half-human.Hiranyaksha was killed by Varaha the 3rd Incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

In the second incarnation, Jaya and Vijaya were born as Ravana and Kumbhakarna, respectively. Ravana, the powerful king of Lanka, abducted Lord Vishnu's consort, Goddess Sita, leading to the epic battle with Lord Rama, Vishnu's seventh avatar.

In the third incarnation, Jaya and Vijaya were born as Shishupala and Dantavakra, respectively. They were enemies of Lord Krishna and were slain by him during the great war at the Rajasuya Yagna.

After these three lifetimes, Jaya and Vijaya were freed from the curse and were allowed to return to their original celestial abode as Lord Vishnu's gatekeepers in Vaikuntha.

The tale of Jaya and Vijaya serves as a significant aspect of Hindu mythology, illustrating the interplay of fate, curses, devotion, and redemption. Their story also emphasizes the supremacy of Lord Vishnu and his avatars in vanquishing evil and restoring dharma (righteousness) in the world.

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