Mantralaya-111

Background

Meaning

The formula of Sri Hari Sarvottamatva is visible in this world today through temples of Lord Venkateshwara and divine centres, fulfilling the desires of the cevotees.We are fortunate enough to have all this.

Here I like to share the great historical event of Tirumala Swami Srinivasa Devaru of Jalihal.
Jalihal is a small village with a population of 5,000/ people situated in the Taluka-Badami, Dist-Bagalkot,Karnataka-India. Only three kilometers from the famous Sri Banashankari Temple-Kshetra.

On Maagha Krishna Ashtami every year the car festival of Jalihal Venkataramanaswami will take place.

Jalihal was under the regime of the Desai about Two Hundred and Fifty years back.A small village with fertile lands, people were quite well off and contented. Desai A sober, satvika, sajjana looked after the village Jalihal.Once he went to Humpi on the day of Maha Navami - Navaratri. There during the night Tirumala Srinivasa Devaru appeared in the dream of Desai and said, tomorrow morning after finishing the bath in the Tungabhadra river,you will find the statue-Murty at the Chakrateertha-near the Yantroddhhaara Praana Devaru. Take the Murty to your village Jalihal, construct the Temple.I will be there only, as it is not possible for all the people to come to Tirumala.I will be here always blessing the devotees.How Sri Hari thinks of all the ordinary people and how he takes the decision, we all really wonder!

Next morning as per the dream Desai finished the bath. Came to the Chakrateertha. To his great surprise saw the Murty of Lord Venkateshwara and became extremely happy. He took the Lord Venkateshwara Murty with Bhakti and proceeded to his Jalihal along with his paraphernalia in procession with joy.

Constructed the Temple-Completed the Pratishthhaapana, with all the Yajana-Yaagas and the rituals, Invited the Archakas from Dharmavaram, constructed the house for them. Donated large acres of fertile land to the temple and to the Archakas. Made all the arrangements for Nitya Pooja (Regular worship) through TamraPatra i.e. engraved the whole matter on a copper sheet.

Desai desired to have the Mantralaya Rayara Brindavana near the temple of Sri Venkateshwara. Did it, satisfied, lived with gratitude.

On the day of Maagha Krishna Ashtami i.e. the day of Pratishthhaapana the car festival-Rathotsava will be celebrated on a grand scale. Where ever the Tirumala Swami is there, we find the Utsava-Vaibhava with pomp and show with full grandeur. Though Jalihal is a small village, all the villagers join together for the Rathostava.Rathotsava will be in the evening at 6.00pm. First about 10 to 12 beautiful pairs of Bullocks fully decorated, will lead the Procession. All sorts of musical bands, shahanai,kradai majilu will lead the procession. For all the Processions the ladies will carry the lights in their plates holding in their hands. First the Kalasa - tower-gopura made of brass will be brought. This will be installed on the top of the Chariot-Rathha by the Village Carpenters.This is their hereditary duty Seva to Swami.Then big ropes by the same bullock cart in procession to draw the Rathha.Full of flowers decorated to the Rathha. Then the Archaka will enter the Chariot with the Lord Utsavamurty. After that two gun shots will be heard on
the air. Then Rathhotsava will begin, and will go upto Paadagatti i.e.upto the temple of Sanjeevaraya.

After that the Pallakki goes from the starting point of the Chariot vto the temple of Sanjeevaraya very fast, conveys that the Rathhotsava went on well and returns with the same fast speed. Garuda Pata will be to the Garudagamba.Garuda Butti will be distributed to all the Devotees. This is the Prasada of Srinivasa Devaru. By eating the Prasada their desires, wishes will be fulfilled. How Tirumala Swami thinks about the Devotees to Bless them is a thing to be pondered here.

This Rathhotsava-Jaatra-Taeru marks the importance and the sanctum of Jalihal that Swami himself came and settled here is all our Punya.
 

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