Mantralaya-2061

(Importance of Venkatadari Hill)

Date : Sep 25, 2025

Dear Devotees : Namaskara.

| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||

Background

The significance of Venkateshwara Navaratri and the importance of Venkatadari Hill are described in Mantralaya described Mantralaya (2061).

Meaning

Every home in India is filled with devotion as families celebrate the sacred festival of Navaratri. In some households, the festival is observed as Venkateshwara Navaratri, while in others it is dedicated to Goddess Durga.

On this Navaratri, every home lights the Nadadeepa, ensuring that the flame burns continuously. Fire possesses a unique quality: it always rises, defying gravity, even if you try to bring it down. This symbolizes its power to carry your wishes and prayers to higher spiritual realms, lifting your devotion and intentions toward the divine.

On this auspicious occasion of Venkateshwara Navaratri, homes across India recite the Venkateshwara Mahatme, also known as Srinivasa Kalyana, from the Bhavishotara Purana. I wish to share the divine portion of the story of Venkatachala Mahatme, centered around the sacred Venkataadri hill.

Today, the sacred Tirumala hills, particularly Venkatachala or Venkataadri, stand as a beacon of divine grace. Through the ages, this hill has borne different names. In Krutayuga, it was known as Vrushabachala. In Tretayuga, it was called Anjanadri. In Dwaparayuga, it became Sheshachala and in Kaliyuga, it is revered as Venkataadri.

In this episode, we will explore the reasons behind these names and experience the unparalleled power of Venkataadri through the story of Madhava, as recounted in the Bhavishotara Purana.

Long ago in  Krutayuga there lived a mighty demon named Vrushabasura. He often troubled meditating sages, disturbing their prayers and penance. The sages, distressed by his mischief, approached Lord Hari, requesting His intervention. Despite his troublesome nature, Vrushabasura was a devoted worshipper of Lord Narasimha. For five thousand years, he performed daily worship with complete devotion. After every prayer, he would sever his own head with his sword and offer it to Narasimha. Yet, the head would miraculously regrow each time. His devotion, though intense, was mixed with pride and ego.

One day, Lord Hari approached him. Vrushabasura bowed respectfully. Lord Hari asked, “O demon, ask a boon from Me.” Vrushabasura boldly replied, “O Lord, grant me the boon of fighting with You.” The battle began, and whatever Lord Hari did, Vrushabasura mirrored. Seeing this, Lord Hari called upon Garuda, mounted him, and with His divine discus, struck and severed Vrushabasura’s head. Before dying, Vrushabasura requested, “Lord, let my name be remembered on the hill where I have dwelled so long.” Lord Hari granted his wish. From that time, in the first age, the hill was known as Vrushabachala.

In truth, there were two souls in Vrushabasura’s form. One was Dharma, who in a previous age had performed penance and received a boon that his name would adorn the hill. The other was the demon Vrushabasura. Because of Dharma’s presence, the demon worshipped the sacred stone daily. Yet, under his demonic nature, he also troubled sages, showing how devotion and mischief can coexist in divine stories.

In the next age, In Tretayuga, the same hill became Anjanadri. There lived a devoted demon named Kesari, a follower of the wind god, who performed intense penance to Lord Hari, praying for a child who would serve the Lord. The Lord appeared and said, “O Kesari, you do not have the blessing for a son. Instead, I shall grant you a daughter, through whom you will receive a grandson who will be a great devotee.”

Soon, Kesari’s wife gave birth to a baby girl. Since her birth cured her father’s eye problem, she was named Anjana. She later married another Kesari, a monkey who had slain a troublesome demon, earning the blessings of the sages for a son devoted to the Lord. Following the advice of the sage Matanga, Anjana performed penance for twelve years atop Narayanaparvatha. She sought her husband’s permission, bathed in the sacred pond, circled the sacred tree, worshipped the Lord in the form of Varaha, drank holy water, and fasted with total renunciation. Each day, the wind god sent her a divine fruit imbued with his blessings. Sustained by air and divine grace, she completed her long penance. In the tenth month, she gave birth to Hanuman. Because of her penance on this mountain, it came to be called Anjanachala.

In the following age, in Dwaparayuga, the hill became Sheshachala. Lord Vishnu assigned the serpent Adishesha to guard the entrance to Vaikunta alongside the goddess Lakshmi. One day, the Vayu Devaru(wind god) came to see Lord Vishnu but was stopped by Adishesha, who was under the influence of pride. A dispute arose over supremacy. To test them, Lord Hari asked Adishesha to hold Anandadri hill while the wind god tried to move it. With the touch of a single finger, Vayu Devaru moved the mighty hill over fifty one thousand leagues. Adishesha admitted the Vayu Devaru’s supremacy, and the hill was thereafter called Sheshachala, honoring Adishesha’s devotion and humility.

Finally, in the current age Kaliyuga, Lord Hari descended from Vaikunta and resided on this sacred mountain. It came to be called Venkatachala, for all sins are destroyed by the touch of His feet.

In Kalahasti, there lived a virtuous Brahmana named Purandara. He was devoted, childless, and content, yet in old age, he was blessed with a son named Madhava. Madhava mastered all the Vedic knowledge, sacred texts, astronomy, and rituals. He married Chandralekha, a devoted wife who assisted him in all religious ceremonies.

One day, Madhava desired intimacy in the morning. Chandralekha cautioned him, “Many sages and elders are nearby. It is inappropriate here.” Insisting, Madhava followed her to a nearby forest park. There he saw a beautiful woman named Kuntala. Captivated by her beauty, he forced her into marriage despite her warnings that contact with her would bring misfortune.

For twelve years, Madhava abandoned all duties, performed no religious observances and lived with Kuntala, indulging in meat and wine. When Kuntala died, he realized his errors. Seeking redemption, he followed northern kings to Sheshaparvata, where he observed the same rituals they performed at the sacred pond, bathing, offering pinda and honoring ancestors and thereby purged his sins.

Climbing Venkataadri, the remaining karma within him burned like a divine fire. Brahma appeared, instructing him to bathe in the sacred pond, worship the earth in the form of Varaha, and depart from the world. He promised that Madhava would be reborn as Akaasha Raaja, king of Tonda Desha, with Mahalakshmi as his daughter and Lord Hari as his son-in-law.

Thus, by His touch and grace, Venkatachala became the purifier of all sins. One who remembers or visits Venkatachala attains merit greater than a thousand pilgrimages to holy cities. It remains a beacon of divine mercy, where every soul is cleansed by the Lord’s presence.

The Venkatesha Mahatme of the Bhavishotara Purana describes in great detail the divine marriage of Sri Venkateshwara with Padmavati. In this sacred Srinivasa Kalyana, Lord Srihari and Maha Lakshmi appear as ordinary human beings. This is not mere play, but a divine leela. Pure-hearted devotees, reflecting deeply on their actions and the leela’s details, perceive the profound truths within and receive the boundless blessings of the Lord. Those whose hearts remain clouded may see only a story, perhaps even mocking certain acts, yet even this unfolds according to divine law, ensuring that each soul accrues the karma it deserves.

Thus, the leela serves both as a mirror and a guide, a mirror for those yet to awaken and a guide for those seeking to experience the eternal grace of the Lord.

Swamy Sri Srinivasa descended to this earth, residing in Tirumala, to bless countless souls throughout Kaliyuga. Our revered Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy is the divine boon of Sri Venkateshwara. As is known, Venkateshwara Himself appeared in the dreams of the parents of Sri Rayaru, indicating that a great soul, a devotee of His, would be born as Sri Raghavendra Swamy. Through his teachings and blessings, devotees are guided to attain the grace of Sri Srinivasa.

The devotion towards Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the ultimate truth and is the most simple and effective way to reach Sri Hari  - "NAMBI KETTAVARILLAVO EE GURUGALA"! “Those who have complete faith in this Guru will never be disappointed.”

   || BICHALI JAPADAKATTI SRI APPANACHARYA PRIYA MANTRALAYA
   SRI RAGHAVENDRATEERTHA GURUBHYO NAMAHA||