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srI:
SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama:
SrI krishNa parabrahmaNE nama:
SrImAn nArAyaNa charaNau saraNam prapadyE

dear vaishNavAs,

It is a great pleasure to read Sriman mAdhava kannan's
postings on sri srInivAsa vaibhavam. The renderings
are heart touching to even impure hearts like that of
mine. This inspired me to share some of the avathAra
viseshAs of the Lord, thus learn some thing about our
Lord. Please correct me wherever I have mistaken.


part I

1. SrI sUta Maharishi tells Sownaka and other sages
the leelas of SrI vEnkatEswara swami.

Naimisharanyam is a denseforest in the northern part
of India. Great sages gather there to perform great
sacrifices and penances for the welfare for every one.
Their presence which is hallmarked by the discussions
about the supreme Lord sanctifies the place. In that
very holy place Sri sUta maharishi revealed the 18
purANas (the stories that happened in the past)
composed by Sri vyAsa bhagavAn to the great sages
assembled there. Sownaka, the best among the brAhmaNas
inquisitively enquired about the supremely relishable
pastimes of Sri vEnkatEswara swami from sri sUta
maharishi. SUta maharishi who is always immersed in
thoughts of Supreme brAhmaN, Sri mahA vishNu, is very
happy about such enquiry and started to explain the
whole vrittAnta (entire history).

He said> ?Sri vEnkatEswara swami appeared on earth as 
a savior to help the people who are suffering with the
unsurpassable samsAra (cycle of repeated birth and
death).  The great compassion of Sri mahA vishNu is
the only reason for His appearance on earth. His form
in Sri vaikuntha is inconceivable to the mankind,
hence He mercifully took a form that is easily
conceivable to all men without any difficulty and
attract them with all His kalyANa guNAs to develop
devotion unto Him. For the same reason our AchAryas
call His ?prathyaksha daiva?. He is always ready to
answer the calls of His Bhaktas(devotees). You are
fortunate to hear the pastimes of such incomparable
Lord and gave me the opportunity to meditate on His
activities. All those who read or hear His story and
visit His shrine to have His darshaN will be lifted up
beyond the knots of material existence and granted
mOksha. Please hear to my narrations carefully.?

SrI sUta maharishi first offered his prayers to his
guru vyAsa bhagavan to be able to describe the Lord?s
pastimes. By the Mercy of Sri vyAsadEva, the entire
story of Sri vEnkatEswara reeled in his mind. 

2. Narada meets brahma in ?satya lOka?

Brahma is the demigod for the task of creating the
material word as  a service to SrimAn nArAyaNa, from
whose navel sri Brahma appears. NArada is the mAnasa
putra of Sri brahma. Narada is renouned in the three
worlds as a great devotee of the Supreme Lord, SrimAn
nArAyaNa, whose name dances ever on his lips. He is
the spiritual guide for the fourteen lOkAs and can
travel to any place at his will. He is also famous for
carrying the news of rivals and create apparent
troubles, though they all end up in universal welfare.
In this way he helps the maintanance of dharma.

One day , brahma is seated on his lotus seat. By his
side was his consort, saraswathi dEvi, playing on the
celestial veeNa (A string musical instrument). The
assembly is attended by Indra, dik-pAlakAs(controllers
of different directions), the sun god, nava grahAs
(the nine planets), sapta rishis (the seven celestial
sages) and other prominent people. They are all
offering their prayers to the universal creator, lord
brahma.

It was that time that nArada entered the sathya lOka
chanting the names of SrimAn nArAyaNa. He saluted his
parents- saraswati and brahma and after getting
blessings occupied the seat offered to him. Every one
is anxious to learn the news from Sri nArada who
travels the fourteen lOkAs at his will. 

NArada says to his father brahma: ?Father, after
krishNa avatAra (incarnation), srI Hari has not gone
to bhooloka again. In the absence of Supreme Lord, the
earth became like hell. Lawlessness is prevailing
there and people have gone fearless. ?might is right?
is the order of the day. The innocent are teased by
the wicked. The time has come when Lord has to appear
again on earth to restore dharma.?

Brahma said: ?My dear child, you are a great devotee
of SrImAn nArAyaNa and the well wisher of every one.
By your mere will you can create a problem and solve
it as well. There is nothing unknown to you. Please
carry on with what is necessary. I wish you all good?.

NArada took leave his father and proceeded towards
bhoolOka.

3. Narada asks: ? who is the ultimate enjoyer of all
sacrifices?

>From satya loka, nArada reaches the banks of the holy
ganges river chanting the names of Sri Hari and
beautifully singing the glories of ?neela gagana Ghana
syAma?.  There, sages like kasyapa and others are
performing a great sacrifice (yagya) for universal
good. Upon seeing the great sage nArada, all the sages
respects him duly and informed him of their desire to
perform a great sacrifice.

NArada appreciates such an effort for the welfare of
every one and asked ? who is going to be the enjoyer
of the proposed great yagya? Among trimurthis, who is
most suitable?? That is too big a question for the
sages to answer. They looked each other for an answer.
The sages were all divided in their opinions and
formed into groups.

Devotees of Siva says, the sacrifice shall be made to
satisfy mahEswara. But the vaishNavAs insists on the
supremacy of SrimAn nArAyaNa, and wants to offer the
sacrifice to Hari. Some others prefer brahma as a
suitable god for receiving the sacrifice. Each of them
argued in support of their stand. 

NArada suggests a way to resolve this apparent
dispute. He says: ? you can elect a worthy person to
test the trimurthys (trinity). But you must also
consider that testing trimurthys is like playing with
fire. I suggest Brighu, who is super excellent mysic,
fit for accomplishing such a great task?. Every one in
that assembly approves this plan of nArada. In such
circumstances, bhrigu is not left with other option
but to accept.

In selecting Bhrigu for this job, nArada has a purpose
to teach a lesson to the proud bhrigu for having super
natural powers.  Having succeded in his plan, narada
takes leave of the sages and left the places chanting
the names of the Lord. Bhrigu is set on his job.

4. Bhrigu tests Lord brahma

In satya lOka, brahma and saraswati are seated on a
golden throne. Assembled there are maharishis,
dEvarishis, brahmarishis on one side and surAs,
yakshas, gandharvas, kinnaras , kimpurushas on the
other side. Brahma is explaining them about the
secrets of vEdAs.

Just then, there arrived Bhrigu, and glanced at the
audience. Without saluting the creator of the
universe, the proud bhrigu occupied his throne in the
court. Though every one in the assembly are happy for
Bhrigu?s sudden visit, nevertheless they do not
appreciate his negligence towards brahma. They all
considered it a willful haughty act. Brahma considered
the disobedience towards him seriously and cannot
tolerate such misbehaviour. In an angry voice he burst
out: ?Bhrigu, you belong to my own dynasty. By dint of
great sacrifices, you have acquired somany super
natural powers. I expect you to behave well. How could
you think that you are greater than all the great
sages present in this great assembly? Are you greater
than sage atri?s wife anasUya, the chaste woman, who
converted even the trimurthys as babies? Are you
greater than Gowthama who cursed even dEvEndra? Are
you more powerful than jamadagni??

Bhrigu immediately gets down from his throne and
thinks, how uncourteous brahma is? Only those with
tamO guNa should possess such temperament. He is not
fit for the fruit of sacrifice.

Addressing brahma he said, ? Oh Lord, you never tried
to understand why I came here. You unnecessarily
rebuked me. Therefore, behold my curse: You will not
have any temples on earth and none will worship you.?
He then marched towards kailAsa, the abode of Lord
Siva.

5. Bhrigu curses Lord Siva

KailAsa is a silver mountain, the abode of Lord Siva.
Just when Bhrigu entered kailAsa,  nandeeswara,
bhringeeswara, chandeeswara and all other devotees of
lod Siva are changing the names of Lord Siva and
entire kailAsa is echoing with those prayers. He
directly proceeded towards siva?a  apartment. In this
private room, Siva is in the company of his wife,
pArvathi dEvi. Bhrigu was warned by the guards near
entrance not to enter that room as Siva is in private
company of his wife. But Bhrigu doesnot care for their
warning and entered it.

At that time, celestial couple are in the process of
enjoying one another?s private company. On seeing
Bhrigu suddenly, pArvathi grows in shy and at once
flees to a side of the room. Siva became extremely
angry at such an uncourteous behavior of Bhrigu and
burst out: ? you are coming from the same
family(dynasty) of the creator,  a great scholar of
vEdAs, and a great mystic.  Yet you lacked a decent
behavior, and it is a shame on your part to behave
this way?. So saying, he even raised his trisool
(trident weapon) towards bhrigu as if to kill him. But
pArvathi intervened and stopped lord Siva.

Bhrigu also becomes very angry at the behavior of Siva
and says ?MahEswara! Even without knowing the purpose
my arrival, you treated me in such an ugly way. Only a
person of tamO guNa can behave in this manner.
Therefore you hold this my curse, You will not be
worshipped on earth in your original form but only in
linga form?. Saying so, Bhrigu leaves that place and
heads towards sri vaikuntham.

6. Bhrigu kicks mahA vishNu on His chest

Sri Vaikuntha, the abode of Sri Hari along with Sri
dEvi and nitya sUris, is the most excellent place. 
Just when Bhrigu arrived in Sri vaikuntham, sri dEvi
is massaging the feet of the Lord with Her tender
hands. 

Bhrigu has already tested brahma and Siva and found
them to be either of rajO or tamO guNa and hence unfit
to recoeve the benefit of yagna.  Hence Vishnu alone
is remained to be tested. Thinking so, he reached Sri
vaikuntham.

Sri Hari, the antaryAmi (omni present in every one?s
heart) knows the arrival of Bhrigu as well as his
intentions, yet pretended as if He has not observed
the arrival of Bhrigu. This reminds Bhrigu of his
treatment in satya loka and kailAsa. He feared that he
may receive the same fate here as well. This thought
provokes him to rush towards mahA vishNu and kicks His
sri vakshasthala (chest) with his right foot.

Maha vishNu is least perturbed by such an act of
Bhrigu, instead He knw got up from His serpent bed and
fondly holds Bhrigu?s hands, made his sit on his bed
and pressed his feet.  Sri Hari showed His concerns
for having bhrigu?s tender feet hurt for being hit by
his hard chest. While massaging his feet, Sri Hari,
tactfully pinched the third eye that is embedded in
Bhrigu?s right foot.  The whole powers of this sage as
well as his pride rest in that eye. 

Then the Lord gracefully says: ?oh! Greatly learned
one! Forgive me for my negligence and kindly let me
know the purpose of your visit?.
Having lost all his power and pride, Bhrigu realized
his folly to attempt to disrespect the Supreme Lord,
and begs pardon.

Sri Hari says, : ? Oh mahArishi, you are not to be
blamed, you have not done anything that is out of way.
This is all due to happen, and you are only
instrumental, do not be bewildered, I wish all good
luck?.

Bhrigu then explained the purpose of his visit and
requested mahA vishNu to come and receive the benefit
of yagna(sacrifice) which the sages are performing. 
Maha vishNu agreed to the same. Bhrigu is very much
pleased at the Lord?s behavior and returned to ganges
bank where the sages are performing the sacrifice. He
explained in great detail about his visit to the three
lOkAs (abodes) and explained how mahA vishNu is the
supreme deity and eligible for the fruits of the
sacrifice. All the sages thanked Bhrigu for solving
such a big problem.

(to be continued...)

dAsOham,
srIperumbUdUru vEnkaTa vinOd.



                
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