24 - The glory of Venkatachala and lord Shrinivasa 

Jaigisavya said: 

1. O girl, Attend to the merit one obtains in ascending the mountain Venkata. 

2. In each and every step of the mountain the people recite Bhagavadgita remembering lord Śhrinivasa. They are transported to the highest region of delight. When the lord is pleased, they attain liberation. O girl, there is nothing inaccessible to a person with whom lord Hari is so pleased. 

3. He who hears this Purana while ascending the mountain attains the merit of visiting holy places of pilgrimage. Therefore, while ascending the steps the devotees should praise Hari Shrinivasa and their preceptor. 

4. She heard the glory of ascending the steps, set up and worshipped the holy Salagrama thereon and started ascending. 

5. O lord of birds, while ascending the steps the non-Vaishnava devotees feel no pleasure. O lord of birds, this very fact is enough to put them into deep dark regions. 

6. At every step of journey, one should remember Hari. The maiden said to Jaigishavya again. 

The maiden said: 

7. O Jaigishavya, please, tell me how Shrinivasa, the lord of Lakshmi appears to Brahma and others.

Thus, addressed by the maiden, the daughter of Soma, Jaigishavya said in reply. 

Jaigisavya said: 

8-11. Brahma and others can see Shrinivasa as of eternal form of lustrous body. This is how Venkațesha is seen by Rudra and his associates. He appears to them as lustrous as one hundred thousand suns, which to the mortals is as lustrous as one thousand suns, as also possessed of the lustre of lightning. To the sages he appears like the sun and the moon, to holy men like constellations, to the worldly people like the mass of milk, to the liars as a blue stone, to the lay people as an ordinary stone only. 

12. People do not realize the true form of lord Hari. They are swayed by tamas and rajas. 

13. Those characterized by Shattva are seldom found in the Kali age. Those who appear to be devotees of Vishnu are in fact not devotees at all. Rather, they are busy in filling up their belly and meeting their sexual desire; for they undertake journey with that end in view. 

14. Rare is the diffusion of devotion in the iron age. Those who are devotees of the lord but still not detached from worldly pleasures cannot easily get the sight of lord Vishnu. 

15. O lord of birds, I shall tell you the nature of a true devotee. A true devotee is one who is devoid of hatred, is full of affection and possesses keen insight and devotion. I shall now tell you the forms of hate. 

16. The supreme lord is distinct from Atman. He is independent as well as free. He is full of knowledge and bliss. To think otherwise is to abhor the lord. 

17. To pay more attention to Brahma, Rudra and others or among men to Brahmins, etc. and to regard Brahma, Rudra, and others as more honourable than Vishnu is nothing less than dishonouring him. 

18. O noble one, to regard Vishnu as a human being possessed of hands, feet, etc., is equal to hating the lord. To distinguish each incarnation of the lord from the other or to think of their death is also tantamount to a hate.

19. To hate the devotees of Vishnu is a sin; to find fault with the instructions of the lord is showing hate. O maid, those who are full of hate can never be true devotees. 

The maid said: 

20. O sage Jaigishavya, please tell me who are the true devotees. How did they show their devotion? Lord Vishnu, Shrinivasa who is compassionate to devotees is indeed their protector. 

21. Thus addressed by the lord, Sage Jaigishavya revived his memory and spoke to the maid. 

Jaigisavya said: 

Prahlada, the devotee of Shrinivasa Nrusimha attained sovereignty of the world and the precious knowledge of atman from Nrusimha. 

22. Parashara, the devotee of Shrinivasa had a great devotion for Vyasa, the incarnation of Vishnu. He praised Vyasa and obtained the quintessence of knowledge from him. With his soul elevated by devotion he achieved liberation. 

23. The sage Narada, the devotee of Shrinivasa had a devotion for Hari while he was in his mother's womb. By that devotion he was adopted as a son by Brahma. By the attainment of knowledge, he achieved liberation. 

24. Ambarisa was a devotee of Śhrinivasa as well as Hari. He attained knowledge from Durvasas. With his soul elevated by devotion he attained liberation. 

25. Muchakunda was the devotee of Shrinivasa. Detached from worldly affairs and firm in devotion he received supreme knowledge of lord Vishnu. With his soul elevated by devotion he attained liberation. 

26. Pundarika, the devotee of Shrinivasa was devoted to Vishnu at the behest of his father. He obtained supreme knowledge by the grace of God and received liberation after his soul was elevated by devotion. 

27. Brahma, Vayu, Sarasvati are great Yogins. They are the constant devotees of lord Vishnu. They are of pure form, not attached to worldly objects. 

28-29. Lord of mountains, lord of Nagas, lord of birds, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, moon, sun, lord of waters (Varuna), Agni (fire-god), Manu, Dharma, Kubera, lord of obstacles, Ashvins, groups of Maruts, Parjanya, Mitra-all these are the devotees of Vishnu. 

30. Vishvamitra, Bhrgu, Aurva, Kutsa, Marichi, Atri, Pulaha, Kratu, Shakti, Vasishtha, Gautamiya, Pulastya, and Bharadvaja—these are the devotees of Shrinivasa. 

31. Mandhata, Nahusha, “Ambarisha, Sagara, Pruthu, Haihaya, Ikshvaku, Bharata, Yuyutsu, Sutala, Dharma, Vikukshi, Utthāna, Bibhishana, Dasharatha—these wise and intelligent persons are the devotees of lord of Venkata. 

32-33. Bhagirathi,¹ Samudra, Yamuna, Sarasvati,² Godavari, Narmada,³ Krishna,⁵ Bhimarathi,⁶ Sarayu,⁷ Phalgu,⁸ Kaveri, Gandaki⁹ Kapila¹⁰--these are the devotees of lord Hari.

1. Bhagirathi-Ganga, so called because she was brought from the Himalayan mountain to the plain, by Bhagiratha, the descendent of Sagara. 

2. Sarasvati—The modern river of the same name flows between the Jumna and Sutlej. Formerly, it was a much larger river but in later times it perished, as it does now, in the sands of the desert, Vinashana was the name of the place where it disappeared. 

3. Godavari- A famous river of Janasthana, the scene of Rama's first conflict with the Rakshasas was the country on both its banks. 

4. Narmada-This river rises in the Vindhya mountain and falls into the gulf of Cambay. It flows in a wide flood-plain and is fairly deep. It forms a suitable boundary between the political units north and south of it. 

5. Krishna—This river received very little attention in ancient times, and was almost unknown compared with the Godavari and Kaveri. The reason seems to be that the country through which it flows was nearly all forest in ancient times. 

6. Bhimarathi--Modern Bhima, the tributary of Krishna rising near Pune. 

7. Sarayu— It is a sacred river of Northern Kosal, with Ayodhya, the sacred city of great antiquity lying along its bank. 

8. Phalgu--a river on which Gaya stands. 

9. Gandaki--a river which rises in the Himalayas and falls into the Ganges at Sonepur in Bihar.

10. Kapila—a river mentioned in the Markandeya purana.

34-35. O maid, hear, I shall tell you a significant fact. At a congregation, where they narrate the tale of Vishnu, where the devotees who understand the essence flock together-all those who are present are the devotees of the lord. 

36. Those who go on pilgrimage intent on realizing the lord are the devotees of the lord, not others, for the life's purport of the devotees of Vishnu stabilizes in the supreme lord and not in other matters. 

37. If reaching the mountain Śhesha one does not gift food, cloth and ornaments to the deserving he is not entitled to be called a devotee of Vishnu. Who can be a greater animal than him? 

38. The devotees of Hari such as Ganga, etc. live on the mountain Shrinivasa in the service of the wide-strider Vishnu. O maid, they should not be worshipped by the faithful. 

39. I shall narrate to you the purport thereof. I shall also tell you where one should worship and offer homage to the devotees, to each individually. 

40. He should worship the worthy Brahmanas at their feet, with hands joined in reverence. 

He should worship lord Vishnu with eight organs of the body. He should worship his preceptor in the same way taking him for Vishnu. 

41. He should bow to Ganga, Tulasi and the rest with the eight organs of the body. He should physically bow to the holy fig tree but to the cows and others mentally. 

42. The devotees of Vishnu alone should worship the supreme god. Those who are rightly the devotees of Vishnu but possess nominal knowledge are also entitled to worship him. 

43. But those who are nominally the devotees of Vishnu, though possessed of knowledge are not entitled to his worship. 

44. Those who do not worship the supreme god Vishnu go to the dark regions (i.e., hell) due to the great sin. 

45. Brahma, etc. are the names of Vishnu which he himself had given to the gods. The wise lord did not transfer some of his names such as Keshava, just as a king, when he leaves the capital does not relinquish his title or pass it on to another. 

46. O maiden, all this I have told you precisely. You should investigate the matter further by yourself. Worship should be made to me by my titles-Govinda, Narayana and Madhava. 

47. Together they ascended the mountain Venkata, chanting chants of praise, uttering the name of lord Shrinivasa, feeling joy and pleasure and clapping their hands in expectation of seeing the lord. 

On hearing the words of lord Krishna, Garuda asked the lord how the travellers felt pleasure by uttering his name. 

Lord Krishna said: 

48. "O lord Shrinivasa, this very name of yours is indeed omnipotent. Brahmi and others take resort to you. Rama (Lakshmi) has derived her name Shri from this very title. 

49. Lord Vishnu has derived his name Shrinivasa from the fact that he is the resort of Shri." 

Thus, addressing Shrinivasa by name, dancing and clapping hands, with the thrill of hair on their person, they gave expression to their feeling. 

50. O lord, may we see your face this very day. When shall we get our desire fulfilled? O lord Keshava, you favour us this very day by showing your lotus-feet to us. 

51. In the epithet Keshava, the letter K devotes the primeval being Brahma which again signifies the lord of all beings. The word Isa denotes the worthy lord Rudra who instigates dissolution of the universe. 

52. Hence, Hari is called Keshava. Addressing the lord by this epithet, dancing as well as trickling the spring of joy in the form of joyful tears and uttering the name lord Narayana, they continued their upward journey. 

53. As he is the resort of merits and demerits and as he abides in the waters of ocean, he is called Narayana. People who take resort to him obtain eternal release, O lord of birds. 

54. Waters are called Nara; as he resorts to waters in the ocean) he is called Narayana. Those who resort to Narayana get an eternal release. 

55. Naras (waters) are so called because as cosmic waters they emerge from his side-glances. As he is the resort of these waters he is called Narayana and also because he is the source of this eternal universe. 

56. They danced, praising the lord thus: "O Govinda, there is no such Being as your supreme self, no such personage whose sight is so thrilling and delightful. 

57. In the word Govinda go means the universal speech. As you are expressed by the medium of universal speech you are called Govinda. O lord, you are known to or by the Vedas”. 

58-59. Thus, they danced while their eyes flowed with joyful tears. “O Hari, the slayer of Asura Mura, please grant us an interview. We are slaves of your slaves. 

As you pervade the fourteen worlds¹ you are called Vasu. As you play sports constantly or as the great declare you a god, you are called Vasudeva.”

1. Fourteen Worlds-See p. 1043 fn. 2.

Thus, uttering the names of the lord—Vasudeva, Madhava, etc., they danced joyously. 

60. “People call you Lakshmipati the lord of Lakshmi. 

The syllable dhava is the synonym of treasure. Hence, the learned call you Madhava (the treasure of Lakshmi). O lord of Lakshmi, protect us, your devotees.” 

61. Thus speaking they danced and persued their upward journey, uttering "O lord, grant us your eternal protection. As you are omnipresent you are called Vitala." Reciting names of the lord they reached their goal. Here, full of devotion, they sought the audience of the lord.

The Maid said: 

62. O best of sages, what is the name of this shrine? What rites shall we perform here? whom did lord Shrinivasa favour at this holy place, please tell us in detail.

Jaigisavya said: 

63. O maid, listen to the narrative of Prahlada, the best of the devotees of Vishnu. Once, when he had no desire to fulfil, Prahlada went to see lord Shrinivasa on the Shesha mountain. 

64. This was the place where Prahlada had spoken to the Daitya youths on the glory of Vishnu. Hence, O maid, you should worship lord Vishnu (the abode of Lakshmi), in the form of Nrusimha. 

Prahlada said: 

65. “O Daitya youths, you have attained human life which is very rare. Rarer is the knowledge of the glory of Nrusimha. That journey is fruitful whereon throughout they utter the narrative of Hari, O Daitya youths, Hari abides at the place where they sing his narrative, though he pervades the universe." 

66-68. On hearing the same, the daitya princes said to Prahlada, the devotee of Hari. “O friend, if Hari is all-pervading why does he withhold his presence here in the midst of water." 

Thus, spoken to by the Daitya youths, Shrinivasa appeared in the midst of water. 

69. Those who bathe in this holy pool stabilize their intellect which remains untarnished with impurity, even in this iron age (Kali). 

70. Thus bestowing favour on the Daitya youths, lord Vishnu disappeared in the midst of waters. 

Even today, Nrusimha abides in the midst of waters. Prahlada too abides therein together with Daitya youths. 

71. Here in the afternoon, there is heard all around the word 'Victory'. The place is called Narsimha in recollection of the Victory of the lord over Hiranyakashipu. Pilgrims who visit this holy place take plunge here. 

72. They took bath, offered an earthen lamp to a pious Brahmin Shrinivasa, uttering 'Govinda, Govinda.' 

73. The maid sat in front of the principal deity and said. “O noble Jaigishavya, please tell me how shall I have the audience of the lord.” 

On hearing this, Jaigishavya was extremely delighted at heart and said. 

74. O, maid, I tell you how you shall proceed. At the main gate of Shrinivasa you should recite the following. 

75. “I commit thousands of faults day and night. O lord, pardon all these faults of mine, O best of primeval beings. 

76. O lord, efface those causes of mine which create hatred for the devotees of Vishnu, whether they are mental, oral or physical.” 

77. O maid, at the main gate of the temple of Śhrinivasa you should remember, in the appropriate form Jaya and Vijaya. At the right gate of Shrinivasa you should remember Chanda and Prachanda. 

78. At the left gate, you should remember Nanda and Sunanda; at the extreme left gate you should remember the lily eyed Kumudanetra. 

79-81. You should enter the temple with full devotion and reverence, circumambulating the lord twelve times. 

You should sip waters in the holy pool and bathe. You should enter right in the interior of the temple and other chambers. While there, you should meditate on the deities sitting in their respective postures on their seats. 

82-83. In the middle of the seat, you should bow to Shrinivasa with all the organs of your body. To the left of the lord, outside the pedestal, you should pay homage to the preceptor, in front of the pedestal, just below at the south-east corner. In the south-western corner you should pay homage to the honourable Vyasa. The devotee of Vishnu should be honour ed all times everywhere. 

84. In the north-western corner you should honour goddess Druga with your soul elevated by devotion. 

Above the pedestal, in the south-east region you should bow to Yama, the presiding deity of Dharma. 

85. Above the pedestal, in the upper south-western region to Vayu. 

86. Above the pedestal, in the north-eastern region to Indra, the supreme lord. To the east of the pedestal, to Nairruti, lord of the Aryamans. 

87. To the south of the pedestal, the goddess Druga also called Ugra. To the west of the pedestal, to Kamadeva, the lord of health. 

88. To the north of the pedestal, to Rudra the supreme lord. To the middle of the pedestal, to Varaha the primeval man. 

89. Above the pedestal, to Lakshmi called Shakti, the support of the universe. Above the pedestal, to Vayu and Kurma. Above that to Shesha and Kurma. 

90-91. Above that, cosmic Earth, the presiding deity of the universe. Above that, to Varuna, the lord of milky ocean. Above that, to Lakshmi called Shvetadvipa. Above that, to divine Lakshmi called Mandapa. 

92. In the middle of Pitha, to Lakshmi called Yami. By the side of Yami to Devi. To the south of Yama, to Surya in the form of an earthen lamp. 

93. To the left of God Yama, to Śhrī in the form of an earthen lamp. In front of Yama, to Agni also in the form of an earthern lamp. 

94. In front of the lord, he should bow to Bhumi the presiding deity of the elements, and to Druga, the presiding deity of tamas and the reclining couch of the lord. 

95. To the east, to the Atman in the form of steps of the pedestal. To the east, to knowledge (Jnana) in the form of steps of the pedestal. 

96. To the east, in the leaf of a lotus, to Vimala in the form of a female and to the deities, Brahma, etc. 

97. In the lotus-leaf in the south-east corner you should bow to the excellent gods and goddesses Utkarshă, Lakshmi, Brahma, Vayu and Shesha. 

98. In the eight-petalled lotus to the right you should worship Narayana, Shesha; etc, in the form of a female. 

99. In the lotus leaf in the north-east, to Ishana, Narayana, Virancha, Vayu, ether, Shesha and Devas in the form of a female. 

100-101. In the middle of the lotus, to Vishnu, Lakshmi Anugraha and to Vayu, ether, Shesha and Rudra in the form of a female. To lord Ananta in the form of pedestal and to Śhrinivasa. 

102. To the left of Shrinivasa to Lakshmi; in the middle of Shrinivasa to Dhara. 

103-104. Outside the pedestal, in the east, to Krupolka; in the south, to Maholka; in the west, to Virolka; in the north, to Ulka; in the four corners, to Sahasrolka. 

105-112. In the east to Vasudeva, in the south to Samkarshana, in the west to Pradyumna, in the north to Aniruddha; in the south-east to Maya, in the south-west to Jaya, in the north east to Krutya, in the north-east to Shanti; in the east to Keshava, in the south-west and north-west to Narayana and Madhava, in the south-east to Govinda, in the south to Vishnu, in the south west to Madhusudana, in the west to Trivikrama, Vamana, Vishnu and Shridhara, in the north to Hrushikeśha and Padmanabha, in the north-east to Damodara. 

113-119. In the fourth enclosure, in the east to Mahakūrma; in the south-east to Varaha; in the south to Nrusimha and Vamana; in the south-west to Bhargava (Parasurama); in the west to Madhava Krishna; in the north-west to Buddha, in the north to Ananta in the form of Ulka and in the north-east to Vishvarupa; in the south-east to Varuni; in the south-west to Gayatri; in the north-west to Bharati, in the north-east to Girija. To the left of Girija to Sauparni; in the east to Indra with weapons, in the south-east to Vishnu with his attendants and assemblage with the formula, To you O Agni with weapons, as stated previously. 

120-122. In the south to Yama, in the south-west to Nirruti, in the west to Varuna, in the north-west, to Vayu, in the north to Kubera, in the north-east to Shiva, in the midst of north-east and east to Brahma with weapons, in the middle of north-west to Shesha. Thus, you should pay homage again and again. 

123. Thus, I have narrated to you the prescribed way how one should have the vision of the lord when one goes to a shrine to pay visit. 

Thus addressed, she went to the shrine together with her companions. 

124. This prescribed way of paying visit to Shrinivasa which I have told you just now should not be divulged to anyone, O bird, since it is very, very secret. 

125. O lord of birds, it is very rare to keep company with the good and noble people who can throw light on the nature of tattvas. It is possible to have a preceptor only if one has in store the aggregate of merits accumulated in previous existences. 

126. In the company of holy pious people even unauspicious things turn into auspicious ones. In the company of lord Vishnu, the unsteady mind leaves its steadiness, as water changes its nature in association with the sea-shell or in contact with the lotus leaf.