25 - Glory of Venkatesha and the method of worship

1. At the gate of the temple of Shrinivasa she and her companions saw Svāmipushkariņi saying, “O lord Hari, Shrinivasa", she meditated on the lord who takes Brahma and others across the ocean of existence.

2. There, in the pool, Vishnu abides, together with other gods for the preservation of people. Hence, the pool is called Svāmipushkariņi. Therein, the maiden and her companions took bath. 

3. O lord of birds, formerly, the gods purified themselves by taking bath and entered the temple of Śhrinivasa to practise penance with sincere devotion. As instructed by the preceptor, the maid too acted all accordingly, O lord of birds. 

4. Then, the lord in his full and beautiful form appeared before her. The maid saw the beautiful form of Shrinivasa and was delighted thereby. 

5-7. She saw the lord wearing the gold-embroidered dress with an attractive head gear and bodice. His body was anointed with the paste of musk whereof the smell had made the quarters fragrant. The lord had lotus-like blooming eyes, neck as round as the conch, long arms, golden sacred thread and looked as the cupid incarnate. He possessed charms which could subjugate any people and who had a body pretty and tender. 

8. At the sight of the lord, the maid was extremely delighted. Her body showed a thrilling hair. 

9. Her heart overflowed with pleasure at the sight of the lord. Her eyes were full of tears and her body showed joyful signs of thrilling hair. She danced in the presence of the lord. Her faults were destroyed with the feeling of devotion. In a tone full of emotion, she addressed the lord thus. 

10. “O blissful lord, save me from worldly affections, grant me your eternal bliss by releasing me from the shackles of Karman. 

O lotus-eyed lord, save me by your sweet, charming glance full of ambrosial compassion. O lord, I am extremely distressed, save me by bestowing wisdom on me. 

11. O lord, dissociate me from my bad companions-desire wrath and greed, and destroy my strong foes, viz., the obstacles. 

12. O lord of Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Brahma and the universe protect me; O lord of Lakshmi, the primeval course of the Universe, whose lotus feet are bowed to by the gods, protect me.” 

13. Thus paying homage with reverence she praised the primeval lord. O lord of birds, there are innumerable merits n Vishnu which are not known to Lakshmi. 

14. [She continued] “Unknown even to Lakshmi, there exist several qualities in Hari. I cannot praise you adequately. Still, I shall try to praise you, O lord. 

15. By the favour of Brahma, the lord of speech, by the favour of Rudra, above all by your favour, I praise you, O lord. Be kind enough to bestow peace on me. 

16. O lord, if you are pleased with me, bestow devotion on me for your feet. At your very sight, O lord, good and evil—both disappear for ever. 

17. The world is destroyed by illusion indicated by pride; It has turned deaf and blind by the excess of wealth. 

18. I do not seek for that wealth which would make me dumb to the entreaties of the poor or the preceptor and drive me off from the service of your lotus-feet. 

O lord, grant me company of the good that may help me to realize my inner self. 

19-20. Please extinguish my desire for sons, etc. Grant me devotion for your lotus-feet. Take off my treasure and bestow the same among your devotees. Grant me devotion for your lotus-feet. 

21. Please take off my learning, progeny, wealth and pride. Grant me devotion for your lotus-feet. Take off my jealousy and intolerance for the noble devotees of Vishnu. O lord of Venkata grant me protection. 

22. O primeval cause of the universe, grant me that mantra which may enable me to meet you again. I ask for nothing more than my contact with your lotus-feet. Please grant me this all if you are so pleased with me.” 

23. Thus spoken to by her, Shrinivasa was extremely pleased. Emitting nectar from his mouth he spoke to her. 

"O maid, I give you the most secret mantra which you should keep repeating with devotion. 

24-25. I tell you this mantra out of affection for you. Please listen to the mantra with devotion, as I disclose it to you; Om Vyankateshaya namah Om. 

26. O maid, by this mantra you will achieve the object of your desire.” Having addressed the maid thus, the lord appeared before her in a symbolic form. 

27. The girl bowed to the lord and stayed in the vicinity of the lake named Svâmisaras. On that very day she propitiated the Brahmanas and other castes with the cooked food of ingredients. 

28-29. In the evening she paid homage to the idol and other symbols of the lord. She circumambulated the image and danced without reservation, proclaiming victory of the lord. During this performance, she set her eyes on the image of the lord and danced over and over again. 

30. "To day, my body is purified, my eyes have borne fruit, my feet have gained purpose, since I have circumambulated you, my lord. 

31. My hands have attained the fruits of their existence since they have clapped to glorify the lord.” Thus, she pleased the lord by these utterances which were full of praises for the lord. 

32-33. The gods sounded drums, played on instruments and scattered flowers on her head. They danced around her, together with their consorts, clapped hands and paid homage. 

O lord of birds, she too danced before the lord on the 'Ananda mountain every day. 

34. Immersed in bliss he returned to her hermitage together with Jaigishavya. O lord of birds, those who do not go on pilgrimage thus have all their pious activities come to naught, thus say the noble. 

35-36. She went to the hermitage together with Jaigishavya and asked the preceptor about the mantra of Vyankațesha. O sir, tell me the meaning of mantra so that I may perform Japa for the attainment of my desire. 

Jaigishavya said: 

O blessed one, listen to the meaning of the mantra of Venkațesha and then think upon it concentratedly. 

37. The letter v denotes excellence, y denotes knowledge, k denotes happiness, t expresses consciousness. 

38. The word Isa signifies the soul. Collectively, it is called Vyankata since it embodies supreme knowledge, undiluted pleasure and immense wealth. 

39. Or v denotes the organs of senses which constitute the corpus of Hari. Kata means the aggregate of the organs of senses. 

40. Since he directs these organs inward he is called Vyankata or since he directs them outward he is called Vyankata. 

41. Or vya means the released souls who have attained supreme knowledge. 

42. Vyankata would mean the aggregate of 'released souls'. Vyankațesha would mean the lord of released souls. The individual soul in the subtle body is called Vyankata. 

43. Or the word Vyankata means the aggregate of Daityas, so called because they are without knowledge. 

44. The lord Vyankațesha is capable of liquidating them, he is called Vyankațesha. 

45. Desire, rage, etc are evils that are contrary to bliss, hence they are named Vyankata. Since he destroys these he is called Vyankațesha. (maiden, on knowing this you should perform Japa. 

46. O lord of birds, the maiden heard the glory of Vyankata and passed the night in that ashrama together with her father. She got up early in the morning, set her thought on Vyankațesha and praised the lord. 

47. Shri Vyankațesha, Shri Nrusimha, Shri Varadarāja, Varaha, the god Shriranga, lord Vishnu with Shesha for his repose may all these deities make this morning auspicious for me. 

48. Lord Shrikrishna, Balarama, lord Vishnu who resides at Prayaga, Narayana who abides in Badari-may all these deities make this morning auspicious for me. 

49. Damodara, the abode of three worlds, lord Panduranga, lord Nrusimha, lord Ramadeva who resides at Amogha may all these make this morning auspicious for me. 

50. Śhri Dharmaputra, of the form of Nrusimha, Shri Pippastha who resides at Muhalla, Kola Nrusimha and Shurpakara Nrusimha-may all these deities make this morning auspicious for me. 

51. Lord Brahma, Sarasvati, Bharati, Sarva, Suparna, Shesha, Uma, Mahendra, Shachi and others-may all these deities make this morning auspicious for me. 

52. Dvaravati, Kashika, Avantika, Prayaga, Kanci, Mathura, Mayavati, Hastimati--may all these cities make this morning auspicious for me. 

53. Bhagirathi, Sarasvati, Godavari, Sindhu, Krishna, Veni, Kalindi Yamuna, Narmada - may all these rivers make this morning auspicious for me. 

54. Vitasta, Kaveri, Tungabhadra, Suvanjara, Bhimarathi, Vipasha, Tamraparni, Pinakini – may all these rivers make this morning auspicious for me. 

55. Svami Pushkariņi, Suvarņamukhari, Śhrīpāņdavi, Taumbaru, Kapila, the destroyer of sins. 

56. Guru, Vasishtha, Kratu, Angiras, Manu, Pulastya, Pulaha, Gautama, Raibhya, Marichi, Chyavana, Daksha, -may all these sages make this morning auspicious for me.

57. Seven oceans, seven Kula-Parvatas, seven dvipas, seven pleasure gardens, seven regions such as Bhur etc., -may all these make this morning auspicious for me. 

58. Mandhatru, Nahusha, Ambarisa, Sagara, Nala, Dharma raja, Prahlada, Kraturaj, Vibhishana, Gaya, Vyasa, Hanuman, Ashvatthaman, Krupa, Draupadi, Sita, Taraka, Mandodari-may all these make this morning auspicious for me. 

59. The forests of holy fig, holy basil, amalaka, Nāga keshara, Champaka, coral trees and flowers of various hues and fragrances--may all these make this morning auspicious for me. 

60. Thus after meditating on Shrinivasa in her heart, the maiden performed the daily necessaries and went to Svamipushkarini together with Jaigishavya and took bath in the prescribed way. She then repeated the mantra of Vyankatesha and spoke to Jaigishavya and the preceptor.