On the request of Sowanka and other sages, Sootha maharshi narrated them the story of
Sri Venkateswara. Sage Narada who will always be moving from one place to another entered
Sathya Loka and saluted his parents Barahama and Saraswathi told Brahma that after Krishna
Avatar, Sri Hari did not go to Bhooloka again and therefore, it has become a hell, as
innocent are teased by the wicked. They therefore decided that time has come when God has
to appear again on earth and restore Dharma. Narada descended to Bhooloka and decided that
Brighu Maharshi would conduct test as who among Trimurtis will bear the Yagna effect.
Accordingly Brighu Maharshi first went to Satyaloka where Brahma was explaining the Vedas
to several eminent rishis seated there.
When, Brighu Maharshi occupied the throne without showing any respect and without saluting,
Brahma lost his temper and chided Brighu. Brighu got down from the throne and cursed Brahma
saying "YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY TEMPLE IN THE EARTH AND NONE WILL WORSHIP YOU".
Brighu, then went to Kailash where Shiva was in privacy with his wife Parvathi. Enraged
Siva took his Trisool to finish Brighu but stopped on the intervention of Parvathi. Brighu
in his turn also cursed Siva saying, "YOU WILL BE WORSHIPPED IN THE TEMPLE ON EARTH IN THE
SHAPE OF "LINGA" INSTEAD OF YOUR REAL SHAPE", and left to Vaikuntham to request Maha Vishnu
to bear the Yagna effects.
Maha Vishnu though aware of the arrival of Brighu pretended to be innocent resting on the
Sesha Sayanam and Maha Laxmi sitting near his feet pressing them. Recalling the maltreatment
meted out to him at Sathyaloka and Kailash, Brighu rushed towards Maha Vishnu and kicked
him on his chest with right foot. Without showing any annoyance, Vishnu pinched the third
eye that was embedded in Brighu's right foot with the result, he lost his power and pride.
Repented Brighu then explained the purpose of his visit. Sri MahaVishnu promised to
receive the benefit of Yagna being conducted by the eminent sages on the banks of Ganga at
the appropriate time. Lakshmi who was witnessing all these acts however got angry with her
husband especially because, he tended such a rude person who dishonored her by kicking in
the chest of Maha Vishnu where she lived. When Lakshmi left Vaikuntham there was no pleasure
and pomp. Maha Vishnu became helpless. He ran helter and skelter in search of Lakshmi
without food and sleep and atlast reached Tirupati and took shelter in a Valmikam (anthill)
at the Adi Varsha's shrine meditating for the return of Lakshmi.
Narada came to know the separation and the dwelling places of Lakshmi, at Kolhapur and of
Maha Vishnu at Venkatachalam. Narada as directed by Brahma met her and narrated how Sri Hari
is starving for food and much reduced. Worried Lakshmi prayed Brahma and Shiva and the
three decided to take the shape of a cow, a calf and a cow-herd woman. As a cow-herd woman
Lakshmi sold the cow and the calf to Chola King. In the guise of cow Brahma daily gave rain
of milk to Sri Hari and returned home with no drop of milk.
The Chola Queen who desired to feed her child with the milk from the new cow suspected that
the cow-herd boy of stealing the milk and ordered him to bring the milk of the new cow at
any cost next day. With a fear of severe punishment the cow-herd boy followed the cow and
saw at Valmiki it is raining milk through her breast. The cow-herd boy burst into anger and
took his axe and tried to hurt the animal. Sri Hari immediately came out of the
Valmiki (anthill) and saved the cow and bore that blow on his head and started bleeding
profusely. The Chola King seeing the sprinkles of blood on the cow reached Valmiki and after
hearing sighing sound from there found Maha Vishnu in a pool of blood. On seeing the Chola
King Maha Vishnu got wild and cursed him to become a ghost as he got the wound through his
cow-herd. Chola King begged for pardon. Maha Vishnu relented and gave him a boon to reborn
in the same family as Akasa Raju. He pitied cow-heard boy and gave him a boon that his
generation to have the first Darshan of the Lord in his temple.
Jaya and Vijaya who were the guards at the entrance of Vaikuntham became Harinyaksha and
Hiranyakasipu with the curse of Sanakasada nanda and other Sages. Hiranyaksha was very
cruel and troubling innocent people. Mahavishnu therefore took the form of white
pig (Varaham) and diving into the sea killed Hiranyaksha and brought the earth up which he
rolled it as a mat and hid in the Pathala loka.
The foster Mother of Lord Krishna, Yasoda Devi though tended him as a child never witnessed
his marriages. Lord Krishna consoled her and promised to create an opportunity in Kaliyuga.
Yasoda, therefore was born as Vakuladevi and became a devotee of Varaha Swamy. Sri Hari
with a wounded head was wandering in the woods in search of a suitable medicine. On the
advice of Brihaspati, the Guru of Devas who met him in the forest, went in search of a fig
tree to apply its milk mixing it with the other herbs to the wound and chanced upon to hear
Sri Krishna Bhajana and walked towards the cottage crying in pain "mother" "mother".
Vakuladevi heard the call, and after fondly enquiring applied the medicine, fed him with
some fruits and milk, and named him as Srinivasa. Sri Hari revealed to her his previous
birth as Lord Krishna. Overjoyed, she bathed him and took to Varaha Swamy. On his request
Varahaswamy gave him 100 sqft of land with a promise that all the pilgrims to Tirupati first
visit his Temple, then have Darshan of Sri Venketeswara. The image of Sri Venkateswara is
self manifest (Swayambhu) and not prepared by any mortal.
The celebrated temple of Sri Venkateswara stands on a hill named Venkatadri. It is very
difficult to determine the date of this temple. Inscriptions found in the temple only refer
to its renovation, rebuilding and addition made to the main temple. The earliest inscription
found at Tirumala records the birth of Bana Prince named Vijayaditya who ruled during the
half of the 9th Century A.D. The first mention of the temple on the hill is to be found in
an inscription assignable to 970 A.D. A renovation made in the 13th Century was done as to
preclude a view of the original Sanctum. From then onwards the rulers who ruled the place
and devoted to the Lord made several gifts and offerings and structural changes whenever
necessary.
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