Thread by @DefiledGod

--- Praise of Tirumala in Rg Veda ---

The sūkta beginning with “arāyi kāṇe” is considered by vedāntins historically to describe the Lord of Tirumala.+

#RigVeda #Tirumala #Hinduism #Vedas

The Veda Puruṣa, like azhwars often do, advises his mind to go dwell in Tirumala, the beauty of the surroundings and the Lord there. First rk,

arāyi kāṇe vikaṭe giriṃ gaccha sadānve śirimbiṭhasyasatvabhistebhiṣ ṭvā cātayāmasi ||

#RigVeda #Hinduism #Vedas

[Mind without wealth (intellect), whose eye is shut (not seeing Brahman)! Go to the beautiful hill, crying out (his name). We will cause you to hide from Saṃsāra, by these Tīrthās of the hill that withers all karmas.]

#Hinduism #Vedas #SanatanaDharma #RigVeda #Tirupati

This is an upadeśa to mind indicated by feminine case. “Without wealth” means lack of discriminative intellect as per “Ezhai Edhalan” pāsuram of Azhwar.

“kāṇa” refers to obscuring eye that is lack of perception of Brahman - “pugal onrum illā adiyen” (ṭhiruvāimozhi)

#Vedas

Veda Puruṣa advises his mind indulging in wordly pleasures to go to the beautiful hill; The rk says “go to the hill” & not to the Lord. This shows the hill itself is purifying. To merely set your mind on the hill– even that itself purifies, then what to speak of going there?+

“vikaṭa” shows that the hill is very beautiful. No ādhyātmic meaning here – merely beauty of the waterfalls, greenery, weather, wild animals – all this is the Sakti of the Lord who dwells there & is enough to purify your mind. Azhwars have pointed this out vividly.

#Vedas

“śirimbiṭha” – That which withers (śīryate) multitude of sins (bīrita). Same meaning as “Venkata”, the popular name of the hill. “satvabhi” refers to the auspicious tīrthās like svāmi puśkariṇi, chakra tīrtha etc which are purifying & contribute to the holy power of the hill.+

“Hide from Saṃsāra” means not indulging in worldly matters. The beauty of the hill is renowned for weaning mind from sense objects. Kulasekhara Azhwar begins his Thiruvengadam decad with “ūneru selvattu uḍal piravi yān veṇḍen” – I do not want material wealth.+

"Cry out his name". The special guṇa of the Lord at Tirumala is Vātsalya, to have affection despite our sins. Hence, it is very relevant for Kali Yuga. Nāma Sankīrtana is also special for Kali Yuga. So, to this Lord, we go singing his name in Kali Yuga out of all Yugas.+

Veda Puruṣa’s mind has reached the hill, seen the beauty & also immersed itself in holy rivers. Next step is to worship Varāhaswamy, before worshipping Srinivāsa. So, next rk.

catto itaścattāmutaḥ sarvā bhrūṇānyāruṣī |arāyyaṃ brahmaṇas pate tīkṣṇaśṛṇghodṛṣannihi+

[Hidden from sense objects of this world, hidden from desire of the supreme abode, the mind (by dwelling in Venkata hill) will destroy all wombs, ie, future births. O Varāha, with the sharp horn, Lord of Brahmā, go drive far away that ignorance opposed to knowledge]+

#Vedas

Veda Puruṣa’s mind is at the hill & so in love with Tirumala’s beauty, that it lacks desire for not only worldly enjoyments, but even Paramapada! Kulasekhara Perumal asks “Edhenum Avene” – “let me born as anything on Tirumala”. Hence the mind no longer desires even moksha.+

Tirumala is “Adi Varāha” Kshetra. One worships Varāha first, who leads us to Srinivasa. So, mind worships Varāha “Jñāṇa-mūrti”. Greatness of Sri Varāhaswamy sannidhi is highlighted by this. “tīkṣṇaśṛṇga” is same as “mahaśṛṇga” in sahasranāma, referring to this avatāra.+

Having worshipped Varāha, Veda Puruṣa’s mind goes to the sanctu o the supreme nectar, Lord Venkateṣvara. Experience of Lord’s divya mangala vigraha is described in next rk.

ado yad dāru plavate sindhoḥ pāre apūruṣam | tadārabhasva durhaṇo tena ghacha parastaram ||

#Vedas

[That Lord is the log that navigates or cross over to the other shore of the ocean of Saṃsāra, without (self-effort) of the self. Take hold of that Lord, O mind who are resistant to harm, by which you shall go further away (from other means).]+

#Hinduism #Vedas #SanatanaDharma

The Lord’s form has been seen by the Veda Purusha. It is well known that he keeps his hand at his hip. This is called “kati-hastam” and hence this rk explains the meaning behind the “kati-hastam” – thus indicating the mind is now drinking in the divine form.+

#RigVeda #Vedas

He has his hand at his hip to say that Saṃsāra Sāgara is only waist high for those who resort to him. So, Veda says he is a log that takes us over to the other side, without our own effort & mind doesn't opt for other means. “durhaṇa” means mind cannot be harmed by Saṃsāra+

Veda Puruṣa’s mind has had a pleasing darṣaṇa & is permanently settled in Tirumala. He has clarity now, due to blissful experience of the Lord. This is made clear in the next rk.

yad dha prācīrajaghantoro maṇḍūradhāṇikīḥ |hatāindrasya śatravaḥ sarve budbudayāśavaḥ ||+

[You (mind) who bears unpleasant thoughts, when you go east to the chief of hills, all the enemies (attachments) of Lord Srinivāsa (Indra) went away like foam.]+

#Hinduism #Vedas #SanatanaDharma #RigVeda

“maṇḍūradhāṇikīḥ” is a term used to express revilement. It can mean “bearer of that which is as unpleasant as noise made by a frog, or rusty iron” (can be taken as maṇḍūka too). It refers to unpleasant hankerings of sense objects here that are unpleasant as this +

#Vedas

“prācī” – the direction where the sun rises. This is a metaphor for the fact that the hill is where the mind goes when discriminatory knowledge dawns, for getting rid of attachments.+

#Hinduism #Vedas #SanatanaDharma

Attachments are our enemies. But as the Lord loves us so much, he considers them his enemies, so the rk says “enemies of Indra”. It brings out his vātsalya guṇa which is his main quality in Tirumala.+

#Hinduism #Vedas #SanatanaDharma #RigVeda

He is "Indra” as he is the chief of those who possess Lordship (Swamitvam) and Simplicity (Soulabhyam). This is mentioned by Azhwar – “nigaril pugazhāy ulagam mūnrudaiyāy ennai ālvāne”. “nigaril pugazhāy” is nothing but “Indra”.+

#Hinduism #Vedas #SanatanaDharma #RigVeda

After seva, one must pay obeisance to those serving him there. Sri Rāmānuja, Tirumala Nambi & other gurus made the arduous trek daily, braved the wild jungle & did services. So, the next rk

parīme gāmaneṣata paryagnimahṛṣata | deveṣvakrataśravaḥ ka imānā dadharṣati ||+

[These who serve Lord Srinivāsa, have led the senses (to services to him), led the mind (to constant contemplation of him). They have made their status equivalent to the nitya-sūrīs. What can dare to stand against them?]+

#Hinduism #Vedas #SanatanaDharma

The rk concludes by saying that the devotees who once served the Lord there, who walked up the hill daily, fetched water from Akāṣa Ganga or Chakra Tīrtha on foot which is miles away, braved wild animals, are truly equal to the nitya-sūrīs.+

#RigVeda #Vedas #Hinduism

When these devotees are engaged in serving the Lord, would they consider wild animals, long climb etc as difficulties? When a snake bit Anandazhwan, he merely laughed & said, “One snake bit the other (the body), let’s see who wins”. What indeed can stand against such gurus?+

“gām” refers to “cow” - Speech which in turn signifies all sense organs. “agni” is the mind that leads the senses. “deva” refers to the nitya-sūrīs like Adi Seśa, Garuda etc. These devotees not only perform physical services but mentally think of none but the Lord of Venkata.+

In this manner, Tirumala has the unique distinction of being specially eulogized by the Vedas.//

#Hinduism #Vedas #SanatanaDharma #RigVeda