The Ascertainment of the Supreme Deity
Introduction
The Rishis, led by Kasyapa, began performing a sacrifice (yaga) on the banks of the Ganges. During this time, Sage Narada visited them and inquired about the purpose of the sacrifice and the deity to whom it was dedicated. The Rishis, unable to answer, sought the guidance of Sage Bhrigu. To determine the supreme deity, Bhrigu visited Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu.
Bhrigu’s Journey
First, Bhrigu went to Satyaloka (Brahmaloka). He found Brahma reciting the Vedas with his four heads, attended by Sarasvati, and ignoring Bhrigu’s presence. Concluding that Brahma was unfit for worship, Bhrigu left for Kailasa.
At Kailasa, Bhrigu found Shiva spending time with Parvati. Shiva, noticing Bhrigu, became furious at the intrusion and tried to destroy him. Bhrigu cursed Shiva and left for Vaikuntha.
At Vaikuntha, Bhrigu found Vishnu reposing on Adisesha with Lakshmi at His feet. Angered by Vishnu’s apparent indifference, Bhrigu kicked Vishnu’s chest. Instead of retaliating, Vishnu apologized and pressed Bhrigu’s feet to relieve his pain, thus removing the eye in Bhrigu’s foot that gave him power over the Devas. Recognizing Vishnu’s humility and supreme nature, Bhrigu declared Vishnu the supreme deity.
The Rishis then decided to dedicate their sacrifice to Vishnu.
The Varaha Incarnation and Varaha Kshetra
Lord Vishnu as Varaha:
During the Pralaya, the universe was submerged in water. Vishnu, in the form of a White Boar (Varaha), lifted the Earth from the waters, slaying the demon Hiranyaksha. This place became known as Varaha Kshetra.
Shrinivasa’s Abode:
After Mahalakshmi left Vaikuntha, Vishnu resided in an anthill on Venkata Hill. Brahma and Shiva, taking pity on Vishnu, assumed the forms of a cow and calf to serve Him. A Chola king purchased them, and the cow fed Vishnu daily. When a cowherd discovered this and tried to harm the cow, Vishnu rose from the anthill to save her and received the blow of the cowherd’s axe. The cowherd died, and the Chola King was cursed by Vishnu to become an Asura. This curse would end when Vishnu married Shri Padmavati and wore the Kireetam (crown) presented by Akasa Raja.
The Marriage of Shrinivasa and Padmavati
Yasoda brought up Shri Krishna, the son of Devaki, in his early years. Yasoda was not blessed to witness the marriage of Shri Krishna with Rukmini and she felt very sad. Shri Krishna promised to fulfill her desire in her next birth as Vakuladevi in his next Avatara as Shrinivasa. This Vakuladevi was sent to serve Shrinivasa by Lord Varahasvami, whom she was attending till Shrinivasa came to Venkatachala.
Sometime later, a King named Akasa Raja, who belonged to the Lunar race, was ruling over Thondamandalam. He had a brother named Thondaman. Akasa Raja had no issue for a long time and so he wanted to perform a sacrifice for obtaining an offspring. While he was himself plowing the ground for sacrifice, his plow turned up a lotus in the ground. On examining the lotus, the King found a female child in it.
The king was happy to find a child even before he performed a sacrifice and carried it to his palace and gave it to his Queen to tend. At that time he heard an aerial voice which said, “O King, tend it as your child and fortune will befall you.” As she was found in a lotus, the king named her Padmavati.
In course of time, Princess Padmavati grew into a beautiful maiden and was attended by a host of maids. One day while she was spending time in a garden picking flowers with her maids, Saint Narada approached her. Assuring her that he was her well-wisher, he asked her to show him her palm to read her future. He foretold that she was destined to be the spouse of Lord Vishnu himself.
At this time, Lord Shrinivasa, who went hunting, chased a wild elephant in the forests surrounding the hills. In the pursuit, Shrinivasa was led into a garden, where Princess Padmavati and her maids were picking flowers. The sight of the elephant frightened them and their Princess.
But the Elephant immediately turned round and saluted the Lord and disappeared into the forest. Lord Shrinivasa came on horseback and saw the frightened maidens and he was accosted by them with queries.
Lord Shrinivasa explained to them about his birth and parentage. He inquired about their princess and her parentage and birth.
When he was informed that the Princess was Padmavati (lotus-Born) the foster Daughter of Akasaraja, he loved her and made advances to the Princess. He was repulsed with stones by the maids and he urgently returned to the hills leaving the horse, which fell on the ground.
Vakuladevi, as usual, brought dinner to Shrinivasa comprising various delicious dishes. But she found him lying on his bed love-sick. She inquired about the cause of his sickness. The Lord informed her that unless he secured Princess Padmavati, he would not be well. Vakuladevi then asked him to tell her all about the Princess, who she was, and how he came to love her. The Lord then narrated the story of her (Padmavati’s) previous birth and his promise to wed her.
In olden times, Lakshmi was staying as Vedavati in a Rishi Ashrama in the forests. At that time Ravana, the lord of Lanka came there and tried to tempt her. Vedavati grew angry and cursed him that she would bring about his death.
To fulfill her words, Vedavati entered into the fire but the fire-god rescued her. He took Vedavati to his house and entrusted her to his wife to take care of her.
When Ravana was about to carry away Sita from Panchavati in the absence of Rama and Lakshmana, the Fire-God appeared on the scene and offered Vedavati to Ravana as the real Sita who was kept with him by Rama to evade Ravana.
Ravana took Vedavati to Lanka thinking she was the real Sita, while Agni(Fire-God) took Sita to his house and asked his wife Swahadevi to look after her.
After the destruction of Ravana, Vedavati entered the fires when rejected by Rama. Then the Fire-God offered the real Sita to Rama. Rama then questioned her as to who the other lady by her side was.
Sita informed Rama that she was Vedavati who suffered all the tortures for her sake for ten months in Lanka and requested Rama to accept her also as his spouse. But Rama declined her request saying that he was wedded to the policy of having only one wife during his lifetime, and he promised to wed her in her next birth as Padmavati, born as the daughter of Akasaraja when he will take the form of Shrinivasa.
Thereupon Vakuladevi thought that Shrinivasa would not be happy unless he married Padmavati and she offered to go to Akasaraja and his queen and arrange for the marriage. On the way, she met the maid-servants of Padmavati returning from a Siva Temple. She learned from them about Padmavathi’s love-sickness and went to the queen along with them.
Akasaraja and his queen Dharanidevi became anxious about the health of their daughter. They learned about Padmavati’s love for Shrinivasa of Venkata Hill. Akasaraja consulted Brihaspati about the propriety of the marriage and was informed that the marriage was in the best interests.
After the departure of Vakuladevi, Shrinivasa could not rest in peace. He doubted her success in the mission. He therefore assumed the form of a Yerukula-woman and entered the streets of the capital telling fortunes. Padmavati’s maids saw her and invited her to the presence of their queen.
The maid-servants went and informed the queen that the fortune-teller was hesitating to come into the palace without an invitation from the queen.
The queen came out herself and invited the fortune-teller into the palace. The fortune-teller was taken to the presence of Princess Padmavati.
The fortune-teller saw the palm of the Princess and told the queen about the cause of Padmavati’s indisposition and advised to give her in marriage to Lord Shrinivasa. She also told the queen that a lady would approach her shortly to formally request Padmavati’s hand in marriage on behalf of Shrinivasa.
After the departure of the fortune-teller, Vakuladevi went to the queen along with the maids and informed her that she came from Shrinivasa to request the hand of Padmavati in marriage for him.
Having consulted Brihaspati and heard from his queen about the prediction of the fortune-teller and the arrival of the messenger, from Shrinivasa, Akasaraja decided to bestow his daughter on Shrinivasa and he called the palace purohits to fix a Muhurtam for the marriage.
Akasaraja informed his Ministers and other Officials of his intention. Immediately a letter was drafted for being sent to Shrinivasa requesting him to come and marry the Princess.
Akasaraja entrusted the letter to Sukamahamunin for being delivered to Shrinivasa. Suka went to Venkata Hill with Vakulamalikadevi. He presented the Patrika to Lord Shrinivasa, who felt pleased and sent his garland through him for Padmavati.
Immediately, Lord Shrinivasa called for a conference of the Gods to win their consent for His marriage with Princess Padmavati.
To meet the expenses of the marriage, Kubera lent money to the Lord.
Lord Shrinivasa started for the residence of Akasaraja with his consorts and Brahma and Siva and his vehicle Garutman.
At the entrance, the Lord was received by Akasaraja with all honors and was taken in procession on a mounted elephant to the palace for the marriage.
In the presence of all the Devas, Lord Shrinivasa took the hand of the Princess Padmavati and wedded her and thus blessed Akasaraja.
Contest Between Adisesha and Vayudeva
During the Dwaparayuga, Vayudeva (the Wind God) went to Vaikuntam to pay his obeisance to Lord Shri Vishnu. The Lord was reclining in the company of Shri Lakshmi. The doorway was guarded by Adisesha. Vayudeva was incensed when Adisesha prevented him from entering Shri Vishnu’s mansion. Adisesha and Vayudeva began to fight with each other.
When Lord Vishnu intervened, each was boasting of his superior valor and supreme might. To test who was stronger, the Lord suggested that Adisesha encircle the Ananda hill, an offshoot of the Meru mountain on its northern side, and that Vayudeva blow hard to try and dislodge the Ananda hill from Adisesha’s hold. The contest waxed furiously, and as the world trembled, Brahma, Indra, and the other Divine Beings requested Adisesha to yield victory to Vayudeva for the welfare of the world.
Obliging them, Adisesha released his hold on the hill. As a result, Adisesha and the Ananda hill were blown away to the banks of the river Swarnamukhi. Adisesha was dejected by his defeat. Lord Brahma and the others appealed to him by saying that he would be merged with the hill Venkatadri and Vishnu would reside on him. Adisesha then metamorphosed into the vast Seshadri, with his hood manifesting itself as Venkatadri sustaining Shri Venkateswara, his middle as Ahobila supporting Lord Narasimha, and his tail as Shrisailam bearing Lord Mallikarjuna (Lord Siva).
Restoration of the Earth by Adi Varaha
During the eight thousand yugas (the equivalent of a day and night for Brahma, the Creator), there was a raging fire, and everything on Earth was reduced to ashes. Man had to forsake the Earth and seek refuge in Janaloka.
At the approach of night (of Brahma), Vayu, the Wind God, blew furiously. Huge clouds were formed, there was torrential rain, and it resulted in Pralaya Kalpa (the Great Deluge). The Earth sank into the Patala loka, and remained in that state for a thousand years (during a part of that night of Brahma).
Shri Maha Vishnu wanted to rescue the Earth. He assumed the form of Adi Varaha and proceeded to Pataloka. He fought a fierce duel with Hiranyaksa and killed him. He then slashed the water and brought up the Earth on his tusks.
Brahma, the Devas, and the sages extolled Adi Varaha’s virtues, by chanting the Vedic mantras. They prayed to Him to re-establish the Earth as before. Adi Varaha obliged them and called upon Brahma to recreate the world. He expressed his desire to reside on the Earth to protect its people. He commanded his vehicle, Garuda to fetch Kridachala (an extensive natural hill with lofty peaks, embedded with gold and precious stones, and which resembled Adisesha in shape) from Vaikuntam.
Garuda brought Kridachala and deposited it on a sacred spot (to the East of Swami Pushkarini) chosen by Adi Varaha. Adi Varaha stood within the divine vimana of Kridachala, which shone with many gem-studded gopuras.
Brahma and the other holy personages requested the fearsome-looking Adi Varaha to assume a tranquil and composed look, and rest on the hill to protect men and grant boons to people unable to reach God through Dhyana Yoga (meditation) and Karma Yoga (doing one’s own duty).
Adi Varaha appeared with four arms and a white face. He was adorned with jewels and accompanied by Bhu Devi. He resolved to stay at Venkatadri, under a divya vimana, to grant the prayers of men.
