Although there are many descriptions found in the Rig Veda and the Ashtadasa Puranas (The Eighteen Hindu Legends written by Sage Veda Vyasa) about holy Lord Sri Venkateswara and His existence on the Venkatachala Hills,a historical evidence to the same is however found only in the ancient Tamil literary masterpiece called Silappadikaram (Tamil: சிலப்பதிகாரம்)..
Written in 2nd century BC by a Jain poet from Kochi called Ilango Adigal, Silappadikaram is an amazing work of art par excellence that commands huge respect,even today,from all the people of the Tamil Nadu state..Silappadikaram is also considered one of the ‘The Five Great Epics of Tamil Literature’ which was later republished in English language as ‘The Tale Of An Anklet’..
Referring to Lord Venkateswara as “Thiru Vengada Mudaiyavar” in Silappadikaram,the Jain poet Ilango Adigal,in his epic work,had given the following wonderful description of the holy Lord Sri Venkateswara and His existence on the Venkatachala hills..
“..With amazing ponds,beautiful lakes and fabulous flower gardens all around Him,Lord Vishnu Himself (Sengan Nediyan) is majestically standing alone as the ever handsome Pundareekaksha on the sacred Vengadam hill.. ”
“He is bearing Sankha Chakras on His arms and Kausthubham on His chest.. He is also adorned with the Pattu Peethambrams (Silk Golden Robes) around His loins and is constantly served by the Sun God and the Moon..”
How beautiful..??
Additionally there are also a few references to VENGADAM in a few other major Tamil literary works… In Tolkāppiyam (Tamil: தொல்காப்பியம்), a 2nd century work on the grammar of Tamil language, there’s a description that clearly states..
“Vengadam is the Northern border of the Tamil nation..”
There are also some major ancient Tamil Sangam literature works like Akananuru (Tamil: அகநானுறு) Purananuru (Tamil: புறநானூறு) Kuruntokai (Tamil: குறுந்தொகை) that very emphatically say..
” Vengadam is a sacred hill and a holy Pilgrimage center..”
But surprisingly none of these Tamil poets have given any description of either Lord Sri Venkateswara or the Venkatachala hills in their works although another Tamil Jain Poet Ainarudanaru in his magnum opus “Purupparu Vennamalai” had very clearly stated that
“..The God residing on the Venkatachala hills is none other than the Lord Sri Maha Vishnu Himself, the husband of Goddess Sri Maha Lakshmi..”
Even the ancient Tamil stone inscriptions that are later discovered by TTD are very clearly referring to the area of the Venkatachala hill range as “Thiru Vengada Kottam”..
The word VENGADAM is in usage in Tamil language for over several centuries now and is equivalent to Sanskrit word VENKATAM..
Another Sanskrit word SRI is used in Tamil language as THIRU and this Tamil usage very clearly states that all the ancient Tamil literary personalities in their works have referred to Sri Venkatachalam as Tiru Vengadam and referred to Lord Tiru Venkata Natha or Sri Venkateswara as Thiru Vengada Mudaiyavar.
CONCLUSION
Based on the above famous literary references we may now very vehemently conclude that..
” Only the description in Silpaddikaram by Jain poet,Ilango Adigal,should be considered as the first and the foremost authentic record found in modern literature because it’s the only revered literary work that’s not only giving us a vivid description of the Holy Lord Sri Venkateswara Himself but is also very emphatically telling us that He is existing – for thousands of years – on the Venkatachalam Hill range..”
“..Nindaara raju nidrinchu nidrayunokate.. Andane bantu nidra adiyunokate.. Mendaina brahmanudu mettu bhumiyokate.. Chandaaludundeti sari bhumi yokate.. Brahmamokate Parabrahmamokate..”
Love
Narrenaditya Komaragiri
narrenaditya@tirumalesa.com
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