Most of the millions of devotees who visit the Tirumala Tirupathi Temple every year,vow to walk through the entire range of the sacred Seven Hills of Tirumala to reach the main Tirumala Temple..
Called pada yatra this is a very hazardous journey that passes through the beautiful and colorful jungles of the Tirumala hills..Many devotees intentionally choose this devotional method to please the Holy Lord Sri Venkateswara ..
All these devotees believe “..it’s auspicious to walk through these sacred seven hills of Seshadri,Neeladri,Garudadri,Anjanadri, Vrishabhadri,Narayanadri and Venkatadri before having the darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara..”..
There’s also much truth in this belief as this strenuous effort by His devotees,to have His darshan,immensely pleases the Holy Lord..
Just about a few meters away,right in front of the Mahadwaaram of the Srivari Temple,is located the famous temple of Bedi Hanuman – also known as the Bedi Anjaneya temple – and the grand stand of Akhanda Jyoti..
Finally.after walking up all the sacred seven hills,a visit to this old temple of Bedi Hanuman and the Akhandam marks the end of the pada yatra vow of the pilgrims .PERIOD
However,there’s an interesting story behind this Hanuman Temple that also tells us why Lord Hanuman,the presiding deity of this Temple,is called Bedi Hanuman here..
According to the legend of the Tirumala Hills
“One day,during her stay on the Tirumala Hills,Anjana Devi’s son,the young Hanuman (Bala Hanuman) wanted to leave the Tirumala hills and go out in search of a Camel..To prevent her beloved son from doing that,His mother Anjana Devi had tied both His hands,with hand cuffs (Bedi),and ordered Him to stay right there until she returns..”
“..Bala Hanuman,with all the respect for His beloved mother,very obediently nodded His head and promised her that He would certainly be staying there until she comes back..Later,leaving Hanuman there all alone,Anjana Devi left the Tirumala Hills and moved to Himalayas..”
“..After that,for some strange reasons,Anjana Devi never came back to the Tirumala Hills and she settled down near the Akash Ganga in Himalayas..Sincerely obeying His beloved mother’s orders,the legend says,Bala Hanuman is still standing there,even today,on the Tirumala Hills right in front of the holy Mahadwaaram of the Tirumala Temple,waiting for His mother’s return from the Himalayas..”
But Lord Sri Venkateswara Did Not Neglect Bala Hanuman,His Ardent Disciple..
Watching His beloved disciple standing all alone in front of His Temple,Lord Sri Venkateswara instructed His Temple priests to offer timely food to Bala Hanuman each and everyday and take good care of Him until His mother returns..
It is for this reason alone that every time neivedyam is offered to Holy Lord Sri Venkateswara and Varahaswamy everyday,the same naivedyam is brought to this temple and offered to Lord Hanuman..
After finishing the pada yatra ,it’s also auspicious to visit this Temple and offer Bala Hanuman our thanks and seek His blessing for giving us the strength to climb the seven hills..With this intention many devotees visit this Temple and offer their thanks to Bala Hanuman..
There’s also in front of the Mahadwaaram of the Srivari Temple ,the Akhanda Jyothi more popularly known as “AKHILANDAM”, the ever burning oil lamp..Scores of pilgrims,after walking up the seven hills,visit this Akhilandam; break a coconut there; light a camphor and end their pada yatra..
“.Yatra Yatra Raghunatha Keerthanam Tatra Tatra Kritha Mastakaanjaleem Bhashpa Vari Paripoorna Lochanam Marutheem Namatha Rakakshasaanthakam..”
Love
Narrenaditya Komaragiri
narrenaditya@tirumalesa.com
To know more about the author please click here
