Around 5 kms from Tirupati is the Akashganga teertham. The appearance of this place seems to be a miracle.
Mythologically, Ganga is supposed to originate from Lord Shiv's dreadlocks but here, at Akashganga it flows from Lord Venkateshwara's feet.
signage just before going down the stairs
He had a small place near the temple and used to live there. Even in his old age, when he had difficulty carrying water, he did not stop himself from service to the Lord. Lord Venkateshwara felt his agony of old age. He took the form of a hunter and came near Tirumala Nambi addressing him as "tatha" (grandfather) asking for some water to drink.
How do I give the water meant for the Lord to him? Thinking this, he refused to give water to the boy. As he moved forward, the boy followed him and threw a pebble onto the pot and water trickled out of it. He quenched his thirst and soon the water in the pot finished. Seeing this, Tirumala Nambi was very disappointed. He told the boy, how do I get water again? I am old and there would be delay in the Lord's service.
The boy, who was infact Lord Venkateshwara himself, told Tirumala Nambi, don't worry, I shall show a place nearby from where you can fetch water. Saying so, he took a bow and shot it on a nearby hillock. Water gushed out from the place where the bow struck. Get water for daily service of the Lord from here, having said this, the boy disappeared.
Only after the boy disappeared, did Tirumala Nambi realise that it was no one else than the Lord himself. This place came to be known as the Akashganga. After this water for daily abhishek for the Lord came from this place. Now a pipeline carries the water to Tirupati.
Going down might prove a challenge for physically unfit but it is not that difficult a climb.
Indian giant squirrel
Mythologically, Ganga is supposed to originate from Lord Shiv's dreadlocks but here, at Akashganga it flows from Lord Venkateshwara's feet.
the entrance gate, I could not avoid the leaves of tree
a close up, Goddess Ganga
Tirumala Nambi and the origin of Akashganga: Tirumala Nambi was the maternal uncle of Ramanujacharya who initiated the latter to the deeper meaning of Ramayana. He was the head priest at Tirupati. As a service to the Lord he decided to get water everyday from Paapnasam or Papavinasam teertham which was at a distance of around 8 kms, to bathe the deity.
He had a small place near the temple and used to live there. Even in his old age, when he had difficulty carrying water, he did not stop himself from service to the Lord. Lord Venkateshwara felt his agony of old age. He took the form of a hunter and came near Tirumala Nambi addressing him as "tatha" (grandfather) asking for some water to drink.
How do I give the water meant for the Lord to him? Thinking this, he refused to give water to the boy. As he moved forward, the boy followed him and threw a pebble onto the pot and water trickled out of it. He quenched his thirst and soon the water in the pot finished. Seeing this, Tirumala Nambi was very disappointed. He told the boy, how do I get water again? I am old and there would be delay in the Lord's service.
The boy, who was infact Lord Venkateshwara himself, told Tirumala Nambi, don't worry, I shall show a place nearby from where you can fetch water. Saying so, he took a bow and shot it on a nearby hillock. Water gushed out from the place where the bow struck. Get water for daily service of the Lord from here, having said this, the boy disappeared.
Only after the boy disappeared, did Tirumala Nambi realise that it was no one else than the Lord himself. This place came to be known as the Akashganga. After this water for daily abhishek for the Lord came from this place. Now a pipeline carries the water to Tirupati.
Sri Anjaneya or Lord Hanuman
Going down the stairs on the right side is seen an image of Sri Anjaneya.
Going down might prove a challenge for physically unfit but it is not that difficult a climb.
gushing water
Again on the right side is Sri Anjaneya temple and straight ahead is a chute through which water of Akashganga comes out. Devotees come with bottles and containers to fill them with the holy water.
The water further flows down into a pond. Devotees can splash the water on their head, wash their feet but bathing here is only reserved for the Tirumala Nambi family. All others are prohibited from doing that.
The water flows throughout the year coming with more force during the monsoons.
You may, with luck, see an Indian giant squirrel or the Malabar giant squirrel lurking amongst the trees. The species here is reddish brown to dark brown, with a furry tail.
thanks for the darshan
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