Shri Venugopala Swamy temple is about 5 kms. from Tirupati temple and is the first temple one sees on the left side while going towards Paapvinasam temple. The temple is managed by Hathiram Baba Matha.
third incarnation of Lord Vishnu: Varaha avatar with Lakshmi on the roof of temple
Inside the temple there is a beautiful image of Lord Krishna with a flute and He stands in front of a cow. Rukmani and Satyabhama, his consorts can be seen on both sides.
Hathiram Baba Matha:
Bahavaji or Hathiram baba, a devout Vishnu and of Lord Ram. He was born into a Vaishnvite family in Nagaur, Rajasthan.
Not much is known about his early days but he came to Tirumala at the beckoning of the Lord. Here he meditated and it is said that the Lord used to visit his room at night to play dice with him. The entrance gate to temple depicts a scene of game between the two.
But why name Hathiram Baba? Isn't the name a bit strange? It is said that when Baba visited Lord Venkateshwar temple at Tirupati, he was so awestricken by the Lord's beauty that he could not remove his eyes off him. He decided to stay on in Tirupati and constructed a Muth, a hermitage. He used to visit the temple everyday, sitting in a corner and looking at the Lord continuously for long hours. This continued for quite some time. Priests noticed this and thought it was a bit strange for a person to be constantly gazing at the Lord, so they reported the matter to the authorities. Next day when he came, he was pushed out of the temple. He pleaded with people not to separate him from the Lord. He was asked not to enter the temple again.
Bhavaji returned to his mutt dejected. He cried pleading to the Lord, oh Lord, why am I being punished for taking your darshans? What have I done and how do I live without seeing you? What more do I want than to just see you. But next morning Bhavaji was at the temple and was pushed out again.
Saddened by this, Bhavaji returned to his mutt, cried and started playing chaupar, a board game played with pawns and cowry shells which act as dice. He sat on one end and imagined the Lord at the other end. So he threw the cowry shells once for his turn and the other for his Lord's turn. Tired he went off to sleep. He heard a voice asking Bahavaji to get up and when he woke he saw Lord Ram
standing there, Bhavaji rubbed his eyes, thinking it to be his imagination but the Lord said, it is me, your Ram, get up, I have come to play chaupar with you. His happiness knew no bounds, he quickly spread the game and defeated the Lord in the game. Lord asked for a boon and Bhavaji said, I don't need anything, no material pleasures. I am blessed seeing your viraatrupa, divine form, I am satisfied with just looking at you and need a little place at your feet.
After that it became a regular practice for the Lord to come to Bhavaji from Anandnilayam (sanctum sanctorum) after the temple doors were shut for the night. They would both play chaupar till it would be time for the temple doors to open. One day, when they were both playing, they heard a noise outside so the Lord asked Bhavaji to go out and see. He went out and seeing no one came inside to see that the Lord had gone. As he was packing the game, he saw a diamond necklace. He kept it safely thinking that he would return it to the Lord when he comes the following night.
Next day as the temple doors were opened, the head priest saw that the diamond necklace was missing from the Lord. He brought the matter to the notice of temple authorities and most of them suspected Bhavaji as he used to gaze at the Lord constantly, thinking he used to look at the jewels adorning the image.
While Bhavaji was waiting for the Lord to come he heard people calling out his name. He went outside and was surprised when people went inside his room to search. He asked the reason and they told him about the missing necklace. Bhavaji went inside and brought the necklace. They were now fully convinced that he had stolen it and took him to the temple authorities. Bhavaji told them that the Lord comes every night to play chaupar with him. Lord comes to you? they asked and however much Bhavaji tried to prove his innocence, they thought he was fooling them. They even suspected his devotion implying that was he more devoted than they were.
Next day he was presented in front of the then ruling king, Krishnadevaraya. The King after hearing Bhavaji's narration felt he was innocent but he had no proof so he thought of testing him. He asked his guards to put Bhavaji in a room with loads of sugarcane, which Bhavaji had to finish by day break. If he were to succeed in this task he would be considered innocent and set free.
Bhavaji entered the cell, which was surrounded with mounds of sugarcane. He sat quietly in a corner unperturbed praying to God. Oh, Ram, you know I am innocent, I am not afraid if I fail the test, but they are testing you and your presence. Praying, Bahavaji went into deep meditation.
After sometime, unknown to Bhavaji, an elephant appeared in the room and after finishing all sugarcane, woke Bhavaji with his trunk. When Bhavaji saw all the finished sugarcane he came to know that the elephant could be no other than his Lord. He fell on the elephant's feet saying and crying, oh Lord you took the trouble of coming to my rescue and proving me innocent. The elephant blessed Bhavaji and trumpeting loudly crashed open the doors of the room and ran out, disappearing in the distance.
The guards outside saw the elephant and ran to the King. Soon the temple authorities and King hearing all this came to the site. They heard Bhavaji only saying "Hathiram" and gazing in the direction where the elephant went. When asked what Hathiram was, Bhavaji said that his Ram had come in the form of Hathi, an elephant to prove him innocent. Everyone begged for his pardon and Bhavaji was absolved of his charges.
The King asked Bhavaji if he would become the Pradhan Archak, head priest of the temple which he gladly accepted as it gave him ample opportunity to serve and look at the Lord. Bhavaji is said to sit outside the temple gates and ask people to drop some money before entering the temple. That is how the practise of hundi came into being. Hundi can be said a place where a donation box or pot is kept into which the devotees offer money to God.
Since Bhavaji's Lord came to save him in the form of an elephant, he came to be fondly known as "Hathiram Baba". It is said that Bhavaji liked to see his Lord as a child (Baal: बाल), so the deity is often referred as Balaji.
He served as the Pradhan Archak for many years and with the increase in number of devotees, Bhavaji found it difficult to meditate so decided to enter into a Jeeva samadhi, or becoming one with the almighty and merging into Him.
His body was cremated near Venugopala Swamy temple. The samadhi stands and daily pooja is performed here.
From 1843 to 1932 Hathiram Baba mutt managed the Tirupati temple, after which it was handed to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, a trust which was established that year and manages everyday working and administration of Tirupati now.
entrance to temple
Going up towards the temple you pass through small souvenir shops, stalls selling bhajias, coffee, buttermilk etc.
As you reach up, there is an entry ticket of INR 2.00 per person.
entry ticket
Built during the Hoysalas, the temple reflects their architecture, with an absence of gopurams.
temple view
Avoid going in the evenings, if you want to take good pictures. The setting sun casts a glare on camera and its impossible to take good pictures.
beautiful image of Varaha avatar
Inside the temple there is a beautiful image of Lord Krishna with a flute and He stands in front of a cow. Rukmani and Satyabhama, his consorts can be seen on both sides.
Apart from the temple of Venugopapala or Krishna, this place holds importance because of the samadhi of Haathiram baba.
But who was Hathiram baba? Honestly, I had never heard his name till I went to Tirupati. We have so many saints who have lived unknown to the world.
But who was Hathiram baba? Honestly, I had never heard his name till I went to Tirupati. We have so many saints who have lived unknown to the world.
Bahavaji or Hathiram baba, a devout Vishnu and of Lord Ram. He was born into a Vaishnvite family in Nagaur, Rajasthan.
Not much is known about his early days but he came to Tirumala at the beckoning of the Lord. Here he meditated and it is said that the Lord used to visit his room at night to play dice with him. The entrance gate to temple depicts a scene of game between the two.
entrance gate to Venugopala Swamy temple, see the Lord and Bhavaji playing chaupar
Bhavaji returned to his mutt dejected. He cried pleading to the Lord, oh Lord, why am I being punished for taking your darshans? What have I done and how do I live without seeing you? What more do I want than to just see you. But next morning Bhavaji was at the temple and was pushed out again.
Saddened by this, Bhavaji returned to his mutt, cried and started playing chaupar, a board game played with pawns and cowry shells which act as dice. He sat on one end and imagined the Lord at the other end. So he threw the cowry shells once for his turn and the other for his Lord's turn. Tired he went off to sleep. He heard a voice asking Bahavaji to get up and when he woke he saw Lord Ram
standing there, Bhavaji rubbed his eyes, thinking it to be his imagination but the Lord said, it is me, your Ram, get up, I have come to play chaupar with you. His happiness knew no bounds, he quickly spread the game and defeated the Lord in the game. Lord asked for a boon and Bhavaji said, I don't need anything, no material pleasures. I am blessed seeing your viraatrupa, divine form, I am satisfied with just looking at you and need a little place at your feet.
After that it became a regular practice for the Lord to come to Bhavaji from Anandnilayam (sanctum sanctorum) after the temple doors were shut for the night. They would both play chaupar till it would be time for the temple doors to open. One day, when they were both playing, they heard a noise outside so the Lord asked Bhavaji to go out and see. He went out and seeing no one came inside to see that the Lord had gone. As he was packing the game, he saw a diamond necklace. He kept it safely thinking that he would return it to the Lord when he comes the following night.
Next day as the temple doors were opened, the head priest saw that the diamond necklace was missing from the Lord. He brought the matter to the notice of temple authorities and most of them suspected Bhavaji as he used to gaze at the Lord constantly, thinking he used to look at the jewels adorning the image.
While Bhavaji was waiting for the Lord to come he heard people calling out his name. He went outside and was surprised when people went inside his room to search. He asked the reason and they told him about the missing necklace. Bhavaji went inside and brought the necklace. They were now fully convinced that he had stolen it and took him to the temple authorities. Bhavaji told them that the Lord comes every night to play chaupar with him. Lord comes to you? they asked and however much Bhavaji tried to prove his innocence, they thought he was fooling them. They even suspected his devotion implying that was he more devoted than they were.
Next day he was presented in front of the then ruling king, Krishnadevaraya. The King after hearing Bhavaji's narration felt he was innocent but he had no proof so he thought of testing him. He asked his guards to put Bhavaji in a room with loads of sugarcane, which Bhavaji had to finish by day break. If he were to succeed in this task he would be considered innocent and set free.
Bhavaji entered the cell, which was surrounded with mounds of sugarcane. He sat quietly in a corner unperturbed praying to God. Oh, Ram, you know I am innocent, I am not afraid if I fail the test, but they are testing you and your presence. Praying, Bahavaji went into deep meditation.
After sometime, unknown to Bhavaji, an elephant appeared in the room and after finishing all sugarcane, woke Bhavaji with his trunk. When Bhavaji saw all the finished sugarcane he came to know that the elephant could be no other than his Lord. He fell on the elephant's feet saying and crying, oh Lord you took the trouble of coming to my rescue and proving me innocent. The elephant blessed Bhavaji and trumpeting loudly crashed open the doors of the room and ran out, disappearing in the distance.
The guards outside saw the elephant and ran to the King. Soon the temple authorities and King hearing all this came to the site. They heard Bhavaji only saying "Hathiram" and gazing in the direction where the elephant went. When asked what Hathiram was, Bhavaji said that his Ram had come in the form of Hathi, an elephant to prove him innocent. Everyone begged for his pardon and Bhavaji was absolved of his charges.
The King asked Bhavaji if he would become the Pradhan Archak, head priest of the temple which he gladly accepted as it gave him ample opportunity to serve and look at the Lord. Bhavaji is said to sit outside the temple gates and ask people to drop some money before entering the temple. That is how the practise of hundi came into being. Hundi can be said a place where a donation box or pot is kept into which the devotees offer money to God.
Since Bhavaji's Lord came to save him in the form of an elephant, he came to be fondly known as "Hathiram Baba". It is said that Bhavaji liked to see his Lord as a child (Baal: बाल), so the deity is often referred as Balaji.
He served as the Pradhan Archak for many years and with the increase in number of devotees, Bhavaji found it difficult to meditate so decided to enter into a Jeeva samadhi, or becoming one with the almighty and merging into Him.
Samadhi of Hathiram Baba just outside the exit gate of the temple
His body was cremated near Venugopala Swamy temple. The samadhi stands and daily pooja is performed here.
From 1843 to 1932 Hathiram Baba mutt managed the Tirupati temple, after which it was handed to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, a trust which was established that year and manages everyday working and administration of Tirupati now.
priest giving "Ram patti", a green leaf to everyone
A priest was giving a green leaf to everyone saying it is Ram patti or Ram leaf. I had never tasted it earlier. He asked me to eat it and it was somewhat sweet and sour. I do not know the english equivalent to that leaf.
In front of the main temple is a small Hanuman temple. This picture with the priest came out too blurred.
The image of Hanuman had Rupee 1 coin stuck all over it. Even the mace had coins on it.
After paying respect to Hathiram Baba samadhi, I set back to Tirupati.
After paying respect to Hathiram Baba samadhi, I set back to Tirupati.
thanks for the story
ReplyDeletethe devotion and faith can save a person