Eyes covered - Tirupati Balaji

[Guest guest]

Dear Anil ji & Seema ji According to legends "The Lord's eyes are covered by a large tilak like "V" made of camphor. For it is said that Lord Venkateswara's lotus-like eyes are so beautiful that if they were uncovered, then pilgrims would not want to leave. It is also said that his eyes are covered because His gaze would scorch the entire world. " According Purana – "Lord Srinivasa manifested himself in a celestial vimanam on the Swami Pushkarni located on the Lord's Kridadri or Seshachalam and that this Kridadri or Venkatachalam was specially brought down to earth from Sri Vaikuntam, the Lord's abode. The manifestation was in the yuga of the Sweta Varaha Kalpa. In this age Brahma was the first to worship the Lord. The Lord then became as idol assuming the archavatara in Kaliyuga. This idol was discovered in an anthill by one Tondaiman with the assistance of one Rangadasa and was first worshipped by the sage Vaikhanasa ...." Once Vayu and Sesa entered into a disagreement over who was stronger. Sesa wrapped his long body around Mount Meru and challenged Vayu to move it. Vayu tried but failed. Vayu pretended to be exhausted and stopped blowing. Then Sesa opened his mouth to breathe. At that moment, Vayu blew off part of the hill. After the hill had traveled a great distance, Mount Meru asked Vayu to leave it there. Ashamed of his defeat, Sesa did penance, meditating on Lord Vishnu. When Lord Vishnu appeared and offered a boon, Sesa assumed the shape of the hill and requested the Lord to stay on his head. Hindu Shilpa Shastra – Sitapati explanation "The Lord's majestic beauty is best seen at the time of the Friday Abhishekam when the jewels and other paraphernalia do not cover our view of Him in His celestial glory. It is at this time that we see the eyes of the Lord in the 'sama drishti pose' showering divine grace... The eyes neither look up nor downwards, but straight into devotees' eyes (as laid down in Sukraniti)... I think… To suggest Sharnagati, artistic convention has been set up where the Lord's eyes are shown to be looking down. This suggests that the Lord's eyes (and grace) will first fall on those who are at His feet. dil se, Bharath.K Doha, Qatar Please remember, these are all artistic conventions. Lord does not look up, down, straight or at the sides. His gaze is full of grace and it is every where, at all times. The Lord looks after His devotees where ever they are - He does not "need" eyes to do this! --

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--- On Tue, 30/6/09, Anil NN <anilnn wrote:

Anil NN <anilnn[Guruvayur] Re: Eyes covered - Tirupati Balaji -HINDU RITUALS AND ROUTINES - Part 82guruvayur Date: Tuesday, 30 June, 2009, 8:00 AM

 

 

 

Thank You Bharat Krishna for the highly informative articles on Hindu religion. I havent been to Tirupati, however we have a big Srinivasa Perumal temple here where Utsav Murtis from Tirupati had arrived last year for Thiru Kalyana Mahotsavam. However,I have not found an answer to this one, while praying at the temple..

 

Why does the lord have his eyes covered by a large tilak like "V" made of camphor?

 

Is the story provided by Seema the reason? The learned gurujis, please enlighten... Have a Good Day, Anil NN Singapore guruvayur , Seema Ravindran <seemawarrier wrote: > > Thank you for posting.. They are very informative. > I have heard another story about Tirupathi. Since Lord had borrowed so much, He had to repay it, for which He didnt have much money with Him. Hence, He decided to sit there with His eyes half closed without looking how the money He received comes from. He receives money from all persons, irrespective of whether they are from good or bad sources and bless them, which accounts for so much money for the temple. I dont know the authenticity of the story. But it is interesting. > Jai Sree Krishna > > > > > ________________________________ > "zumbrys" <zumbrys > To:

guruvayur > Sunday, June 28, 2009 4:30:37 PM > [Guruvayur] HINDU RITUALS AND ROUTINES - Part 82 > > > > > > HINDU RITUALS AND ROUTINES - > WHY DO WE FOLLOW THOSE? > Â > Tirupati Balaji

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

From my limited knowledge in this area, there is another story behind the closed

eyes.

 

Durvasavu maharshi stamped on Lord Vishnu's chest in anger when he was ignored

upon his visit to Vaikuntham. Lord Vishnu never got angry about it but Lakshmi

Devi did. She left the place in anger and went to meditate at the bottom of

Tirumalai (which is where the templs is, now).

 

Lord Vishnu realised in a short while that He could not be away from his wife.

So He came here too. Close to Her, He kind of hid himself underneath the soil

and went into dhyanam - with eyes closed, waiting for Her to finish.

 

Now, this place was in a field.One day a farmer ploughed the land and blood came

out - he had accidentally cut the forehead of God with his plough. The poor man

freaked out, Lord Vishnu emerged bleeding profusely from his forehead and over

his eyes. They tried to get treatment for Him, finally found an old woman's hut,

where the woman applied Bhasmam (I'm not sure about this, could be camphor too),

to stop the bleeding - in a Namam form. The idol in Tirumala is hence in this

form - with eyes closed.

 

Hope that helps !

AK.

 

guruvayur , Feel The Experience <zumbrys wrote:

>

> Dear Anil ji & Seema ji

>  

> According to legends

> " The Lord's eyes are covered by a large tilak like " V " made of camphor. For it

is said that Lord Venkateswara's lotus-like eyes are so beautiful that if they

were uncovered, then pilgrims would not want to leave. It is also said that his

eyes are covered because His gaze would scorch the entire world. "

>  

> According Purana †"  

> " Lord Srinivasa manifested himself in a celestial vimanam on the Swami

Pushkarni located on the Lord's Kridadri or Seshachalam and that this Kridadri

or Venkatachalam was specially brought down to earth from Sri Vaikuntam, the

Lord's abode. The manifestation was in the yuga of the Sweta Varaha Kalpa.. In

this age Brahma was the first to worship the Lord. The Lord then became as idol

assuming the archavatara in Kaliyuga. This idol was discovered in an anthill by

one Tondaiman with the assistance of one Rangadasa and was first worshipped by

the sage Vaikhanasa ... "

>  

> Once Vayu and Sesa entered into a disagreement over who was stronger. Sesa

wrapped his long body around Mount Meru and challenged Vayu to move it. Vayu

tried but failed. Vayu pretended to be exhausted and stopped blowing. Then Sesa

opened his mouth to breathe. At that moment, Vayu blew off part of the hill.

After the hill had traveled a great distance, Mount Meru asked Vayu to leave it

there. Ashamed of his defeat, Sesa did penance, meditating on Lord Vishnu. When

Lord Vishnu appeared and offered a boon, Sesa assumed the shape of the hill and

requested the Lord to stay on his head.

>  

> Hindu Shilpa Shastra †" Sitapati explanation 

> " The Lord's majestic beauty is best seen at the time of the Friday Abhishekam

when the jewels and other paraphernalia do not cover our view of Him in His

celestial glory. It is at this time that we see the eyes of the Lord in the

'sama drishti pose' showering divine grace... The eyes neither look up nor

downwards, but straight into devotees' eyes (as laid down in Sukraniti)...

>  

> I think…

> To suggest Sharnagati, artistic convention has been set up where the Lord's

eyes are shown to be looking down.  This suggests that the Lord's eyes (and

grace) will first fall on those who are at His feet.

>  

> dil se,

> Bharath.K

> Doha, Qatar

>  

> Please remember, these are all artistic conventions.  Lord does not look up,

down, straight or at the sides.  His gaze is full of grace and it is every

where, at all times.  The Lord looks after His devotees where ever they are -

He does not " need " eyes to do this!

>

>

>  

> --- On Tue, 30/6/09, Anil NN <anilnn wrote:

>

>

> Anil NN <anilnn

> [Guruvayur] Re: Eyes covered - Tirupati Balaji -HINDU RITUALS AND

ROUTINES - Part 82

> guruvayur

> Tuesday, 30 June, 2009, 8:00 AM

>

>

>

>

>

>

Thank You Bharat Krishna for the highly informative articles on Hindu

religion. I havent been to Tirupati, however we have a big Srinivasa Perumal

temple here where Utsav Murtis from Tirupati had arrived last year for Thiru

Kalyana Mahotsavam. However,I have not found an answer to this one, while

praying at the temple..

>

>

> Why does the lord have his eyes covered by a large tilak like " V " made of

camphor?

>

>

> Is the story provided by Seema the reason? The learned gurujis, please

enlighten... Have a Good Day, Anil NN Singapore --- In

guruvayur , Seema Ravindran <seemawarrier@> wrote: > > Thank you

for posting.. They are very informative. > I have heard another story about

Tirupathi. Since Lord had borrowed so much, He had to repay it, for which He

didnt have much money with Him. Hence, He decided to sit there with His eyes

half closed without looking how the money He received comes from. He receives

money from all persons, irrespective of whether they are from good or bad

sources and bless them, which accounts for so much money for the temple. I dont

know the authenticity of the story. But it is interesting. > Jai Sree Krishna >

> > > > ________________________________ > " zumbrys@ " <zumbrys@> > To:

guruvayur > Sunday, June 28, 2009 4:30:37 PM > Subject:

[Guruvayur] HINDU RITUALS AND ROUTINES - Part 82 > > > >

> > > HINDU RITUALS AND ROUTINES - > WHY DO WE FOLLOW THOSE? >   > Tirupati

Balaji

>

>

Looking for local information? Find it on Local

http://in.local./

>

[Guest guest]

Dear friends and devotees,

 

Bhakti is eternal.

 

A tale associated with the temple goes thus: a helper boy called Bala was once wrongly accused of being a thief. He ran for his life when chased by people. He was hit on the head by the mob and his head started bleeding profusely. He ran to the Tirupati temple of Lord Vishnu and ran to the main door of the temple. When the people entered the temple, they couldn't find the boy but saw the head of god's idol bleeding. It was considered that the boy was sheltered and protected by Vishnu himself, and the priests put cloth on the idol's head to stop the bleeding.

 

In iconographic depictions, Lord Venkateswara's eyes are covered, because it is said, that his gaze is so intense, it would scorch the universe.

 

With love and regards,

 

Sastry--- On Fri, 7/10/09, whacky_chic <no_reply > wrote:

whacky_chic <no_reply >[Guruvayur] Re: Eyes covered - Tirupati Balajiguruvayur Date: Friday, July 10, 2009, 5:09 PM

 

 

From my limited knowledge in this area, there is another story behind the closed eyes.Durvasavu maharshi stamped on Lord Vishnu's chest in anger when he was ignored upon his visit to Vaikuntham. Lord Vishnu never got angry about it but Lakshmi Devi did. She left the place in anger and went to meditate at the bottom of Tirumalai (which is where the templs is, now).Lord Vishnu realised in a short while that He could not be away from his wife. So He came here too. Close to Her, He kind of hid himself underneath the soil and went into dhyanam - with eyes closed, waiting for Her to finish.Now, this place was in a field.One day a farmer ploughed the land and blood came out - he had accidentally cut the forehead of God with his plough. The poor man freaked out, Lord Vishnu emerged bleeding profusely from his forehead and over his eyes. They tried to get treatment for Him, finally found an old woman's hut, where the woman applied

Bhasmam (I'm not sure about this, could be camphor too), to stop the bleeding - in a Namam form. The idol in Tirumala is hence in this form - with eyes closed.Hope that helps !AK.guruvayur@grou ps.com, Feel The Experience <zumbrys > wrote:>> Dear Anil ji & Seema ji>  > According to legends> "The Lord's eyes are covered by a large tilak like "V" made of camphor. For it is said that Lord Venkateswara' s lotus-like eyes are so beautiful that if they were uncovered, then pilgrims would not want to leave. It is also said that his eyes are covered because His gaze would scorch the entire world. ">  > According Purana â€" > "Lord Srinivasa manifested himself in a celestial vimanam

on the Swami Pushkarni located on the Lord's Kridadri or Seshachalam and that this Kridadri or Venkatachalam was specially brought down to earth from Sri Vaikuntam, the Lord's abode. The manifestation was in the yuga of the Sweta Varaha Kalpa.. In this age Brahma was the first to worship the Lord. The Lord then became as idol assuming the archavatara in Kaliyuga. This idol was discovered in an anthill by one Tondaiman with the assistance of one Rangadasa and was first worshipped by the sage Vaikhanasa ..."> Â > Once Vayu and Sesa entered into a disagreement over who was stronger. Sesa wrapped his long body around Mount Meru and challenged Vayu to move it. Vayu tried but failed. Vayu pretended to be exhausted and stopped blowing. Then Sesa opened his mouth to breathe. At that moment, Vayu blew off part of the hill. After the hill had traveled a great distance, Mount Meru asked Vayu to leave it there. Ashamed of his defeat, Sesa did

penance, meditating on Lord Vishnu. When Lord Vishnu appeared and offered a boon, Sesa assumed the shape of the hill and requested the Lord to stay on his head.>  > Hindu Shilpa Shastra â€" Sitapati explanation > "The Lord's majestic beauty is best seen at the time of the Friday Abhishekam when the jewels and other paraphernalia do not cover our view of Him in His celestial glory. It is at this time that we see the eyes of the Lord in the 'sama drishti pose' showering divine grace... The eyes neither look up nor downwards, but straight into devotees' eyes (as laid down in Sukraniti).. .>  > I think…> To suggest Sharnagati, artistic convention has been set up where the Lord's eyes are shown to be looking down. This suggests that the Lord's eyes (and grace) will first fall on those who are at His feet.>  > dil se,> Bharath.K> Doha,

Qatar>  > Please remember, these are all artistic conventions. Lord does not look up, down, straight or at the sides. His gaze is full of grace and it is every where, at all times. The Lord looks after His devotees where ever they are - He does not "need" eyes to do this!> > >  > --- On Tue, 30/6/09, Anil NN <anilnn wrote:> > > Anil NN <anilnn> [Guruvayur] Re: Eyes covered - Tirupati Balaji -HINDU RITUALS AND ROUTINES - Part 82> guruvayur@grou ps.com> Tuesday, 30 June, 2009, 8:00 AM> > > > > > > > > > > > > Thank You Bharat Krishna for

the highly informative articles on Hindu religion. I havent been to Tirupati, however we have a big Srinivasa Perumal temple here where Utsav Murtis from Tirupati had arrived last year for Thiru Kalyana Mahotsavam. However,I have not found an answer to this one, while praying at the temple..> > > Why does the lord have his eyes covered by a large tilak like "V" made of camphor?> > > Is the story provided by Seema the reason? The learned gurujis, please enlighten... Have a Good Day, Anil NN Singapore guruvayur@grou ps.com, Seema Ravindran <seemawarrier@ > wrote: > > Thank you for posting.. They are very informative. > I have heard another story about Tirupathi. Since Lord had borrowed so much, He had to repay it, for which He

didnt have much money with Him. Hence, He decided to sit there with His eyes half closed without looking how the money He received comes from. He receives money from all persons, irrespective of whether they are from good or bad sources and bless them, which accounts for so much money for the temple. I dont know the authenticity of the story. But it is interesting. > Jai Sree Krishna > > > > > ____________ _________ _________ __ > "zumbrys@" <zumbrys@> > guruvayur@grou ps.com > Sunday, June 28, 2009 4:30:37 PM > [Guruvayur] HINDU RITUALS AND ROUTINES - Part 82 > > > >> > > HINDU RITUALS AND ROUTINES - > WHY DO WE FOLLOW THOSE? >  > Tirupati Balaji > > > >

> > > > > Looking for local information? Find it on Local http://in.local. />