A Commentary on Sri Venkateshwara (An Old and Rare Book)

Preface Sri Venkateswara or Balaji is the Savior of Kaliyuga. The devotees have immense belief in Lord Venkateswara. The God in return is showering boons on His devotees, as per their desires. The devotees 1198 Praise the Lord's excellence, His pranks and other interesting stories in various ways.

This book 'A Commentary on Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam, Stotram, Prapatti and Mangalasasanam' written by Late Sri V.S. Venkata Narayana is an appreciable work. The Sanskrit slokas are translated into English in a detailed prose form. The prissiness style is easy for any reader to understand.

Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam comprises of four parts Suprabhatam, Stotram, Prapatti and Mangalasasanam. Suprabhatam is the awakening of Lord Venkateswara who was put to bed (Ekanta Seva) the previous night. In this part, devotees praise Lord Srinivasa and submissively request Him to wake up and start blessing the devotees who are eagerly waiting to seek His blessings. The next stage is presenting Stotra in praise of Swami. Here, the devotees describe the pious qualities and Glory of the God's chaitanya (kinetic) form. After praising the Glory, the devotee surrenders himself in Prapatti (Total Surrender) to Stipati. The believers feel that Srinivasa is the only God who will protect them from the evil aspects of this mundane world. The final part is Mangalasasanam in which the devotee puts forth his respect and divine feeling for Balaji. The auspicious offering in the form of `Harati' to Him is wishing for His well-being and in return get His blessings throughout this Kaliyuga.

I am happy to submit that Sri. V.S. Venkata Narayana has described in detail, the Sanskrit Slokas in an easily understandable style. I hope that every reader will feel immensely happy after getting sufficient information in detail about the auspiciousness of their God. May God spirit every being.

Introduction Lord Sri Venkateswara or Srinivasa or Balaji is regarded as the deity par excellence in this age of Kali. Tirumala is the Holy Hill, which forms the Abode of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swami. Tirumala is situated on the top of the Hill near its South West angle, being 6 miles from lower Tirupati and as far from Chandragiri. Its height is 2880 feet above the sea level. The Hill has Seven Principal Peaks, each of them is sacred and bearing a separate name accounted for by some Puranic lore or other. The Hill is regarded as the offspring of the Mount Meru and it is said that it came to be Here as a result of a trial of strength between the Vayu and the ten thousand hooded Adisesha. The Idol of the temple is believed to be that of Lord Shiva by some. Some viewed Him to be the "Lord Subrahmanyeswara" and some viewed as the "Bala Tripura Sundari". The beautiful vigraha of Lord Venkateswara is in the Standing Pose and it is called "Dhruvaberum" in Agama sastra.

As it is said in puranas, There is no place in the Brahmanda other than the Venkatadri on the Seven Hills and There is no God equal to Lord Sri Venkateswara, in the past and in future too.

Fulfillment of one's purpose in life can be obtained only by describing the glory of the Lord and chanting His name. One should contemplate upon the divine sport of the Lord and the illuminating stories about His doings on earth in defense of the defenseless innocent.

Today Lord Sri Venkateswara is worshipped by one and all irrespective of the caste, creed and sex. The temple rituals are carried out as per the Agama sastra.

The day starts with the Lord's Suprabhatam or hymn of salutation to Srinivasa. It is not incorrect to say that Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam is played in each and every heart of the Hindu individual. It really ennobles and elevates while reciting or just by hearing it. Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam or Suprabhatam as it is popularly called is written by Prativadi Bhayankara Annan and is comprised of four parts: I. Morning Salutation or Suprabhatam, 2. Praising the Lord or Stotram, 3. Surrendering to Lord or Prapatti and 4. Benediction or Mangalasasanam. Let us see in detail about these hymns one by one.

Book's Contents and Sample Pagesa