Page 22 - History of Tirupathi Balaji and comparison of Sri Vaishnava

the company of her Lord, and go to the Earth planet to perform austerities to
atone for seeing such an offense. She eventually settled in the holy place named
Kolhapura in Maharasthtra, India. She performed tapasya (austerities) there
while constantly meditating on her love for Lord Vishnu.
Lord Vishnu feels separation from Lakshmi devi

As time passed, Lord Vishnu felt intense separation from Lakshmi devi. He
decided to come down to the Earth planet to search for her. Thus, according to
Narada’s plan, the Lord descended to this world. Another name for Lord Vishnu
is Srinivasa, which is a combination of two Sanskrit words Sri and nivasa. Sri
means radiance or source of divine light; nivasa means the place of residence.
Srinivasa implies the dwelling place of the goddess Sri or Lakshmi devi who
always resides with her head on the chest of Lord Vishnu. Because she left His
company, Lord Vishnu searched for her so they could be together again.
The origin of the seven peaks called Sheshachala or Sheshadri Hills
Lord Srinivasa wandered throughout the world, passing through many
forests, jungles and villages. He reached “Seshacala”, which is a mountain
range that descended from Vaikuntha. The word Vaikuntha is made up of
two Sanskrit syllables: “Vai” means without and “Kuntha” means anxiety. It
signifi es the spiritual abode that is free of all material anxieties. There is an
interesting history of how this mountain range of seven peaks descended from
the spiritual abode into this world. Previously, the powerful demigod Vayu deva
(“Vayu” means wind and deva means demigod), the administrator of wind in
the material world, visited the Lord in His abode of Vaikuntha. At that time
“Adishesha” (“Adi” means the original and “Shesha” means snake), the spiritual
snake servant of the Lord, was the Lord’s guardian. Adishesha addressed Vayu
deva, “You have to wait for the Lord until He is ready to see you.” Vayu was not
happy. An argument ensued. The Lord appeared to stop the argument. He said,
“Why don’t you have a contest to see who is stronger?” The Lord’s suggestion
had a transcendental purpose which is always revealed in time.
The Lord asked Adishesha to wrap his coils around one of the peaks of
“Mount Meru” named “Ananda Parvata” (“ananda” means bliss and “parvata”
means mountain). Mount Meru is in the material world. The Vaikuntha planet
that Bhrigu visited to see Lord Vishnu is in the material world even though it
is a spiritual planet exactly like the Vaikuntha planets in the spiritual world.
The Lord explained the test of strength. If Vayu deva could unleash the coils
of Adishesha’s from his grip around the mountain, he would be declared the
stronger of the two. If not. He would be the loser.
Vayu sent raging winds with all the force of his daunting power. He created
a terrible hurricane-like wind. But, it could not even slightly move Adishesha.
This continued for days. Vayu used all the wind and air at his disposal. The
inhabitants of the universe began to gasp for air and suffocate. Indra, the king of
the demigods protested that Vayu must stop. Soon after, Vayu became exhausted
and winded down the terrible wind storm.
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