Page 26 - History of Tirupathi Balaji and comparison of Sri Vaishnava
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be limited like them. Because Krishna is an eternal individual, everyone that
        emanates from Him also has a distinct identity, yet they all remain part and
        parcel of the Supreme Lord or connected to Him. In the Katha Upanisad, the
        unique position of Lord Krishna as the origin of everything and the maintainer of
        all is confi rmed. nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam/eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman,
        He is the prime eternal among all eternals. He is the supreme living entity of all living
        entities, and He alone is maintaining all life. (Katha Upanishad 2.2.13) Lord Krishna
        is eternally in the spiritual world and He also appears in the material world
        by manifesting innumerable transcendental forms or incarnations (avatars) not
        only among human beings but in all species of living entities. This is confi rmed in
        the “Brahma Samhita” composed by Brahma himself after he became fully self-
        realized by meditating on Lord Krishna. He said, I worship Govinda, the primeval
        Lord, who manifested Himself personally as Krishna and the different avataras in the
        world in the forms of Rama, Nrisimha, Vamana, etc., as His subjective portions (BS 5,39)
        Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has commented on this verse. He writes, The
        Lord has innumerable forms and names, and devotees may meditate upon a particular form
        and chant the holy name according to his attraction. The best course is to hear of the holy
        name, form and so on from a pure devotee of the same standard as oneself. In other words,
        one who is attached to Krsna should chant and hear from other pure devotees who are also
        attached to Lord Krsna. The same principle applies for devotees attracted by Lord Rama,
        Lord Nrsimha and other forms of the Lord. (SB 7.5.23-24, Purport)
            The Lord appears in unlimited transcendental forms as consecutive
        expansions of Himself. From Krsna comes Balarama, after Balarama is
        Sankarsana, then Aniruddha, Pradyumna, Narayana and then the purusa-
        avataras—Maha-visnu, Garbhodakasayi Visnu and Ksirodakasayi Visnu. All of
        them are avataras and their number is without limit.
             Entering the sanctum of Srinivasa in the Tirupati Temple complex
            There is a protocol to approach Lord Srinivasa when one visits the Tirumala
        Tirupati temple. One should fi rst take a bath in the “Swami Pushkarini”, a large
        lake located inside the temple complex. The lake is said to be the favorite of
        Lord Vishnu (Narayana) in His abode of Vaikuntha. It was brought to the Earth
        planet and placed at the Tirumala Hills by Garuda, the gigantic bird carrier of
        the Lord. The temple dedicated to Lord Varaha is situated on the western bank
        of the lake. Lord Srinivasa’s temple ( He is also known as Lord Venkateshvara
        and also Balaji) is on the southern bank of the lake. Bathing in the Pushkarini
        lake is considered equal to bathing in the holy Ganges river, which purifi es the
        pilgrim of all sins committed previously.
                      Lord Srinivasa meets His mother Bakula devi
            Lord Varaha addressed Srinivasa, Your eternal mother is living with Me. She has
        been acting as a very faithful servant, waiting for Your incarnation. Her name is Bakula
        Mallika, or Balkula devi. She will take care of your wound on the forehead by applying the
        appropriate healing herbs. Her devotional attention and love to serving You has no bounds.
        Lord Varaha called for Bakula devi. When she saw Srinivasa, her motherly love
        for Him intensifi ed  and Srinivasa’s love for her awakened. Bakula devi embraced
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