Shri Sanatanam: Devotees of Sri Venkateswara Perumal-1 (Tirumala Nambi)

Hare Krishna !

There are number of devotees for Sri Venkateswara Perumal who sacrificed their lives to serve his lotus Feet alone. One of them is Tirumala Nambi.

Tirumala Nambi is fully devoted to Srinivasa Perumal and did his service daily.

Tirumala Nambi woke up in the very early morning before Suprabhatha Seva of Sri Venkateswara. He daily brings Abhisheka Thirtham from Papavinasan Thirtham for Lord. He’ll walk from his house to PapaVinasana thirtham and also returns by walk. He’ll chant Hari’s divine names and forget his pain.

One day, Venkateswara pity on Tirumala Nambi. He thought to help his devotee.

That day only Lord went to Tirumala Nambi in the form of a teenager (who is a hunter). Tirumala Nambi was returning to Tirumala temple with pots having water for Abhishekam. Lord saw him and went at the back of him.

That boy called “Thaata, thaatha”. Hearing this he turned back. He saw a beautiful boy.

Boy asked “Please give me some water”. He said “No, these are for service of the Lord. I should go”. The boy again requested. He said “No, I can’t give you. I must go leave me. It’s too late for my Lord’s service”. He was on the way.

Then, the boy kept a hole for the pot and drank water. But, in the thoughts of Sri Venkateswara, Tirumala Nambi didn’t know this. After few minutes, he went to know that his pot weight is less. Then, he saw that there are no water in that. He saw back. He understood that the boy kept a whole to the pot and drank the water in it.

Tirumala Nambi was very sad. He scolded the boy. Because he should again go to Papavinasan and bring water by which it will be too late for the service of LakshmiPathi and all the priests will wait for him.

Then, the boy said “Don’t worry. There is another great thritham here. I’ll show you. You can daily bring water from there daily to service of Padmavathi Pathi. Come with me”. Tirumala Nambi went with that boy.

Boy showed a valley. Tirumala Nambi saw it. There are no water. That boy took an arrow and left it in the way that it hit the top of the valley.

From there, water are flowing with a great speed and there is no end for that water. Tirumala Nambi surprised for that incident and he saw back. Boy was not there. Then, he understood that this is the lila of Sri Venkateswara swamy. And felt sad as he didn’t identify his Lord.

He took water from there and went to the Venkateswara's temple. It was Aakasa Ganga Thirtham.

Lord informed that incident to the priests before the return of Tirumala Nambi (i.e., voice was heard from the mula murthi of Sri Venkateswara). Priests felt happy and respected Tirumala Nambi more than before.

From that day, Abhishekam was done to Sri Venkateswara with the Aakasa Ganga Thirtham. Even today, descendants of Tirumala Nambi will bring the Abhisheka Thirtham for Lord.

You can also see a small temple of Tirumala Nambi in Tirumala. Tirumala Nambi is the uncle of Bhagavad Ramanujacharya. Even the name “Ramanuja” was kept by Tirumala Nambi. Tirumala Nambi also said many unknown things of Ramayana to Bhagavad Ramanujacharya in Tirupati. Bhagavad Ramanujacharya considered him as Guru.