THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PARIVARA DEITIES

THE  SIGNIFICANCE  OF  PARIVARA  DEITIES
Before meeting and bowing before the Supreme Power Lord Venkataramana, we meet and pray all the following deities seeking their blessings to make us pure, humble and loyal. Each deity is believed to have given portfolio of rights. So we bow before them asking them to bless us with their ideals and make us deserve the holy darshana of Lord Sri Venkataramana.
1.LORD SRI HANUMATHA
||Buddhirbalam yashodhairyam nirbhayathvamarogatha, Ajaadyam vaakpatuthvam cha Hanumathsmaranaath bhaveth ||
On the left of the entrance to the temple, immediately next to the chandrashala, we can find the idol of Lord Hanumantha facing east. Lord Hanumantha is believed to be the greatest disciple of Lord Sri Ram (7th incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Threthayuga). None till today could overtake the strength of devotion of Lord Hanumantha. He is one of the 7 chiranjeevis(immortal powers) viz., Ashwatthama, Bali, Vyasa, HANUMANTHA, Vibheeshana, Krupa, Parashurama. He is well-known for his sincere, loyal and humble devotion towards the Supreme Power. So, first we are ought to bow before this Lord seeking his blessings to make us follow his principles and be like him, thus to make our hurdle-free path towards the Central Power.

2.GODDESS LAKSHMI
||Sarvamangala mangalye Shive Sarvartha Sadhike, Sharanye Thrayambake devi Narayani Namosthuthe ||
The existence of goddess Lakshmi with Lord Sri Venkataramana symbolizes the strength of their love and bonding. Goddess Lakshmi is believed to take the position of a mother in every devotee’s life. The way a mother takes tender and intensive care of her children, Lakshmi is believed to look after the well-being of her children in the same way. She blesses the devotees with all their needs and wishes who pray humble-heartedly. Mothers always forgive their children for their mistakes. Similarly, we bow before Lakshmi asking her to wash off all our sins.  It is only in Karkala Venkataramana temple that we find Goddess Lakshmi followed by Ganapathi. In the other temples, we find Lord Ganapathi first and Lakshmi next. It is because of the reason that- Lakshmi always resides close to Naivedya Griha as the priests while offering naivedya to the Lord say “Lakshmi Hasthena” which means “Please accept the Naivedya from the hands of Lakshmi”.

3.LORD GANAPATHI
“Ganaanam pathihi” [The head of Ganas or the caretakers]
Lord Ganapathi in Venkataramana temple is not exactly “Vighneshwara” or “Pratamavandya” though he is given the form of Lord Ganesha. He is only the head of the attendants/caretakers of the Lord. The caretakers are believed to reside in the stone erected before Ganapathi  facing west. Whenever the Lord is taken out for Utsavas, he is first taken in the temple’s inside space/corridor. This is a gesture made to the attendants ordering them to take up the responsibility of the temple until the Lord returned. Later when the Lord comes in after his Utsavas and Vasantha puja, he is taken once again in the same place and at this time, the attendants are offered fruits: normally coconuts as a symbol of gratefulness for their sincere job and security maintained in the temple premise.

4.LORD GARUDA
Lord Garuda stands at the right of the entrance to the temple, next to chandrashala and faces west. He is the Vahana (vehicle) of the Lord. Garuda is believed to be “Sarva roga Nivaraka”[the one who emancipates diseases from the body]. He believed so because he feeds on the poisonous creatures. We surrender to him and bow before him seeking his blessings and requesting him to take away the physical and moral diseases in us which include KAMA(Desire), KRODHA (Anger), LOBHA(Greed), MOHA(Fondness), MADHA(Arrogance and Disrespect), MATHSARYA(Jealousy).

Thus, ||Naaraayanam namaskrithya naram chaiva narotthamam, Deveem Saraswatheem Vyaasam thatho jayamudeerayeth||

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