108 Divya-deshams: Thiruvallavazh, Part 3

BY: SUN STAFF

Garuda mandapam, Sreevallabha temple - Thiruvallavazh

Jun 21, 2024 — CANADA (SUN) — A tour of the 108 Divya-desams, the divine abodes of Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi.

Among the great many divine pastimes associated with Thiruvallavazh is Lord Visnu's original appearance as Sree Vallabha. That story unfolds before creation, while Visnu was in deep meditation at the origin of the universe. He appeared to Lord Brahma, who understood the supreme as he could, and continued worshipping Vishnu in the form of a deity created by Vishvakarma from energy concentrated out of the extreme power and vehemence of Vishnu.

Upon a request by Sagara, Brahma taught the worship protocol of Vishnu to him and handed over the deity. Later, the goddess Adi Parashakti took birth as Sagara's daughter, Lakshmi. Lakshmi worshipped the very same deity and Vishnu promised to marry her when she came out during the churning of the Milk Ocean (Samudra Manthan), which happened during Satya Yuga. This eventually was the origin of Lord Vishnu's name Sreevallabhan (Sree, being another name of Lakshmi, and Vallabhan meaning husband). Laksmi Devi incorporated her power into the deity form, and Vishnu later married Her, as promised.

Penance of sage Durvasa

After the churning of the milky ocean, sage Durvasa was upset due to his wrathful nature, which led to many unfortunate incidents. He sought the advice of his father, Shiva who directed Durvasa to go to Brahma to get the knowledge of Parabrahma. Brahma advised the same as he did to Sagara and asked him to worship Vishnu. Durvasa along with 63 disciples reached the Earth and found a suitable place, naming it Mallikavanam (jasmine forest). Durvasa meditated beneath two attached trees, a mango tree and a sacred fig tree. Later in the Treta Yuga, Vishnu appeared to the sage. As Vishnu appeared, water rushed out of the earth and Durvasa washed the Lord's feet with it. Pleased with the sage's devotion, Vishnu promised to be present at the spot forever on the condition that the sage should serve him whenever he appeared in a form that can be visualized by all. The spot where Durvasa meditated is southwest of the temple and the water sprouts turned into the Jalavanthy tank.

Khandakarnan and his bells

Despite being the son of Shiva, Khandakarnan was a horrible demon who used to sacrifice animals to please his father Shiva. He never missed a chance to try and humiliate Vishnu. He had a pair of bells as earrings so that he could hear only the name of Shiva, which he always chanted. Not getting salvation even after a long time, he asked Shiva for the reason. Shiva advised him to worship Vishnu. Directed by Durvasa, Khandakarnan reached the jasmine forest. There, he took a bath in Jalavanthy and instantly, the holy water cleansed him of his wrongdoings. Khandakarnan realized his mistake and threw away Shaiva earrings, getting a new pair of Vaishnava earrings so that he could hear only the name of Vishnu thereafter. During the Dvapara Yuga, Vishnu appeared in front of him and he was liberated. By this, the Jalavanthy tank became famously known as Khandakarna Theerthem.

Journey of Sreevallabhan's deity

Soon after the construction of Dvaraka, Sagara gifted many precious things, including the Sreevallabhan deity to Krishna. Krishna handed it over to his friend Satyaki saying, "There is nothing better in the world for the worship of Vishnu than Sreevallabhan's idol. Worshipping Vishnu directly and worshipping this idol is considered the same. It has the power to wash away the sins of all the lifetimes." Satyaki asked Krishna's permission to build a temple, and the celestial architect Vishvakarma constructed the temple in Dvārakā. Sage Vedavyasa installed the deity of Sree Vallabha and Durvasa taught the priests the worship protocol.

At the end of Dvapara Yuga, Satyaki handed the Sree Vallabha deity over to Garuda and asked him to keep it safe for the humans in the Kali Yuga. Garuda went to Ramanaka island and worshipped it there. Worshipping Sree Vallabha made Garuda free from all his curses. When the time arrived for Garuda's return to Vaikuntha, he hid the deity in the bed of the Netravati River (present day Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka).

Source: Wikipedia

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