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At the commencement of the Kali Yuga, Vishnu
left Venkatadri for Vaikuntam. Brahma was very unhappy with his departure
and asked Narada to persuade Vishnu to return to Venkatadri. Narada
then went to the banks of the River Ganga, where several rishis
were performing a sacrifice. The rishis could not decide
as to whom they intended to dedicate the fruit of their sacrifice.
Bhrigu, one of the rishis undertook to solve the problem by
examining the three chief divinities.
 He
first went to Satyalokam, the abode of the three-headed Brahma (who
is also attributed to have four heads) and found him busily chanting
the Vedas with one face, uttering the name of Narayana with another
and looking at Goddess Saraswati with the third. He took no notice
of Bhrigu. Bhrigu resented the want of courtesy on the part of Brahma.
 Bhrigu then went
to Siva's abode (Kailasam). Here too, he found Siva absorbed in
sporting with his consort. Siva even became indignant at Bhrigu’s
intrusion.
 Finally, Bhrigu
went to Vaikuntam, the abode of Vishnu and found Vishnu and Sri
Maha Lakshmi reclining on Adisesha. Disgusted, Bhrigu kicked Vishnu
on the chest, where Sri Maha Lakshmi was reclining. Vishnu immediately
got up, massaged the rishi's foot and enquired if he had
been injured. Pleased with Vishnu’s attention, Bhrigu returned
to the rishis and advised them to dedicate the fruit of their
sacrifice to Vishnu.
Sri Maha Lakshmi was angry with Bhrigu because
he had kicked the spot which was her favourite resort on the bosom
of the Lord. She left Vishnu and went to stay at Karavirapura (now
Kolhapur in the state of Maharashtra). Unable to bear the solitude,
Vishnu left Vaikuntam in search of Sri Maha Lakshmi.
This was how he made his way to Venkatadri,
and entered the ant-hill under the tamarind tree on the southern
bank of Swami Pushkarini on the Tirupati hill.
Srinivasa Kalyanam - Pictorial
Tour
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