Text COM:1863445 (29 lines)

From: Internet: Greg Jay <gregjay@poi.net>

Date: 19-Nov-98 03:05

To: (Arcana) Deity Worship [2993]

To: Badrinarayan (das) ACBSP (San Diego - USA) [18396] (forwarded:

19-Nov-98 03:20)

Subject: Re: Balaji

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Gaura Kesava wrote in a recent posting:

>"1. Swayam Vyakta (Self Manifesting) Deities like Tirupati Balaji (who is

>damaged).'

>

>What is the story on this.....that Tirupati Balaji is damaged?

Dear Badri Prabhu, PAMHO AGTSP,

This is due to a lila of the Lord's in which he incarnated as a Brahmacari

to help one of his devotees who was building a garden for growing flowers

for Him. The devotee in question (Ananda Alwar) was moving dirt with a hoe

into baskets which his pregnant wife was carrying on her head to another

location. The Lord approached her and asked to take her burden. When her

husband saw a brahmacari talking with her he came up and hit him on the

chin with his hoe. Later when the devotee visited the Lord in the temple

for darshan he saw blood coming from the Lord's chin. Now in remembrance of

this lila the Lord's chin is adorned with a bandage of camphor.

ys

Gaura Keshava das

PS There are many other examples of famous deities that have been damaged

over the years.