Hathiram Bhavaji
Hathiram Bhavaji or Hathiram Baba or Hathiramji was a saint from North India who visited Tirumala around 1500 CE[1] on a pilgrimage and became a devotee of Lord Venkateswara.[2][3] He settled there by setting up an ashram near the temple. According to a legend, he had a privilege of playing a game of dice with Lord Balaji.
Telugu film director Raghavendra Rao is making a film Om Namo Venkatesaya based on his life. Akkineni Nagarjuna is playing Hathiram's role.[4]
Life
Hathiram was born in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh in a middle class family.[5] Not much of historical data is available about his life.[4]
He was a devotee of Lord Rama. When he visited Tirumala, he decided to stay there and setup an Ashram outside the temple.[2] There is a Hathiram Bhavaji Mutt established on his name in Tirumala.[6]
Legend
It is believed that Lord Balaji was pleased with his devotion and used to come to his place to play a game of dice. One day, the game was prolonged for too long and the Lord suddenly remembered that he was getting late for the daily worship. In a hurry, he left one of his ornaments, a necklace in his ashram. The priests opened the temple found that an ornament was missing instituted a search for it. Hathiram also realized what happened, and wanted to return the ornament to the temple. He was caught and house arrested by the temple guards thinking him to be a thief.
This matter reached the king, and he asked Hathiram why he had stolen it. He narrated the incident which happened the previous night. The king did not believe his story and ordered his servants to fill his room with sugar cane, and asked them to safe guard it. Then the king asked Hathiram to eat every bit the sugar cane before dawn. Since it is practically impossible to eat such a large amount of sugar cane for any human in one night, Hathiram simply spent the whole night chanting the name of the lord. Suddenly there appeared a huge white elephant inside his room, finished the sugar cane within moments, and disappeared.
Later in the morning, the king was surprised to see all the sugar cane was finished. He verified with his guards that no elephant was seen last night outside the locked room. Then he realized that Lord himself appeared as the elephant to save his devotee. Hathi means elephant in Hindi, and he frequently chants Ram. That's how he got his name.
Hathiramji Mutt
Hathiramji Mutt established on his name used to administer the Tirumala temple before the creation of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams from 1843 to 1932.[7][8][9]
References
- ↑ Shantha, Nair (2013). Sri Venkateswara: Lord Balaji and his holy abode of Thirupati. Mumbai: Jaico Publishing House. p. 12. ISBN 978-81-8495-445-5. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- 1 2 Ramachandra Pai, N. A. "Hathiram Baba". speakingtree.in. Speeking Tree. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ↑ Team, panditbooking. "The Story of Lord Balaji's favorite devotee Hathiramji Baba and the name of Balaji to the Lord of Tirupati". spiritual.panditbooking.com. Panditbooking. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- 1 2 Pranita, Jonnalagedda. "Bringing Baba Hathiram to life onscreen is a big challenge: Nagarjuna". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Times News Network. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ↑ Jagannatha Rao, P. T (1952). A Symposium on Tirupati Venkateswara (PDF). Tirupati: Hathiramji Publications. p. 17. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ↑ Staff, Reporter. "అంతర్యామీ.. అలసితీ !". sakshi.com. Jagati Publications. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ↑ Staff, Reporter. "Hathiramji Mutt gets back its land". thehindu.com. Kasturi and Sons. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- ↑ Vasanatha, P. "Mahants Of Hathiramji Mutt 1843 1933". shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in. Sri Venkateswara University. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- ↑ Chandra Choodan, G. "Stories of Faith: The Shrine Of Tirupati". swarajyamag.com. Swarajya Magazine. Retrieved 27 September 2016.