Tirumala Hills - Adobe of Lord Venkateswara Bliss

Anand Nilayam, Meaning the adobe of bliss, is name given to the vimana (or) Sacred tower which enshrines lord srinivasa of the seven hills. The sthupi (or) tower above the garbagriha (or) sanctum. Sanctorum in a temple is called vimana. The presiding deity, “Moola Virat” as also the uthsavamurthi, is enshrined within the garbhagriha. The name given to the vimana varies from sthala to sthala. the famous shrine at srirangam has the vimana which is called the pranavakara vimala’ because it is shaped like the sacred pranava(OM). The vimana which enshrines Sri Devadhi raja at kandupuram is known as the ‘punyakoti vimana’. The name given to the vimana of each sthala or divya desa is significant and has got the reclining beauty of srirangam is shown by his vimana to be the essence of pranava sri Devadhiraja of kancheepuram, more popularity known as varadharaja perumal is justly proclaimed by the vimana to be the benefit that accrusesout of croresof meritorious and righteous deeds(punya-koti).In the same way the Ananda Nilaya vimana of srivaru proclaims him to be the veritable Adobe of bliss lord venkateswara in tirumala hills.

According to the religion, the ultimate bliss(or) mokshananda is not one which is necessarily to be sought after only in realms beyond this world. The upanishadic way of thought and the alwars intuitive experiences both lay down that it is possible to realize mokshananda even on this earth and even while encased in this physical body of ours.

The temple on the tirumala hills which enshrines that beautiful and gorgeous form of lord srinivasa who is the personification of grace, is naturally equated by everyone as an “Adobe of Bliss” – Ananda Nilaya and no wonder then, The vimana which proclaims the existence of that ananda nilaya is called the ananda nilaya vimana If there is one place in the whole of india to which from all over years, It is “ tirumala “ the adobe of srinivasa, he is the lord of all languages and of all the peoples, there is no one in india with a thinking mind and a loving heart who does not contemplate a pilgrimage to the shirne of balaji and does not fondly and eagerly look forward to being blessed with the divine kataksha of lord there. Lord Venkateswara is the kuladaiva of family deity of millions of families in south india.

Lod srinivasa is one of the very few deities prayed by all the four categories worshipers mentioned by lord sri Krishna in bhagavadgita. The main in distress (Aarthaha). The man who desires wealth (artharthi), the enquiringly and the inquisitive philosopher and the Jnani who is the seeker after god of g0d’s sake and not for his own sake all these four categories of worshipers can be seen together in very few places. That Sri Venkatesa is sought aftr by the first and second categories of worshipers  need not be specially dilated upon because one can see thousands of men and women daily coming to him for relief from distress and for being blessed with wealth. The third type of devotees are slightly superior to the others in that seek after the pleasures obtained by them only by his grace. They have been called kaivalyam this, The fourth category of persons want him and want him alone from him, In other words , To them he is both the means or Upaya and the end of purushartha. Even now out the several millions year out can see fervent devotees  who come to him seeking no benefit or pleasure except the benefit and pleasure of seeking him and being blessed by him. Beyond seeing him, beyond being his presence beyond being able to recite his name with favor, they have no desires, To them lord srinivasa is the variable bliss moksha itself. When one reads the outpourings of the alwars and of the great acharyas one can see how they found the object of their soul’s quest in tirumala and how they surrendered themselves at his ffet wholeheartedly, and fond place, contentment rapture in that process, I have placed myself under thy-feet, says nammalvar.

Vedanta desika sums-up and indicates for our benefit the pray that ought to enlarge form and all towards this lord, as famous for his beauty as for his grace. After singing ninety-nine verses in praise of dayadevi, the devine consort of the land symbolizing his grace, in the hundredth sloka of his great dayasataka , Vedanta desika sings as follows.

“ Mother divine! From you I want no other boon then this pray he pleased to confer this boon alone on me. Please see to it that he the lord find of vrishagiri ( Tirumala Hills), who is known as mukunda ( one confers material and spiritual pleasures, – Please see to it that he confers on me the bliss of the celestial even while Iam here on this earth” Ananda Nilya Vimana remind us of the true heritage of india and of the celestial bliss that is the birth right of everyone in this sacred county!.