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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
-----------------------------------------------------------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.