Vidyaganga - Penance of Anjana at Venkatachala

(Skanda Purana - Venkatachala Mahatmya - 39 to 40)

Sr Venkateswara

• Kesari, the father of Anjana, performing penance: Kesari, the father of Anjana (mother of Hanuman), once performed severe penance on Lord Shiva to get a son. Lord Shiva appeared before him accompanied by Devi Parvati on a bull. Lord Shiva told Kesari that sonlessness has been ordained to him by fate. However, Lord Shiva gave the boon that his daughter will be well-known in the world and will have a son of great intelligence.

• Anjana born to Kesari: Due to the boon of Lord Shiva, Anjana was born to Kesari. Kesari became contended.

• Kesari marrying Anjana to another Kesari: After sometime, Kesari (father of Anjana) married Anjana to another great monkey named Kesari. Kesari (father of Anjana) gave lot of gifts including many cows, elephants, horses, chariots, garments, jewels and servants.

• Anjana becoming distressed for not having a son: Anjana sported with her husband for many years but did not have a son. She became distressed. In the city of Kishkindha she performed many holy rites pertaining to Lord Vishnu, but still did not get a son.

• Anjana started performing penance: Anjana then started performing a severe penance.

• Anjana meeting sage Matanga: On seeing her performing severe penance, sage Matanga asked her the reason. Anjana told the sage the reason, and asked him about how to get a son, who will be famous in the world.

• Sage Matanga telling Anjana to perform penance in Venkatachala: Sage Matanga told Anjana to perform penance at Venkatachala. The sage told her the route to reach there. Ten Yojanas to the southern side from there was Ghanachala, an abode of Nrisimha with a Brahma Teertha there. Ten Yojanas to the east of it is the excellent river Suvarnamukhari. To the north of it is the mountain Vrisabhachala. On the summit of it is the excellent lake Swami Pushkarini. Taking holy bath there, she should bow down to Lord Varaha. Then she should bow down to Lord Venkatesha. On the northern side of Swami Pushkarini is a Teertha named Vidyaganga. There are many fruit and flower trees and the place is full of lions and tigers. She should take holy bath in that Teertha and standing facing it, she should perform penance with the Wind-god as the object of worship. As a result of her penance she will get a son who cannot be killed by devas, dakshashas, brahmanas, human beings, sages, various animals and weapons.

• Anjana reaching Vidyaganga at Venkatachala: Anjana thanked sage Matanga and with her husband reached Venkatachala. She took holy bath at Kapila Teertha and with a mind free from impurities she climbed the Venkatachala mountain and reached Swami Puskarini. She took holy bath at Swami Puskarini and bowed down to Lord Varaha and Lord Venkatesha. Then she went to Vidyaganaga and drinking its water and taking holy bath she started performing penance on its bank facing it.

• Anjana performing penance: Anjana performed penance with the Prana-Vayu (Vital Breath) as her object of worship. First she subsisted on fruits, then she subsisted on water and finally she did not eat anything. She performed penance with her eyes fixed on the tip of her nose. Her friend Vipula rendered service to her. Anjana performed penance for thousand years.

• Wind-god appearing and giving boon: Then the Wind-god appeared before her (during Sun in Aries, full-moon, constellation Chitra) and asked her to choose a boon. When she asked for a son, the Wind-god said that he himself will become his son. Then the Wind-god remained there itself. Then Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and various devas and sages came there.

• Sage Vyasa giving other boons: Then sage Vyasa told that a herioc son will be born to her. On the day of perception, all the Teerthas will appear there. There is great merit for those who take holy bath when Sun is in Aries, full-moon day, in conjunction with constellation Chitra. Then asked by Anjana, Vyasa told the benefits of giving charitable gifts at Venkatachala (and what gifts are to be given).

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