CHITHRAI CHITHRAI • TIRUMALA

THIRUMALAI
ANANTHALVAN

The Man of Courage

Disciple of Bhagavad Ramanuja • Sacred Gardener of Tirumala
Composer of Ramanuja Chatusloki & Goda Chatusloki

Chithrai Chithrai
Thirunakshatram
(Same as Madhurakavi Azhwar)
Anpillai
Title given by
Bhagavad Ramanuja
Madhurakavidasa
His proud identity of
complete Acharya nishtai
Adi Pooram
Attained the Lord’s
lotus feet at Tirumala

The Embodiment of
Acharya Bhakti

Thirumalai Ananthalvan was one of the greatest disciples of Bhagavad Ramanuja. Born on the same auspicious star as Madhurakavi Azhwar (Chithrai Chithrai), he lived a life of complete surrender to his Acharya. When others hesitated to go to the dangerous, tiger-infested Tirumala hills, Ananthalvan courageously accepted the sacred command to create a flower garden for Lord Venkateswara’s daily worship.

Life Journey

Birth (Chithrai Chithrai)

Born as Ananthan in Sirupuththur (Kiranganur) near Mysore to the pious Kesavacharya of Bharadvaja gotra. His thirunakshatram being the same as Madhurakavi Azhwar symbolized his future complete dependence on his Acharya.

Surrender to Bhagavad Ramanuja

Drawn by the magnetic personality and glories of Ramanuja, Ananthalvan surrendered at Srirangam. Ramanuja directed him to first take shelter under Arulala Perumal Emperumanar before fully accepting him as a disciple.

The Divine Mission to Tirumala

While discoursing on Nammazhwar’s hymn expressing desire for fresh flower service to Thiruvenkatamudaiyan, Ramanuja asked who among his disciples would go to Tirumala and create a garden. Ananthalvan immediately rose and accepted the task. He created the sacred garden named “Iramanusan” after his Acharya and served fresh flowers daily with great devotion.

The Crowbar Incident & Divine Forgiveness

While Ananthalvan and his pregnant wife were digging a pond for the garden, Lord Venkateswara, moved by their selfless service, appeared as a young Brahmachari and offered to help carry the mud.

Ananthalvan, determined to personally fulfill his Acharya’s order without any external help, became angry when the boy assisted his wife. He chased the youth and threw his crowbar in anger. The crowbar struck the boy on the chin, and he vanished into the sanctum sanctorum.

When the temple doors were opened, blood was seen flowing from the chin of Lord Venkateswara Himself. Shocked and repentant, Ananthalvan fell at the Lord’s feet seeking forgiveness.

The Lord, in His infinite compassion, forgave Ananthalvan instantly. To this day, pacchaikarpuram (medicated camphor) is applied daily on the chin of Lord Venkateswara as a living memorial of this supreme act of devotion and divine forgiveness.
Lord Venkateswara

The chin of Lord Venkateswara where pacchaikarpuram is applied daily

Literary Works

Compositions of Thirumalai Ananthalvan

Ramanuja Chatusloki

Four verses glorifying Bhagavad Ramanuja

1
Verse 1
अखिलात्मन्य गुणवासं अज्ञानतिमिरापहम् ।
आभितानां सुरचरणं वन्दे अनन्तार्य देशिकम् ॥
I bow to the great teacher Anantarya, who is the abode of all auspicious qualities, the remover of the darkness of ignorance, and the refuge of all who have surrendered to him.
2
Verse 2
भूमिं वि विमतिसंस्थितं रक्षः कुलविनाशनम् ।
शक्तिकूटं विवाद्यं च जय रामानुज देशिकम् ॥
Victory to Ramanuja, who firmly established the truth on earth and destroyed the lineage of the wicked.

Goda Chatusloki

Four verses glorifying Andal (Goda Devi)

1
Verse 1
नित्यं भूषा निगम शिरसां निःसम्मोत्तुङ्ग वात्ता...
May Goddess Andal shower her gracious glances upon me.

Enduring Legacy

The Magizha Tree

Every year on Tiru Adi Pooram and Chithrai Chithrai, Lord Venkateswara visits Ananthalvan’s garden and offers special honours to the Magizha tree under which he attained Paramapadam.

Earliest Ramanuja Idol

Ananthalvan installed the earliest known idol of Sri Ramanuja on Tirumala, presented to him personally by Ramanuja. The Sathari in that shrine is known as “Ananthalvan”.

Panchangam & Sacred Time

Traditional Hindu time measurement and current panchangam

Current Time (Hyderabad, India)
Sunrise: ~5:48 AM
Sunset: ~6:52 PM
Today's Panchangam
29 June 2026 • Hyderabad
Pournami
Day Monday
Tamil Year Parabhava
Ayanam Uttarayana
Ritu Greeshma
Tamil Month Aani / Mithuna
Tamil Date 15
Thithi Pournami
Nakshatram Moolam
Rahukalam 07:30 – 09:00
Yamagandam 10:30 – 12:00

Traditional Time Measurement

Unit Equivalent
Paramanu2 Anu
Trisrenu (Doosi)3 Paramanu
Thisrenu3 Anu
Dhruti3 Thisrenu
Vedam100 Dhruti
Lavang3 Vedam
Kshnam3 Lavang
Khasta5 Kshnam
Laghu15 Khasta
Nazhi15 Laghu = 24 minutes
Muhurtham2.5 Nazhi
Day (Ahoratram)30 Muhurtham / 60 Nazhi
Ayanam180 days (Dakshina or Uttara)
Year2 Ayanam

Yuga Cycle (Chaturyuga)

Kali Yuga
432,000 years
Dwapara Yuga
864,000 years
Treta Yuga
1,296,000 years
Krita Yuga
1,728,000 years
One Chaturyuga = 4,320,000 years • 2000 Chaturyuga = 1 day of Brahma

Visit Tirumala (Ananthalvan’s Sacred Garden)

Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
Tirumala, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh 517504, India
Ananthalvan Garden & Vrindavanam
Located on the left side of the main temple, near the Magizha tree.
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