Līlās
Stories still told on the Hill
Crowbar and camphor, a champaka and a daughter, a two-knotted bamboo of Dvayam, ants carried home.
01
The call
Āṇ Piḷḷai — the man of courage
When Ramanuja asked who would climb the malaria-haunted forest of Tirumala to lay a flower garden, only Anantharya rose.
Read the story
02
Pacchaikarpuram
The crowbar and the chin
A young brahmachari helped a pregnant woman carry mud. Ananthalvan struck him with a crowbar — and found the Lord bleeding in the sanctum.
Read the story
03
Madhurakavidāsa
The command of the Acharya
When the Lord summoned him mid-garland, Ananthalvan finished the flowers first. He would rather be banished than disobey Ramanuja.
Read the story
04
Tiruvandaadi
Ananthazhvar and Bhoothatthazhvar
A male elephant in musth pulls a bamboo shoot, dips it in a honeycomb, and extends it to its mate. Ananthazhvar heard Ramanuja’s discourse on Dvayam in that paasuram.
Read the story
05
The garden līlā
Father-in-law of Venkatesa
He tied Alarmelmanga to a champaka tree for spoiling the nandavanam. By dawn she was his daughter, and the Lord his son-in-law.
Read the story
06
Two poisons
The serpent that bites, the serpent that is bitten
Bitten while plucking tulasī, he asked the Lord which poison to treat — the cobra in the grass, or the cobra of I and mine.
Read the story
07
Kulasekhara’s wish
The ants as nityasūris
Finding his packed food covered with ants from the Hill, he turned back. He would not steal their right to be born on Tirumala.
Read the story
08
At the puṣkariṇī
Moksha for a tiger
A tiger caught his upper cloth in its ear and would not let go until he blessed it. The Lord later joked that even Devas find mukti hard.
Read the story
09
A true Srivaishnava
Crane, cock, and salt
Bhattar sent a disciple up the Hill to learn what a Vaishnava is. After six months Ananthalvan gave four words, and sent him back.
Read the story
10
Srivilliputtur
Andal’s turmeric
He searched Andal’s tank for leftover turmeric from her bath. The Tiruppavai commentary records it. Four thousand years had passed. He was not counting.
Read the story
11
The gift
The Acharya’s image
Unable to bear separation, he received a vigraha from Ramanuja’s own hands. After the Acharya’s passing he installed it beside the sanctum.
Read the story
12
Vedānti
Sannyāsa is not the only way
He rebuked Nanjiyar for taking ochre. Liberation, he said, is kainkarya — and surrender at Bhattar’s feet is enough.
Read the story
13
Chapter III
The bargain with Srivaishnavadāsa
A chieftain followed southern pilgrims up the Hill. Ananthalvan would teach only one who had conquered the senses — then relented on a condition.
Read the story
14
Chapter V
Melkote, the road-prasāda, and the champaka
At Melkote the Lord gave darśan as Srinivasa. On the road He served curd rice. A champaka on the Hill moved aside rather than be cut.
Read the story
15
Chapter V
The Lord at the tirumāḷigai
Down with fever, he mocked the physicians the Lord had sent. Is it possible, he asked, to engage a third person to do one’s sandhyāvandanam?
Read the story16
Madhurakavidāsa
The Lord recites the taniyans
A young brahmachari fed Srirangam pilgrims on the path, named himself Madhurakavidāsa, and recited two verses. Ananthalvan had sent no one.
Read the story17
Tirukōṣṭiyūr
Bhattar on his lap
In the heat of summer Ananthalvan took young Bhattar on his lap to shield him from the sun — as Ādiśeṣa holds Ranganatha.
Read the story
18
Satsaṅga
Two parrots, one clutch
His ageing disciples wished to go home. He told them Śaunaka’s rainy night — a hunter’s parrot that insulted sages, and a ṛṣi’s parrot that offered water.
Read the story