Melkote, the road-prasāda, and the champaka

Ananthalvan was at Tirunārāyaṇapuram (Melkote), worshipping. He was constantly thinking of the Lord of the Seven Hills, and no wonder the Lord there gave darśan as Srinivasa of Tirumala. The Srivaishnavas in his company saw it too, and showered praise on his devotion. Even now it is customary at Melkote for the Lord to be bedecked in the form of Srinivasa on special occasions like Ekādaśī and the birthday of Ananthalvan.

He later visited Kerala, taught the siddhānta of Śrī Rāmānuja, and acquired new disciples. Itching to return to the Hills, he was thirsty and hungry on the way, resting with Varadacharya. A young brahmachari came with curd rice and other items, saying they were prasāda sent by Srinivasa from the Hills. Ananthalvan asked him to serve the company first. After distributing the food the youth took a mouthful and disappeared. They realised it was the Lord Himself who had come when they were in need.

With affluent disciples he had the temple precincts renovated. New towers and maṇḍapas were erected. As the work progressed, the architects tried to remove a champaka tree. Ananthalvan did not approve. Even the tree, he said, was a nityasūri on the Hills. He addressed the champaka and prayed for a way to construct the wall; he prayed to the Lord, and slept. The next morning the champaka had given way. It is now known as the Champaka Prākāra.