Why Did Lord Venkateswara Took a Loan from Kubera?
One of Tirumala’s most loved mysteries is the Lord Venkateswara loan from Kubera. Before marrying Goddess Padmavati, Lord Srinivasa borrowed wealth from Kubera and signed a written promissory note. But why would the Lord of all wealth borrow money?
The divine wedding
Lord Brahma told Srinivasa that the divine guests must be honoured before the wedding. Srinivasa said He had no wealth for it. Lord Shiva advised that a sacred task should never be dropped for lack of money, and that borrowing for a righteous purpose is Dharma.
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Story of Sri Padmavathi Srinivasa Kalyanam
Why borrow, when all wealth is His?
Srinivasa went to Kubera, who said all wealth belongs to the Lord and he was only its keeper. He offered it as a gift. The Lord refused. He wanted to follow Kali Yuga Dharma, so He took it as a loan.
The Runa Patra
Kubera asked for a written Runa Patra (promissory note). It recorded the amount, the gold coins bearing Lord Sri Rama’s image, and the promise to repay. Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva and the Ashvattha (peepul) tree stood as witnesses.
The Lord did not need to prove His honesty. He did it to set an example. He did not place Himself above Dharma; He chose to live within it.
The Tirumala Hundi
The Hundi is being located just opposite and southern side of ‘ANNAMAYYA ARA’ in a room with hundi in its centre, which is an integral part of the Tirumamani mandap of Mukkoti Pradakshina prakara. This is about 3’ by 2’ brass Caldron (big Vessel) with a wide mouth and covered from bottom with a white cloth tapering to a height of 9’ and tied to the ceiling of the hall with a provision for putting offerings through openings on its four sides. Valuable gold and silver ornaments, coins, notes in all denominations, other materials etc. are being offered inside as vowed by devotees, thrust into it through the openings of the cloth cover. The devotees come in large number for offering to the deity in a systematic way, adopting ‘Q’ line from early morning to late in the night, thus the Caldron overflows with collections. The filled up Caldrons are replaced number of times by empty ones.
According to tradition, Lord Venkateswara is believed to have taken a loan from Kubera for his divine wedding with Padmavati. Devotees believe that their offerings in the hundi help the Lord repay this sacred debt, making the hundi a symbol of devotion and participation in this divine tradition.
Is the Lord still repaying the loan?
Devotees believe their offerings help the Lord repay His debt to Kubera. For them, it is an act of faith and a share in the Lord’s promise.
Conclusion
The Kubera story reminds us that Dharma is the greatest wealth. Keeping one’s word is itself worship.
Om Namo Venkatesaya.
