Bagh Savari Utsav
Among the gardens in Tirumala, Anantalwar Garden is very prominent. Swamy visits this place twice a year. The reason for such visits is the absolute dedication of AnantaAlwar and his service through flowers. The background story for this is very interesting and is as follows:
On the instructions of Sri Ramanuja, Ananta Swamy set out to Tirumala to develop a flower garden there for the exclusive use of Swamy. He also wanted to dig a tank there. His wife, who was in the advance stage of pregnancy, also was helping him. Ananta Swamy used to dig with a crow bar and his wife used to carry the soil and throw it away. The Lord could not bear with their strain and dedication. In the disguise of a boy, the Lord went up to Anantalwar and offered to help them. But, the Alwar was not willing. He told the boy sternly that he himself would finish the work. He even threatened to beat the boy with the crowbar if he interferes with his task. Then the boy went up to Anantalwar’s wife and somehow managed to convince her to take help from him. As he was carrying the basket of soil, Anatalwar chased the boy away. The boy climbed up a tree and pleaded with the Alwar to leave him and offered him a ring and his silk clothes if he leaves him. The Alwar planned to catch him when he climbs down and therefore agreed to take his gifts. But the boy quickly climbed down and ran away. Unable to catch him, the Alwar threw the crow bar at him which hit the boy’s chin. He began to bleed, but ran into the temple and closed the doors. In the evening Archaks came to the temple and pleaded with the boy and were able to convince him to open the temple doors. But there was no sign of the boy inside. It was then Anantalwar realized that the boy was none other than Srinivasa himself. He begged for the pardon for his misdeed because of ignorance.
One day, Swamy wanted the world to know the absolute dedication of Alwar. So, Lord Srinivasa along with Laxmi Devi visited the garden in the guise of a prince and a princessand collected flowers. Ananta Swamy noticed that and tied them both to a tree. Srinivasa managed to escape by running anti-clockwise and disappeared after reaching the entrance of the garden. But the princess could not escape and was still tied up to the tree. When the temple was opened, the Archakas noticed that Laxmi Devi was missing from the chest of the Lord and were greatly distressed. Srinivasa enchanted a man and told that Ananta Swamy tied her up and asked them to bring to the temple. Once the princess reached the temple, she disappeared and stuck on to the chest of the Lord.
To commemorate the event, Sri Ramanuja arranged an annual festival – “Bagh Savari Utsav”, as part of annual Brahmotsav. That day Lord Srinivasa along with his wives, goes in anti-clock wise direction to Ananta Alwar garden. Only then he reaches the main temple.
Thus, the credit of streamlining the pooja procedures, rituals, temple customs comprehensively goes to Sri Ramanuja. He has occupied the guru position for Srinivasa.
