Thiruvenkatam (திருவேங்கடம்)

Vina Venkatesam na nAthO na nAtha sadA venkatesam smarAmi smarAmi

Hare Venkatesa praseeda praseeda  priyam Venkatesa prayascha prayascha

Venkatam (வேங்கடம்) – This word exists in Sanskrit and தமிழ் and  has the same meaning in both languages.
பாபங்கள் எரிக்கப்படும் இடம் வேங்கடம்.  

Where sanchita karmas are destroyed, that is Venkatam.

  • வேம் (Vem) = எரிதல் /destroy
  • கடன் ‍(katam) = சன்சித பாபங்கள்/sins (sanchita karma)
  • அசலம் ‍= மலை / unwavering

This mountain (range) /Achalam/அசலம் is believed to have  the following four names in the four yugas :

In Krita Yuga, it was Vrishabaadri/Vrishabaachalam – after vrishabaasura who offered his head 5000 times to the Lord.
In Tretayuga, it was Anjanaadri/Anjanaachalam – after Anjana.
In Dwaparayuga, it was Seshaadri/Seshaachalam – Adishesha’s amsa – seven hills are the seven heads of Adisesha , the king of Serpents on whom Mahavishnu reclines in Vaikuntam.
In Kaliyuga, it is now Venkataadri/Venkataachalam 

As we cross each of the seven hills, we offer each of these 7 flowers (7 vratas)  and reach the Moola prakruthi (மூல ப்ரக்ருதி), the Lord himself.

  • Ahimsa – Non-violence, in mind and deed
  • Indriya nigraham – Controlling the 5 Indriyas
  • Sarva bhutha dhaya – Compassion for all living beings 
  • Kshama – Forgiveness, forbearance/பொருமை , nor test the patience of others
  • GnyAnam – Knowledge (ஆத்யாத்மிக சிந்தனம்)
  • Tapas/nyAsam – Saranaagathi (ஆத்ம ஸமர்பணம்)
  • DhyAnam – Meditation/removal of unnecessary thoughts (பகவத் விஷய ஸங்கல்பம்)

Perhaps this is a reference to the 7 higher worlds to cross before reaching “Paramapadam” or Moksham (Liberation from the cycle of birth and death)  viz Bhooh, Bhuvar, Suvar (IndraLoka), Maha, Jana, Tapa, Satyam (Brahmaloka).