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Another incident that shows the Guru bhakti of Ananthãzhvãn:

As per his Guru Sri Ramanuja’s order, Sri Ananthãzhvãn came to Tirumala and established a lake and a garden. He named everything as ‘Ramanuja’ and as assigned by his Guru, carried out the pushpakainkarya (service done by offering flowers/garlands to the Lord). He also built a mandap for making garlands and named it after Sri Ãlavandhãr, the Guru of Sri Ramanuja.

Once in Tirumala Ananthãzhvãn was busy making garlands for Lord Srinivasa. The Lord, who loves to perform ‘lilãs’ (Divine Play) with his devotees, decided to test the strength of Ananthãzhvãn’s Guru Bhakti (devotion towards his Guru). So he sent for Ananthãzhvãn through a Bhattãchãrya (priest). Accordingly, the priest informed Ananthãzhvãn of the Lord’s call. Keen at his service, Ananthãzhvãn did not reply to the priest and continued with his work. After making the garland, he went to the Lord.

Feigning anger, Lord Srinivasa asked Ananthãzhvãn, “You must have rushed to me as soon as the priest informed you of my call. But you did not respond to my call! What if I decide to send you away from this Holy hill?” Ananthãzhvãn immediately replied, “Oh! Lord! Is there any loss for you by my not coming to you? But if I had come, the flowers would have fully bloomed and it would have been impossible for me to tie them closely. The flowers would have lost their fragrance too.”

He continued, “Oh! Lord! I am here by the order of my Guru. Even if the orders are from You, the very Lord of the Universe, I would do nothing that would disturb the service which I am doing as per my Guru’s order. Moreover, you do not own this Holy hill. Even the great Mahatmas like Nammãzhvãr say, “Paran sendru ser Thiruvengada mãmalai” (The supreme has gone and settled in Tirumala). So, you have also come here to stay. So you have no right to send me away from this hill. Even if you insist, I will not budge from this place without my Guru’s order.”

Pleased by Ananthãzhvãn’s Guru Bhakti, Lord Srinivasa said, “I am delighted by your Guru Bhakti. I desire to bestow some boon upon you. But what can I give? Since you are under the shelter of Sri Ramanuja, I need not give you liberation. Hence, you ask me for anything you wish.”

Ananthãzhvãn said, “Oh! Lord! Bless me that I do this service to you incessantly, according to my Guru’s wish, without any impediment.” The Lord joyfully blessed him. Thus, even the Lord was attracted by Ananthãzhvãn’s Guru Bhakti.

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