OM NAMO VENKATESAYA

Many years ago a devotee of Lord Venkateswara was residing in this village. Every year after the farming activities were over he would start his journey to Tirupathi. He would offer a major share of the grains, which had grown in his lands and return back after having Darshan of the Lord.

This yearly once darshan was enough for him to cherish the same till the next year. "Oh, Lord of seven Hills", he would call out when ploughing the fields, "Govinda, Govinda" he would call when sowing the seeds, "Balaji, Balaji" he would shout loudly when weeding the fields and "Venkateswara, Venkanna" he would chant when watering the same.

Years dragged slowly when his devotion increased and also his age. Having grown old he was losing the stamina he had for so many years. The harvesting season also neared. With a walking stick in his hand he slowly walked in the fields watching the fully-grown paddy field.

His gait was a slow tired walk. I may not be able to make it to the Hill to see my lord this year. He was getting dejected at the very thought that his health may not permit this trip. How can I miss witnessing the Kalyanotsavam of my Balaji with his consorts?" He was seen worrying all through the day. He would murmur to himself and sigh to himself. He would start weeping uncontrollably sometimes. No one could console him. He would go into a trance sometimes. Slowly he stopped taking food and fell ill. Few days passed like this. One-day early in the morning, he felt like someone waking him up. "Get up my Child!" A radiant figure was standing before him.

It was none other than his beloved deity Balaji. "You need not come to the Seven Hills for seeing me. I have come to you. I am inside an anthill near your fields beside the small Siva Lingam. Only Lord Siva knows my presence. He has been keeping it as a Treasure till now. Now you can take me out and keep seeing me here itself. I am in a single idol with both of my consorts."