Some questions and answers from "The Holy Shrine of Lord Sri Venkatesvara Tirupati", An English Translation of Sawal-E-Jawab - link to the electronic scan of The Book
Question: "Why is the Lake called Padmasarovaram?"
Answer: "Lord Shree Venkateshvara after
His Incarnation at Venkatacala performed a great penance in order to obtain Shreemati Lakshmi-Devi.
His Incarnation at Venkatacala performed a great penance in order to obtain Shreemati Lakshmi-Devi.
He dug up a lake here and placed in it a celestial creeper bearing golden lotuses.
He also installed SuryaNarayana on the eastern side of the lake, so that the lotuses may bloom both day and night without fading.
In deference to His penance, Shreemati Lakshmi-Devi manifested Herself before Him in a lotus in the centre of the Lake.
The Lake goes by the name PadmaSarovaram since then.
Shrines of Balarama and Krishna are to the north of this pond.
The Murti of Shreemati Padmavati-Devi (Shreemati Laksmi-Devi) was installed to the south-east of this lake".
Question: "Are there any special characteristics also in the animals, birds, trees and plants found on this sacred range (Shree VenkataChala-Dhama)?"
Answer: "Everything that takes birth on these Hills men, animals, plants, insects or anything else attains Mukti.
It is recorded in the Puranas that many Devas, Rsis and spiritually advanced men prefer to be reborn in this range as animals and inanimate objects to secure a surer and quicker means of salvation.
This is the difference between the objects found existing on these Hills and those found in other places of pilgrimage and hence their claim for being treated with veneration. (Markandeya Purana, chapter 4, Varaha Purana, chapter 6, Vamana Purana, chapter 12.)"
Question: "It is stated in the Puranas that Shree Venkateshvara took up His Abode in Sheshacalam several yugas ago. So far, only the greatness of the hill and the sanctity of the river Svarnamukhi have been described but little has been said about The God Himself.
The question is, Which Aspect among the several Manifestations of God, does Lord Shree Venkateshvara represent?"
Answer: "Lord Shree Venkateshvara is declared to be The Supreme God Shree MahaVishnu in the following Puranas: Markandeya, Garuda, Brahma, Brahmanda, Varaha, Bhugola Varaha, Padma, Vamana, Skanda, Bhavishyottara, Mahabharata and in the Acharya-Parvan of Shree Harivamsha".
