The interesting story of how and why Lord Vishnu has to borrow

 Yes, this is true, not only he had to borrow, but he is still in debt. In Indian mythology, there is an interesting story of Lord Vishnu borrowing from Lord Kubera.

Sage Bhrigu getting angry

It happened that Sage Bhrigu was once entrusted with the task of selecting the most deserving god from the trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh for a particular offering. Bhrigu visited Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva and did not find them suitable. When he visited Lord Vishnu, he found that Lord was resting with his consort Laxmi. Seeing this, Sage Bhrigu got enraged and hit Lord Vishnu on his chest with his foot.

Laxmi leaves Lord Vishnu

Lord Vishnu immediately understood his mistake and he apologized sage. Sage realized that Lord Vishnu is the most deserving deity out of all these. But Goddess Laxmi got angry with this behaviour as Lord Vishnu’s chest was her abode. She left Lord Vishnu and went to earth. Lord Vishnu searched for her but could not find.

He is reborn on earth

Then Lord Vishnu took birth by the name of Srinivasa as the son of Vakula Devi. Vakula Devi was an incarnation of Mata Yashoda. She was Lord Krishna’s foster-mother and was unhappy in that life for not seeing his marriage. She received a boon from Krishna, and was reborn as Vakula Devi. Laxmi also took birth in the form of Padmavati.

 Goddess Laxmi also reborn on earth

Padmavati grew up into a beautiful maiden and once she met Saint Narada. He told that she was destined to be the spouse of Lord Vishnu himself. In due course, Lord Srinivasa on a hunting trip was chasing a wild elephant in the forest.

The marriage is fixed

The elephant led him into a garden where Princess Padmavati and her maids were present .The sight of the elephant frightened them and their Princess. When Lord Srinivasa appeared in front of the Elephant, it immediately turned round, saluted the Lord and disappeared into the forest. Lord Srinivasa noticed princess Padmavati and enquired about her from her maids. He soon developed a desire to marry Padmavati and told this to Vakula Devi, along with his identity of Lord Vishnu.

 Soon, Vakula Devi approaches the father of Padmavati with the proposal to marry her son, Lord Srinivasa. Her father, a king himself agreed and his advisor Bhrihaspati wrote the invitation for the wedding between the two avatars.

 Lord Vishnu borrows from Kubera

Lord Srinivasa called for a conference of the Gods to win their consent for His marriage with Princess Padmavati. He obtained a heavy loan from Lord Kubera, god of wealth in Hindu Mythology towards expenses for the wedding as well as provide proof of his wealth. He agreed to Kubera that his loan will be repaid by the end of Kaliyuga with interest. So, when a devotee presents and offering at Balaji temple, he tries to help Lord in his quest of repayment of the loan and he is never sent back empty handed. Sage Bhrigu was also pardoned by Devi Laxmi.

Lord Venkatesh

Soon Mahalaxmi descended from heaven and when she discovered that Lord has remarried, she was horrified. On seeing her, Lord becomes a stone. Later on, this stone was recovered and the site became the temple of Lord Venkatesheara. This site is associated with Varaha avatar of Lord Vishnu, and there is a varaha shrine, which holds great importance in Tirupati.

The intent behind this whole story is that Lord Vishnu wanted Tirumala hills as his abode in Kaliyuga and to help the humankind. He is adorned with Mahalaxmi and Padmavati.