In the temple town of Tirupati, Grandmother Lakshmi Amma often told her grandchildren stories of the miraculous Lord Venkateswara and the hill of Tirumala where he resides.
“There’s a legend,” she’d say, “that once, the Lord decided to take a walk down from his holy hill to visit his devotees.”
“But why would he walk, Ammamma?” young Kiran asked.
“Well,” she said, “Lord Venkateswara wanted to see the lives of the people below, and he stepped down from his throne to bless them personally. But as he walked down, he lost one of his footprints on the way.”
“The footprint was golden,” she continued. “And no matter how hard the devotees searched, it could not be found.”
“What happened?” asked Kiran, wide-eyed.
Lakshmi Amma smiled and leaned in closer.
“The Tirupati hills, knowing the Lord’s holy walk, changed forever,” she said softly. “Now, wherever Lord Venkateswara walks, his footprints are carried by his devotees—along the paths of devotion, charity, and love.”
“That’s why, child, when you climb the hill of Tirumala, you leave a piece of your heart in the dust, just like the Lord did long ago.”
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