He used to go round them at least once daily and get their blessings before commencing his studies. The parents used to bless him long life. He used to be of service also to them. These acts pleased his parents and m mutiplied their affection towards him.

When Tirumalaiah was eighteen, his father died. Due to his death the merchant's wife became helpless. Further the thought that her son also would leave her in another seven years time made her more sad. She spent her time weeping and at times without food or sleep.

Tirumalaiah reached twenty five. As per the astrologers that was his last year of life. His mother could not bear the thought of it. She wept more and more. The son asked his mother why she was always weeping and never cheerful. She could not tell him her agony. But the son did not leave her. Hence, with a heavy heart she said, " How can I tell you my dear son? The atrologers have predicted that you will not live after twenty five years. This is your twenty fifth year Your father had already left us and if you too follow him, how I can bear that separation and yet be alive. This is the cause of my worry," She burst into tears immediately.

The son consoled his mother. He said, "My dear mother, please do not weep. Lord Venkataramana would defiinitely save me from death. From now on I will pray the Lord and get his blessings for long life." He accordingly was immersed in prayers of the Lord of the Seven Hills.

On the third Saturday in the month of Bha-drapada. Tirumalaiah finished his bath, decorated the picture of Lord Venkateswara, lit the light made of rice flour, placed naivedyams and offered Harathi and with a concentrated mind was immersed in dhyan of the Lord. In deep meditation he forgot the world behind. He then had a dream. A black and dreadful figure of a man on a buffalo with a rope in his hand appeared before him and aimed the rope at him. The next moment Lord Venkateswara arrived on the back of Garuda carrying conch in one hand and a wheel on the other and prevented the black man from taking away his life and cautioned him that he should not do any harm to him, his Bhaktha. He ordered him to go out of sight at once The black man on the buffalo retreated. Then the Lord blessed Tirumalaiah and disappeared. rhe boy woke from devotion and with a huge cry fell on the ground and lay unconscious.

Hearing his fearful cry, his mother came running and seeing her son lying unconscious, thought that he was no more and burst into tears- The neigh hours arrived there and tried to console her by saying that none can go against God's will and by weeping she could never get back her lost child• They told her that God should have absorbed the lad in Him. They advised her to pick up courage. Meanwhile her relatives also 'arrived and they too tried to console her.

Surprisingly, the boy got up as if from sleep. He was wondering why they all had assembled there and were weeping and what had actually happened.

The mother shed tears of joy and embraced him, kissed him affectionately several times. She told him what all had happened. The boy also told his mother and all those present what he saw while he was in meditation.

Everybody present were happy over this. They blessed him. They said, 'you are a great man, you have gained the grace of the Lord and have been blessed by him long life. There is no parallel to this " They praised the Lord in many ways.

Look, how great the Leelas of the Lord are! Many are his Leelas. There is no place equal to Venkatachalam on earth and no God greater than Lord Venkateswara.