The story of Tiruchanur Padmavathi Ammavari is associated with the legend of Lord Venkateshwara.
Kasyapa Muni with other sages were performing a sacrifice on
the bank of the Ganges, Sage Narada came and asked the hermits
as to who among the Gods was the Supreme enjoyer of the fruit of the sacrifice
(Yajna Phalabhokta). As the sages did not have an answer, they decided to consult Sage Bhrigu
who they considered to be the final authority on such matters. Bhrigu decided to demonstrate a practical experiment to show the Supreme One.
Firstly Bhrigu arrived at the abode Brahma and prostrated before him as a mark of respect. Finding that Brahma
was puffed up with pride and arrogance on account of the preponderance of the
Rajasic attribute in him, he gave up and came to the Kailasa.
There he found God Shiva engaged in amorous sports with
Parvati.
He then reached the abode of Lord Vishnu and he saw Vishnu resting on Adishesha along with Goddess Lakshmi.
With no apparent reason Sage Bhrigu kicked at the chest of Lord Vishnu.
Immediately the Lord rose from His bed, embraced sage Bhrigu
and enquired in all humility as to why he kicked at His coarse and rugged body
with his soft flower like delicate foot. The Lord applied warm water to that foot
and shampooed it gently to allay the pain caused to it.
Sage Bhrigu pleased with the reception given to him, arrived
at the conclusion that the Supreme deity was Sriman Narayana alone and conveyed in a very strong decisive tone to the sages that Lord
Narayana alone was the supreme enjoyer of the fruits of the sacrifice.
ButGoddess Lakshmi was baffled at the submissive behavior of Lord Vishnu. She thought the Sage was arrogant and unruly and must be punished not rewarded. This led to a quarrel between Goddess Lakshmi and Vishnu. Goddess
Lakshmi separated herself from Lord Narayana and settled in Karavirapura (Kolhapur).
Lord Narayana unable to bear the pang of separation from the
Goddess did penance to appease Lakshmi Mata. He chose an ant-hill under a Tamarind
Tree on the Venkata Hill to practice penance.
Meanwhile Brahma and Shiva and Goddess Lakshmi found
themselves restless as they could not find out the whereabouts of the Lord in
Sri Vaikunta and other celestial places.
So Brahma, Lakshmi and Siva assumed the roles of a cow,
cowherd and a calf respectively and roamed about the whole world in search of
Lord Narayana. Ultimately they reached the kingdom of Chola which was very
opulent and very prosperous. The Goddess sold the cow and calf to the Chola
king who took special care of them.
The cow and calf grazed on the Venkata Hill and it soon discovered the presence of Lord Venkateswara on the ant hill. This news was conveyed to Goddess Lakshmi.
Goddess Lakshmi then appeared in the form of Padmavati on a Shukla Panchami Day
which coincided with Friday and Uttarashada constellation in the month of
Karthika.
Goddess Lakshmi was highly pleased
with the penance performed by Vishnu to attain her back. Goddess Padmavati the resided on the chest of Vishnu.