During the auspicious Pushya Masam, some of the important festivals at Tirumala are Pranayakalaha Mahotsavam, Parveta Utsavam, Swami Pushkarini theertha Mukkoti and Kakapudi Utsavam. Every Utsavam or Ritual at Tirumala Hill Shrine has its own story or itihyam related to Lord Srinivasa.
Pranayakalaha Mahotsavam / Pranayakalahotsavam
Among the series of festivals that are performed with religious pomp and gaiety in the abode of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala, “Pranayakalahotsavam” / Pranayakalaha Mahotsavam is a unique and interesting festival. This festival is celebrated exactly on the 6th day after Vaikunta Ekadasi.
The Lord and His two Consorts become involved in a verbal dual and the event finally ends with the Lord pacifying His two Consorts. The festival of ‘Sriya Samvadam’, meaning dialogue between the Lord and his two consorts is celebrated as “Pranayakalahotsavam” on the 17th day of Adhyayanotsavam at Tirumala in the month of the auspicious Dhanurmasam.
As part of the festival, the processional deities of Lord Malayappa and his two consorts are taken around the Mada streets in a grand procession on their respective golden palanquins in opposite directions.
When the two processions come face-to-face at the north-east corner of the temple, opposite Swamy Pushkarini, the temple priests symbolically enact ‘Pranayakalahotsavam’ much to the amusement of thousands of devotees who usually congregate to witness the enactment of “Divine Love”.
One set of priests takes the side of the Lord and another sides with the Goddesses. To add more colour, flower balls are thrown towards both groups; each group in turn duck to escape the floral attacks. The entire scene is highly delightful reminding the devotee about the Lord as an ideal husband.
Vaishnavaite adhyapakas recite ‘pasurams’ from the Alwar Divya Prabandham as sung by Sri Nammalwar in Ninda Stuthi style (a form of praising the Lord with apparent criticisms) which is unique to this festival alone.
This religious event concludes finally with the Lord pacifying His two consorts using all His endeavours and returns to the temple. This ceremony usually takes place between 4.30 pm and 5.30 pm in Tirumala.
Kakapudi Festival
Another interesting festival that is celebrated with great religious importance is the ‘Kaka Pudi’ or ‘Kaka Bali’ Utsavam on the day of Kanuma. It is conducted inside Sanctum and around Vimana Prakaram and hence it is not known to many devotees.
On this day after the Pratahkala Aradhana Thomala Seva, the Gold Vakshastala Lakshmi Thayar on the right bosom of the Mulavirat is given a sacred bath amidst the chanting of Sri Suktam hymns.
After this, Archakas, perform a Special Tirumanjanam to ‘Potu Thayar’ or Vakula Malika Ammavaru, the goddess of the temple kitchen. She is also referred to as “Paka Lakshmi“.
After the Tirumanjanam, a Harati and a plate containing rice balls, plain, or mixed with turmeric or kumkum (sindhoor), are taken in a procession around Vimana Prakaram, and then placed in front of the Golden well.
After the worship, the Archakas give these colored rice balls to Jeeyangar Swami, Devasthanam staff, who in turn throws them on the Ananda Nilaya Vimanam around Vimana Pradakshina.
Pushya Masam
Tirumala Hill Shrine is known for its number of colourful Utsavams celebrated throughout the year as we glean from the Sangam Literature of Tamil, which dates back to the 2nd and 3rd Centuries AD. It speaks about the beauty of fairs and festivals celebrated in the ancient shrine of Vengadam. Among the many festivals that are celebrated in Tirumala Hill Shrine, the festival of Pushya Masam is celebrated with great religious fervour.
According to the Hindu Lunar Calendar, when the moon is at or near the constellation of the star Pushyami, that month is known as ‘Pushya Masam’. The Pournima of Pushya masam is very auspicious to start a study of the Vedas. The auspicious Uttarayanam also begin in this Pushya Masam. The transition of the Sun from South to North is considered Uttarayana Punyakalam, and from this auspicious time, the ‘day’ time for Devas begins.
This is also traditionally called as ‘Makara Sankranti’. It is the time when Sun enters Makara Rasi, which is also called as ‘Makara Sankramanam’. ‘Makara Sankranti’ is also traditionally celebrated asa ‘Pongal’ festival in South India and is mainly related to harvesting.
Mahabharata gives an account of Bhishmacharya, who after being incapacitated by Arjuna’s arrows in the battle actually waited for this Makara Sankramanam and the arrival of Uttarayana. Bhishma had a rare boon of ‘Ichha Maranam’ and he waited till Uttarayana Punyakala, as he knows that leaving his material body in Uttarayana would lead him to Devaloka.
