Category: Utsavam

The utsavas or Utsavams of the Lord held throughout the year can be divided into (i) Nityotsavas (daily ceremonies), (ii) Varotsavas (weekly ceremonies), (iii) Masotsavas (monthly ceremonies) and (iv) Varshikotsavas (annual ceremonies)

Nakshatrotsavas – Tirumala

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MASOTSAVAS / Nakshatrotsavas

There are a few ceremonies in the Tirumala Lord’s temple every month on certain days of special stars. These stars come once a month, and they are also called Masotsavas.

ROHINI Nakshatrotsavam

There will be Abhisheka to Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy along with Rukmini and Srikrishna in the morning on the day of Rohini star every month after Suprabhatam. The same evening Lord Sri Krishna along with Rukmini is brought out of the temple to participate in the Sahasra Deepalankarana Seva of the Court Hall (Koluvu Mantapam).

After the procession, Rukmini and Sri Krishna enter the temple through the greater circumambulation path (Maha Pradakshina Marga). The visitors of the seva are purged of all the evil effects associated with stars, especially that of the Rohini star.

Utsava Murthy - Suprabhatam - Sri Malayappa Swamy

ARDRA Nakshatrotsavam

Ardra is the ruling birth star of Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja. On the evening of Ardra star every month, Sri Malayappa Swami participates in the Sahasra Deepalankarana Seva. Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja is placed on another pedestal before the Lord is also taken out in procession in the streets of Tirumala.

The utsavas of Sri Bhashyakara commence on a grand scale ten days before Ardra star, especially in the Mesha masa.

The procession of Sri Ramanuja during these ten days takes place face-to-face with the Lord. The Asthanam of the Lord (Court meeting) is held in the premises of Sri Bhashyakara of the temple.

After the Nivedana, the garlands and the Shesha harathi (lit camphor) of the Lord are offered to Ramanuja. The defects of 27 stars and especially of Ardra are pacified through the seva.

PUNARVASU Nakshatrotsavam

Punarvasu is the ruling birth star of Sri Rama. There will be abhishekam for Sri Sita, Rama and Lakshmana along with Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy after Suprabhatam on the day of Punarvasu star every month. There will be Asthana (court meeting) for Sri Sita, Rama and Lakshmana on Sri Rama Navami and the next day, i. e. Dashami before the Golden Entrance.

The same evening Sri Sita, Rama, Lakshmana and Ajnapalaka Anjaneya Swami participated in the Sahasra Deepalankarana Seva. After the procession in the Tirumala streets, Sri Sita, Rama and Lakshmana come to Sri Bedi Anjaneya Swami to offer the garland and shesha haarathi of Sri Rama to him.

Sri Sita, Rama and Lakshmana later enter the temple. The defects of 27 stars and especially of Punarvasu are pacified through the seva.

SHRAVANA Nakshatrotsavam

Shravana is the ruling birth star of Lord Sri Venkateshwara. On that day of the star in the morning, there will be abhishekam for Sri Malayappa Swami and His consorts along with Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy. After all sevas and participation in the Sahasra Deepaalankarana Seva and procession in the evening, Sri Malayappa Swami will enter the temple.

There will be special utsavas for the star shravana in certain months in Tirumala.

Brahmotsavas always end on the day of shravana in every Kanya Masa. There will be Pushpa Yagotsavam for the Lord on the day of shravana star in Karthika Masa.

Punnami Garuda Seva

Besides nakshatrotsavas, there will be Punnami Garuda Seva at night for Tirumalesha on Full Moon day every month. That day around 7 pm, Sri Malayappa Swami is adorned with diamond armour, crown and other ornaments.

PUNNAMI GARUDA SEVA - Tirumala

Mounting Him on the golden Garuda vahana, a procession is taken in the Tirumala streets with the servants holding the chatra and Chamara while elephants, horses and oxen participate in it.

Ardra Nakshatrotsavam (Monthly Ceremony) – Tirumala

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Ardra Nakshatrotsavam

There are a few ceremonies in the Tirumala Lord’s temple every month on certain days of special stars. These stars come only once in a month, and hence they are also called Masotsavas.

Ardra

Ardra is the ruling birth star of Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja. On the evening of Ardra star every month, Sri Malayappa Swami participates in the Sahasra Deepalankarana Seva. Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja is placed on another pedestal before the Lord is also taken out in procession in the streets of Tirumala.

The utsavas of Sri Bhashyakara commence on a grand scale ten days before the Ardra star, especially in the Mesha masa. The procession of Sri Ramanuja during these ten days takes place face-to-face with the Lord.

Ramanuja - Jeeyar

The Asthanam of the Lord (Court meeting) is held in the premises of Sri Bhashyakara of the temple.

After the Nivedana, the garlands and the Shesha harathi (lit camphor) of the Lord are offered to Ramanuja. The defects of 27 stars and especially of Ardra are pacified through the seva.

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Poolangi Seva (Garlanding Service)

Poolangi Seva (Garlanding Service)

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Poolangi Seva

Tomala Seva which takes place every Thursday in the evening is called Poolangi Seva (Garlanding Service). This takes place completely in solitude. Priests adorn the main deity from head to foot with the flowers brought by the Jiyyangars. The Lord appears as though he has worn a flower dress.

The visitors are enraptured by the sight of the Lord in Poolangi Seva emitting fragrance. The sight, it is said, burns all your sins and scents of the past lives.

Thursday Poolangi Seva

After the mid-day puja on Thursday, the Lord is dressed only in dhoti and uttariyam. The Kasturi is also removed leaving only a thin mark. In the evening after suddhi is performed, the flowers are brought for decorating the murti. The body of the Lord is now dressed in an ordinary dovati.

This process is called sadalimpu or sallimpu which means lossening or removing.

After evening puja and naivedyam offering of panakam and split green· gram, a laced velvet gown is put on the Lord and the body is decorated fully with garlands of flowers extending from the crown to the feet. This decoration exclusively with flowers is called ‘Poolangi seva.’

After this is over the Ekanta seva takes place following the usual routine. It is not known from the epigraphs as to when and why this arrangement was first introduced. There is a reference in Silappadikaram, the early Tamil classic to ‘puvadaiyil polindu tonriya.’

The Tamil word ‘Puvadai’ is a translation of the Telugu word ‘Pulangi’ and hence we can ascertain that by about the 8th century this Pulangi seva was in vogue. Perhaps the reason for this is purely a pragmatic one namely the difficulty of having to remove the clothing ornaments etc., on the Lord on Friday before the elaborate Abhishekam is done.

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Sakshatkara Vaibhavotsavam - Srinivasa Mangapuram

Sakshatkara Vaibhavotsavam – Srinivasa Mangapuram

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Sakshatkara Vaibhavotsava Utsavam at Srinivasa Mangapuram Temple

Various utsavas are performed by the T.T.D. every year on different occasions to Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami in Srinivasamangapuram. One among them is the annual ‘Sakshatkara Vaibhavotsava utsavam’. This utsavam is conducted for three days in Ashadamasam.

According to the sthalapurana, it is said that Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami appeared in the dream to an ‘Archaka’ and ordered him to see that the temple area to be cleaned and pujas to be continued in a great way without any interruption. As such, the archaka proceeded with the work and started pujas.

Sakshatkara Vaibhavotsavam

Taking this as an auspicious occasion, the T.T.D. started celebrating ‘Sakshatkara Vaibhavotsavams’. As part of this, from then a three-day ritual is performed. On all three days, the deities are given sacred baths and in the evening swami along with His Consorts are taken out in a procession to bless the devotees.

Three-Day Ritual

Every day there will be Snapana Tirumanjanam to the Utsava deities Sri Bhu Sameta Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy between 10 am and 11 am while in the evening of the first day, Pedda Sesha, second-day Hanumantha and on the last day Garuda Vahanams will be performed between 7 pm and 8 pm.

Let us all participate in this occasion and be blessed.

27 types of flower offerings - Process of Pushpayagam

27 types of flower offerings – Process of Pushpayagam

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Process of Pushpayagam

India is known as the land of Vedas. People of this country yearn to realize God through virtuous deeds ordained by the Vedas. Idol worship is one of the significant duties prescribed by the Vedas. Our saints have given form, name, and auspicious attributes to the amorphous God of the Vedas and prescribed the ritual of worship to the idol of the Lord made of stone, metal, wood, or mud in the name of agamas.

Agamas and Puranas have explicitly proclaimed that the Almighty manifests Himself on the earth in different forms to redeem people caught in the vicious circle of birth and death. Vaikhanasa agama states that Lord Vishnu alone is the Absolute Supreme Soul of the Vedas; Vaikunta is His abode and the only way to reach Him is worship with selfless devotion.

Rituals in Tirumala

All the daily rituals right from auspicious waking up (Suprabatha Seva) to reclining to bed (Ekantha Seva) and other special rituals at different times in the year like Brahmotsav, Pavitrotsav, Vasantotsav, Jyestabhisekam, Pushpayagam, etc are all conducted in Tirumala according to this Vaikhanasa Agama only.

The mode of worship of the Lord six times a day (shatkaalaarchana) prescribed by the Vaikhanasa Agama has the stamp of the Vedas.

Indescribable is the glory of the annual Pushpayaga among them.

Process of Pushpayagam

What is Pushpayagam?

Rituals conducted for the Lord according to the Agamas namely—

  • Nityotsavas,
  • Naimittikotsavas, and
  • Kamyotsavas.

Dvadasha maaseshyekasmin maase abdam prati tatkaaleyaha kriyate sannityutsavaha!

Rituals conducted on a selected special tidhi (lunar day) or nakshatra are called Nityotsavas.

Services held for the Lord from early morning till night are called Nityotsavas i.e.,

  • Waking up service,
  • Garlanding Service,
  • Worship with thousand names of the Lord, etc.

It is decided to conduct the Brahmotsavas in Tirumala in Kanyamasa in such a way that they conclude on the day of Sravana star. Similarly, Pavitrotsavas is held on the twelfth day of the bright lunar fortnight in Sravana month, while the bathing ceremony in Jyesta month (Jyestabhisekotsav) is held on the day of Jyesta star in Jyesta month.

The rite of Floral Offering (Pushpayagam) is held on the day of the sravana star in the Karthikamasa. All these are called (annual) nityotsavas. The rite of Floral Offering is an annual nityotsava. In this ritual, the best flowers of different kinds are mainly offered to the Lord. According to the Agamas, this is held to atone for the lapses committed knowingly or unknowingly in the course of Brahmotsavas.

Malayappa Swami with His Consorts

This is conducted during the daytime. A day before the day of the Sravana star in Tulamasa, the priest known as Kankanabhattacharya begins the ritual wishing for prosperity. On the day of the sravana star, Malayappa Swami with His Consorts are taken to the pavilion meant for Pushpayaga after the services of the waking up ceremony and others.

After special worship, an anointing ceremony (abhisheka) is conducted to the Lord with milk, curd, honey, ghee, coconut water, and fragrant water mixed with turmeric, sandal powder, saffron, rose water, and cuseus (vattiveru).

The Pushpayagam commences after worshipping duly the flowers meant for the Floral Offering.

Flowers Used

27 types of fragrant flowers are offered in this ritual.

27 types of flowers for Pushpayagam

They are—

  1. the gold flower (champaka),
  2. jasmine (mallika),
  3. sacred basil (tulasi),
  4. white water lily (kumuda),
  5. oleander (karaveera),
  6. broad-leaved rose bay (nandyavarta),
  7. Flame of the Forest (palasha karnika),
  8. hibiscus (mandara), common flax (atasi),
  9. screwpine (ketaki or mogili),
  10. Spanish cherry (vakularjuna or pogada),
  11. white flower like tube rose (punnaga),
  12. vine-like plant with white and yellow flowers (madhavi),
  13. sweet marjoram (pinditaki or maruvam),
  14. Arabian jasmine (dvikarnika),
  15. a different variety of Arabian jasmine (bahukarnika),
  16. needle flower (kuruva),
  17. cobra saffron (nagavriksha),
  18. firecracker (kanakam),
  19. golden rain flower (karnikaram),
  20. orange-red midday flower (bandhooka),
  21. black basil (krishnatulasi), sunflower (suryananda),
  22. arjun (kakubhodumbaram), allamand (kankani),
  23. shankha pushpa or butterfly pea (agrakarnika),
  24. Roja (Rose of different colours) and
  25. other seasonal flowers like kaalananda etc.

Three or four-coloured flowers are regarded as superior in quality; two-coloured flowers are medium and single-coloured flowers are inferior. Only fragrant flowers are to be used in this service. Agamas lay down that the lotus flower is regarded as the best among all flowers.

As per the Vaikhanasa Agama, worship with white flowers yields peace; yellow flowers strength; blue flowers victory over others; red flowers like palasha and pinditaki fearlessness. All these flowers are collected with ardent devotion. We are not supposed to use flowers that are dry, unclean and without fragrance or with fragrance are not used.

2000 Kilos of Flowers from Nearby States

Flowers are supplied by the devotees from Tamilnadu and Karnataka states. Priests, Jeeyarswamis, Temple officials, devotees, and staff get these 27 types of flowers weighing about approximately two thousand kilograms in procession to the prescribed pavilion in the temple amidst auspicious music and recitation of Veda mantras.

The priest proclaims the sankalpa, the purpose of sacrifice as the atonement of lapses known and unknown committed in the process of Brahmotsavas besides the welfare of the world. Amidst the recitation of Vedas. The priests offer different types of flowers one after the other at the holy feet of the Lord.

Huge heaps of flowers are arranged decoratively around Malayappa Swami along with Sridevi and Bhudevi.

Pushpayagam 2017 - Process of Pushpayagam

The Lord is worshipped as He is surrounded by heaps of variegated flowers right from feet to neck. After placing each kind of flower, holy water is given to his hands (arghya), feet (paadya), and mouth (achamana), and special Naivedyams are offered to the Lord. Auspicious camphor light is waved to the Lord.

Services rendered with stately canopy, hand fans, mirror, dance, singing keerthanas, instrumental music, recitation of Vedas, epics and spiritual sciences, prabandhas, panegyrics are regarded as regal services as per the Agamas. These services are offered in Tirumala on a grand scale as a feast to the eyes of the devotees.

This Floral Offering Rite not only atones for the lapses committed in the earlier Brahmotsavas but also yields the best results to the devotees who witness it.

Jyestabhisekam in Tirumala 2023

Jyestabhisekam in Tirumala 2023

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Jyestabhisekam – Annual Festival

A Three-day annual traditional festival ‘Jyestabhisekam’ is being performed in the Tirumala Temple in the month of Jyesta (according to Telugu) month. This special Abhishekam is usually performed every year to protect the Utsava deities of Lord Malayappa swami and His Consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi from damage that might occur while conducting processions and Tirumanjanam (holy baths) all throughout the year during different festive occasions.

This festival is also called “Abhidhyeyaka Abhishekam”. “Abhidhyeyakam” means protective shield or armor (that which cannot be destroyed).

The festival aimed at preservation of the age-old and archaic utsava idols of Lord Malayappa Swamy from deficiencies.

On the first day, the golden cover of the idols is removed and abhishekam and homas are performed to the utsava murthis with panchamruta snapana thirumanjanam and taken out in procession after giving it a diamond armor.

On the second day idols are covered in cover made of pearls and on the third-day idols are once again adorned with gold cover. The gold cover is replaced again next year when the Jyestabhisekam is performed.

This year, this festival takes place from 02.06.2023 to 04.06.2023.

Jyeshtabhishekam at Tirumala 2022

Jyeshtabhishekam at Tirumala 2022

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Jyeshtabhishekam At Tirumala 2022

Jyeshtabhishekam is an annual ritual performed to Sri Malayappa Swami along with Sridevi and Bhudevi at Tirumala in the Jyeshta masam (May / June).

The main purpose of this ritual is, to protect the icons/idols with utmost care. Hence, this ritual is conducted. In this ritual, Sri Malayappa Swami along with His Consorts can be seen in the truest form, without any ornaments.

First, all the ornaments/ armors are removed from the deities. Then the deities are carefully anointed with specially made herbal preparations called ‘Visesha Sugandha Tailam’.

An important Vaikhanasa text, ‘Prakeernadhikara’ prescribes a sacred ritual, Abhideyaka abhisheka for preserving the deities is done. During the ritual, all the three deities are brought to the special platform.

A sacred Abhishekam with auspicious contents are offered amidst chantings of divine mantras. Then the armours are also being worshipped in a sacred manner.

Jyeshtabhishekam in Tirumala
Jyeshtabhishekam 2022 in Tirumala

In all three days, the ritual starts with a sacred bath (Abhishekam).

On the first day, the deities are adorned with a most exquisite and dazzling armour called ‘Vajra Kavacha’ (cover) entirely in diamonds. Then the deities are taken out in a procession
along the four mada streets around the temple.

On the second day, the deities were bedecked with a charming ‘Muthangi’ (an armour of pearls) and Kavacham (shield).

On the third day, the ‘Golden armour’ is adorned to the Lord.

Thus, jyeshtabhishekam is grandly conducted for three days and it is an eye feast to the eyes. Let us participate in this ritual and seek the blessings of the Lord.

Pedda Sesha Vahana Seva 2018

Pedda Sesha Vahana Seva 2018

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There is one ceremony or the other almost daily for Lord Venkateswara manifest on Tirumala.

Different ceremonies are conducted on a grand scale for the Lord with different time frames— daily, fortnightly, monthly and yearly. Of them, special mention may be made of annual Brahmotsavas.

Devotees go on raptures witnessing the Lord on different carriages and earnestly wait for the next earliest opportunity to visit them. Brahmotsavas are conducted twice this year much to their jubilation.

Because of the addition of one month as per the Telugu Calendar, two categories of Brahmotsavas are conducted this year, namely—Salakatla and Navaratri (nine-day).

Serpent Sesha’s Service to the Resident of Ananda Nilaya – Pedda Sesha Vahana Seva)

Seven-hooded Serpent Sesha’s service (Pedda Sesha Vahana Seva) to the Lord along with His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi. Since the Lord is settled on Seshadri making Sesha His bed, Sesha’s carriage is preferred on the very first day of celebrations.

Adisesha serves the Lord variously in different postures as the habitation, bed, seat, shoes, upper garment, pillow, umbrella to shade from sun and shower, pedestal and servant. Hence, he is regarded as Sesha.

This procession suggests the rise of serpentine kundalini from mooladhara (primary consciousness) to Sahasrara (highest consciousness) in yoga.

Chinna Sesha Vahana Seva 2018

Chinna Sesha Vahana Seva 2018

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There is one ceremony or the other almost daily for Lord Venkateswara manifest on Tirumala.

Different ceremonies are conducted on a grand scale for the Lord with different time frames— daily, fortnightly, monthly and yearly. Of them, special mention may be made of annual Brahmotsavas.

Devotees go on raptures witnessing the Lord on different carriages and earnestly wait for the next earliest opportunity to visit them. Brahmotsavas are conducted twice this year much to their jubilation.

Because of the addition of one month as per the Telugu Calendar, two categories of Brahmotsavas are conducted this year, namely—Salakatla and Navaratri (nine-day).

Srinivasa on the Younger Serpent Sesha – Chinna Sesha Vahana Seva

Lord Venkateswara alone proceeds on the younger five-hooded Serpent Sesha’s carriage (Chinna Sesha Vahana Seva) on the second day of Brahmotsavas. Born of the aspect of Narayana, Sesha has the privilege of offering his service twice with his intimacy to the Lord. Vasuki is regarded as the younger Sesha.

 

Simha Vahana Seva 2018

Simha Vahana Seva 2018

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There is one ceremony or the other almost daily for Lord Venkateswara manifest on Tirumala.

Different ceremonies are conducted on a grand scale for the Lord with different time frames— daily, fortnightly, monthly and yearly. Of them, special mention may be made of annual Brahmotsavas.

Devotees go on raptures witnessing the Lord on different carriages and earnestly wait for the next earliest opportunity to visit them. Brahmotsavas are conducted twice this year much to their jubilation.

Because of the addition of one month as per the Telugu Calendar, two categories of Brahmotsavas are conducted this year, namely—Salakatla and Navaratri (nine-day).

Lord of Seven Hills on Lion-Carriage – Simha Vahana Seva

The Lord appears on the Lion carriage (Simha Vahana Seva) on the third day morning of Brahmotsavas. Manifesting Himself as the lion, He suggests eradication of violence in human nature.

Just as the animals are scared at the sight of the lion, human beings should restrain themselves from sin for fear of punishment at the hands of the Lord. In yogic science, the lion is a symbol of forbearance and speed. Thus, the lion simile suits the Lord.