Karthika Deepotsavam
“Deepotsavam” – Festival of lamps during Kritika star is an annual ritual being celebrated in Srivari Temple, Tirumala.
Kritika Deepotsavam is observed in the month of Karthika (according to Tamil month) when the star Krithika prevails during ‘Raatrimana’ (night) and usually falls in November or December. This traditional ritual has been celebrated in the Srivari temple from times immemorial with religious fervor and sanctity.
Lamps with ghee are a symbol of holiness in our Temple culture.
In Tirumala
On this auspicious day the corridors, sub-temples, Vimanam, and Dhwajasthambham will be decorated with clay ghee lamps and the clay ghee lamps will be taken out in procession to other temples surrounding the main temple.
At first on that auspicious day clay earthen pots filled with ghee and wicks will be kept in the southern corner of Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamivari Temple facing the main Deity Lord Venkateswara.
In the evening the Jeeyar Swamies, Acharya Purushas, and officials gather to participate in the ritual. Sri Sri Sri Pedda Jeeyar Swami will light the lamps and afterward, all the lamps will be lit by his Ekangis (substitutes of Jeeyar Swami) or other paricharakas. Then the first lamp will be handed over to Sri Pedda Jeeyar Swami, Chinna Jeer Swami, Acharya Purushas, and other officers present along with the devotees.
The glowing lamps will be taken in the procession with Jeeyar Swami leading the procession and going around the Dwajasthambam. After the procession of the Prakaram, all the lamp bearers will reach inside the temple with Vedic chants. After reaching the Sayana mandapam (just before the sanctum sanctorum) all lamps will be kept outside the Kulasekharpadi except the lamps of Jeeyars and others in particular.
Then the lamps glowing with radiance keep the Lord Shining more like an ‘Agnipurusha‘ (like a bright light in human form) standing in front of us.
The Vedic pandits recite a Hymn from the Vedas (Nakshatra suktam) in praise of Agni and Krithika ‘Agnihi patu krithika’. Then the Archakas take each lamp and offer it to the Lord and the same lamps will be kept to the sides of the sanctum sanctorum. Later coming out to the Dwarapalakas, they keep lamps there and proceed to the potu Ammavaru and keep a lamp there. Then the Jeeyar Swami and Archakas climb the Vimanam and keep the burning lamps on all four sides of the Vimanam at the top of the temple.
Then they bring lamps to the Sri Bhashyakarlasannidhi, Sri Yoga Narasimha Sannidhi, and proceed to the Dwajasthambham and other places inside the temple. Later some lamps are taken in procession to the temple of Sri Bedi Anjaneya Swami, Pedda Jeeyar mutt, Varahaswami Sannidhi, and other temples by the representatives of those temples.
Meanwhile, the corridors in front of Dwajasthambham and other places will be lit with clay lamps on wooden beams. This Krithika Deepotsavam is to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness.
Deepotsavam in other T.T.D. temples
This Deepotsavam is also celebrated in Tirupati Govindarajaswami temple following the same procedure as in Tirumala temple. Lamps will be taken to the Tirupati Kodandaramaswami temple also from here.
The same Deepotsavam festival is celebrated in all the T.T.D. temples in and around Tirupati in a grand manner. May the lights of Krithika Deepotsavam of Lord Srinivasa illuminate on our lives and may He shower His blessings on all of us.
