Skip to content Sri Ugra Srinivasa Moorthy / Snapana Beram
Sri Ugra Srinivasa Moorthy (Ugra – ferocious) with His two Consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi, as per temple tradition, is also known as Venkatattu Raivar, Snapana Beram, Snapana Moorthy and Achyuta Beram.
To Snapana Beram (Bath Image) daily Abhishekams are not offered. These idols – Srinivasa Moorthy, Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi – are made of Panchaloha.
In the olden days it is believed were taken in procession during festival days. Once, when these idols were taken in procession it is said some astonishing things, with unexpected consequences, had happened. From that day (1330 A.D) onwards, these idols are not taken in procession on festival days.
But on two days in a year i.e., on Dwadasa Tiruaradhana (Krishna Ashtami) and Kartheeka Dwadasi (Kaisika or Ksheerabdhi Dwadasi) darbar is arranged for Ugra Srinivasa Moorthy. Even on these two days in the small hours of the day i.e., some hours before sunrise around 2.30 or 3 a.m. the darbar is arranged. It is said that the idols become more ferocious when the sun’s rays touch them. This continues even to this day.
On Dwadasa Aradhana night at about 10 O’clock, the idols of Ugra Srinivasa Moorthy along with His two Consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi will be brought from the Sanctum Sanctorum and will be placed in Ghanta Mandapam. After placing them there they are given holy bath and offerings. After completing all these rituals the idols will be taken back to Ananda Nilayam.
Click here for – 5 Idols of Tirupati Balaji – Pancha Berams
Karthika Dwadasi
On Kaisika Dwadasi Day (Karthika Dwadasi) after Suprabhatam and Thomala seva the Ugra Srinivasa Moorthy’s idol along with the idols of Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi will have Abhishekam and will be adorned with a new set of silk robes, ornaments and garlands.
Then Sri Ugra Srinivasa Moorthy will be taken in a procession befitting an emperor. This procession will be taken out on the Maha Pradakshanam route. Archakas will take care to complete the procession and other connected rituals by 3 a.m.
After the procession, the idols will be brought to Ranga Mandapam. Here Sri Ugra Srinivasa Moorthy arrives riding on Sarva Bhoopala Vahanam. (The term ‘Sarvabhoopala’ means ‘Emperor of Entire Universe)
After traditional poojas and Harati, the idols will be taken back to Ananda Nilaya. This duplicate image of Sri Ugra Srinivasa Moorthy is made of panchalohas. This 20-inch-long idol stands on a lotus seat of 6 inches in height.
Similarly on the two sides of Sri Ugra Srinivasa Moorthy on a 5 inches high lotus seat 18 inches long Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi stand. These idols are considered to be the oldest idols among the idols that are taken out in procession.
Sri Malayappa Swamy
With His two Consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi the Utsava Srinivasa Moorthy participates in each and every festival and procession. People have given different names to these Utsava Srinivasa Moorthy. They call him as Malayakuniya Ninra Perumal i.e., God standing on the Hill Venkatadri, Utsava Beram i.e., Utsava Moorthy, Satya Beram and Malayappa Swamy.
Though Utsava Srinivasa has so many names only Malayappa Swamy name is more popular and more liked by the devotees. Sri Malayappa Swamy’s utsava idol with His two Consorts is the fifth Utsava Moorthy that we have in the Ananda Nilayam.
In Lord Venkateswara’s temple to the right of the Chief Idol towards south we can see these idols on a peetham i.e, seat. Name Malayappa appears in the inscription of 1339 A.D. before Utsava Srinivasa Moorthy; the Ugra Srinivasa Moorthy played a dominant role in processions.
How did Malayappa Swamy’s Utsava Moorthy replace the Ugra Srinivasa Moorthy? A popular story reveals this secret.
Malayappa Swamy in Hill’s Groge
In 13th century A.D. on one particular day when the Utsava Ugra Srinivasa Moorthy’s idol with His two Queens was taken out in procession in the streets of Tirumala, it seems all the houses were suddenly burnt down. So many fearful incidents it seems also took place. Shell shocked priests, devotees and the natives of Tirumala appealed to Lord Venkateswara to help and save them.
Lord Venkateswara inspired one of his devotees and through him informed each and everyone not to take out Sri Ugra Srinivasa Moorthy’s idol in procession henceforth. In place of Ugra Srinivasa Moorthy’s idol you bring the idol of Malayappa Swamy from the Malayappa gorge and make it Utsava Moorthy for all temple festivals as well as processions.
As per the order given by the Lord Srinivasa the priests stopped the Brahmothsavam procession abruptly. For New Utsava Moorthy, they went to Malayappa gorge and searched that area extensively. Finally, after unearthing a particular place they could find the moorthies i.e., idols. In a traditional way i.e., with piped auspicious music amidst the chanting of Veda Mantras they brought those idols to the temple. As per the Agama Shastras, samprokshanam was conducted.
Thus, they got those three idols installed in the Ananda Nilaya. The Brahmothsavams, which were stopped abruptly, Archakas once again started on the day that falls under Sravana Nakshatra. For procession, they used new idols which they had installed after bringing them from Malayappa gorge.
As they have found and brought them from Malayappa gorge they christened the Srinivasa idol as Malayappa Swamy. Because they have found these idols in the deep slopes of the valley they gave a Tamil name ‘Malaya Kuniya Ninra Perumal’ which means God found in the deep valley of Malayappa gorge.
There is one more importance of this Malayappa Moorthy. The Chief Idol of Lord Venkateswara which happens to be Eight Feet high Salagrama Moorthy which attracts devotee from all over the world. The Malayappa Swamy Utsava Moorthy which is taken out on every festival day as well as special occasions is as attractive as the Chief Idol. It is a 3 feet high Moorthy. One is Dhruva Moorthy i.e., permanently fixed to one place and is immovable where as the Malayappa Swamy Utsava Moorthy is mobile.
To see Lord Venkateswara, one has to go to the temple. Whereas Malayappa Swamy comes out to give darshan. The Malayappa Swamy idol which is made of panchaloha stand on 9 inches seat is, of 27 inches height. On both sides of Malayappa Swamy His two Queens Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi stand on a seat of 4 inches and are of 24 inches in their height. From the day they were brought from the deep slopes of Malayappa gorge, they are used regularly in all processions as Utsava Moorthies.
Thus, they have acquired a prominently important place in all the processions. They move around the streets of Tirumala to give darshans to all devotees that too from close quarters.
