Jyeshtabhishekam at Tirumala 2024 / Abhideyaka Abhishekam
Jyeshtabhishekam to Sri Malayappa Swami along with His Consorts From 19-06-2024 to 21-06-2024
Jyeshta Star
Jyeshta means ‘Elder’ in Sanskrit. You would have heard the phrase ‘Jyeshta bratha pitasamah’, or the elder brother is akin to one’s father. In Vishnu Sahasranama, we have the Lord referred to as Jyeshtah shreshtah prajapathi, best by age and attributes, Lord of all. There is a star in our twenty-seven nakshatras, called ‘Jyeshta‘.
Of course, the Jyeshta month falls approximately in May/June, almost the hottest period of the year. It is the third month (after Chaitra and Vaisakha) in our calendar.
Like all months, Jyeshta is important for many festivals and vows. One of them is the Vat Savitri Vrat, celebrated in Maharashtra and Gujarat on the full moon (pournami) of the Jyeshta month. Women fast for the well-being of their husbands, and even tie a thread around a Banyan tree; after all, aren’t banyans long-lived!
Ganga Dussehra
Another beautiful festival that is celebrated during this month is that of Ganga Dussehra. We all know the story of Maa Ganga who was flowing in heaven. She is known as Vishnupadi, nirgata vishnupadabjat tena vishnipaadi smrta, emerging from the feet of Lord Vishnu during his Trivikrama Avatar. She came down to earth because of Bhagiratha’s penance and in the process sanctifying and purifying all that she touched.
This happened in the month of Jyeshta and hence in memory of this event, devotees celebrate Ganga Dussehra during the first ten days of the Shukla Paksha of Jyeshta month with the Dashami (tenth) day, the day of the descent to earth or Gangavatarana. It is especially important in places like Varanasi, Rishikesh, Prayagraj and Haridwar.
Water – Purest of all Things
Apah paramam pavitram, water is the purest of all things, says the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Apsvantaramrtamapsu bhesajam, there is both nectar and medicine in water. In the Jyeshta month, one of the hottest months in the year, our bodies need extra water to keep cool, externally and internally. It is interesting to note that many rituals in the Jyeshta month are associated with purification and cleansing by water.
As everyone knows, in our temples, regular abhishekam or tirumanjanam to the icons is done throughout the year using various items like milk, honey, curd, sandalwood paste etc. This results in a certain amount of wear and tear to the vigrahas.
Herbal oils are used to anoint the vigrahas and special tirumanjanam is performed to heal them from this wear and tear. This is usually done during the Jyeshta star.
Srirangam temple
In Srirangam temple, the ritual is done in the Jyeshta star in the month of Aani (Tamil equivalent of Jyeshta, which falls in June-July), and hence it is also known as Aani Tirumanjanam. The golden kavacha or armour on the utsava murthi of perumal and thayar are mended. The murthis are anointed with herbal oils.
Water from the River Kaveri is brought in special golden and silver pots for the tirumanjanam of the vigrahas. There is no public worship during the two days of Jyeshtabishekham.
3-day Annual Abhideyaka Abhishekam
Coming to Tirumala, the rituals linked with the Jyeshta star during the Jyeshta month are particularly important. “Abhidhyeyakam” is the term used for the protective golden kavacham or armour that covers the forms of the utsava murthis of Sri Malayappa swami, with which he is believed to have emerged to fight against evil in Kaliyuga. It is this Swarna kavacham that the Lord is adorned with throughout the year when we worship him.
As mentioned earlier, the regular tirumanjanam rituals as well as daily decorations and special decorations during the processions through the streets do take a toll on the kavacham that adorn Lord Malayappa Swami and his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi. Once a year, this golden kavacham that adorn the murtis is removed and restored. It is the only time of the year that Lord Malayappa can be worshipped without his kavacham.
The essential purpose of the Jyeshta Abhishekam is to protect the utsava murties from damage that might occur during processions and Tirumanjanam through various pujas.
It is a three-day event. On these days, after the naivedyam bell is rung, the Lord and his divine consorts are moved to the Kalyanotsava mandapam located in Sampangi Prakaram. Here, snapana tirumanjanam is conducted amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras.
This involves performing a ritual bath to the deities using holy and consecrated water mixed with spices including turmeric, sandal paste, honey, milk and curd and is for preservation of the ancient panchaloha core of the murtis. Because it involves nine sets of twelve different materials (dravyam), it is an ashtottara shata kalasha snapana tirumanjanam.
Jyeshtabhishekam – First Day
After the tirumanjanam, on the first day, the Lord is adorned with the ‘Vajrakavacham‘ or armour of diamonds. In this glittering attire, the Lord goes in procession around the streets giving darshan to His devotees.
Jyeshtabhishekam – Second Day
On the second day, the Lord is dressed in the ‘Mutyala kavacham‘ or pearl armour.
Jyeshtabhishekam – Third Day
On the third day, on the Jyeshta nakshatra, after the snapana tirumanjanam, the Maha Shanti Homam is performed at the Kalyanotsava Mandapam in the Sampangi Prakaram inside the temple.
Abhideyakam – Golden Kavacha
Puja is done to the “Abhidyeyakam,” the special golden kavacha. Next, the Lord is once again adorned with it. And this is how we devotees will worship him in his Bangaru (Golden) kavacham or Swarna kavacham for the rest of the year. After the Sahasra Deepalankara Seva, the deities are taken in a celestial procession along four Mada streets to bless devotees.
Special Tirumanjanam (ritual bath)
Since this event falls during the Jyeshta month, it is called ‘Jyeshtabishekham‘. Because the special tirumanjanam (ritual bath) is conducted to this special Swarna kavacham, the “Abhidhyeyakam” that always adorns the Lord, this festival is also called ‘Abhideyaka Abhishekam’.’.
The Golden Armour will remain on the processional deities (Sri Malayappa Swami Goddesses Sridevi and Bhudevi) till next year when the same ritual is done.
