Laksha Kumkumarchana at Padmavathi Temple – Tiruchanur

Sri Padmavathi Devi temple – Tiruchanur

Goddess Padmavathi is the queen of Lord Srinivasa and enjoys a separate identity with equal status. The Goddess is inseparable and enjoys an equal position as she is a Purushakara or instrumental in protecting the devotees from the wrath of the Lord.

As the temple of Sri Padmavathi Ammavaru is as important as the Venkateswara Swami temple, pilgrims throng to this temple throughout the year and offer their prayers.

Laksha Kumkumarchana

According to the Hindu Sanatana Dharma, ā€˜Kumkumā€™ or vermilion is considered sacred, especially for married women, as it is applied by them over the forehead seeking the longevity of their husbands. It is also considered as the symbolic representation of Goddess Shakti, who is also revered as Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswathi, and Goddess Parvathi.

Laksha Kumkumarchana - Tiruchanur

ā€˜Laksha Kumkumarchanaā€™ will be performed on a grand note at Sri Padmavathi Devi temple in Tiruchanur every year. This ritual is performed before the commencement of nine day ā€˜Karthika Brahmotsavamsā€™.

So, before starting brahmotsavams or any mega religious event in a Hindu Goddess temple, the priests usually perform ā€œLaksha Kumkumarchanaā€ seeking the execution of the religious event smoothly and successfully by appeasing Mother Goddess with this unique ritual.

In the temple of Tiruchanoor, which happens to be the abode of Goddess Padmavathi Devi, the temple priests carried out ā€œLaksha Kumkumarchanaā€ from 7am till 12 noon to the processional deity of Goddess Padmavathi seated on a finely decked Asan in Mukha Mandapam located opposite Sri Krishna Swamy temple located within the main temple premises.

laksha kumkumaarchana - Tiruchanur

On this occasion, the processional deity of goddess Padmavathi will be seated on ā€˜Asanā€™ (platform) amidst the renditions of sacred chants and mellifluous hymns. The priests will chant the 1000 divine names of Goddesses during this fete.

The priests recited ā€œLakshmi Astottaramā€, and ā€œLakshmi Sahasranamamā€ several hundred times and carried out ā€œLaksha Kumkumarchanaā€ with devotional fervour. Whenever they were reciting the multiple names of the Goddess, archana was done with vermilion to the processional deity. Hundreds of women devotees took part in this special ritual.

This ritual is considered as a prelude to Brahmotsavams appeasing Goddess for the successful conduct of mega Brahmotsavam.

Why Padmavathi is not in Tirumala

Why Padmavathi is not in Tirumala

Story Behind

The husband, Srinivasa lives up the Seven Hills in ā€˜Ananda Nilayaā€™! His wife Alamelu Manga lives in Tiruchanur, down the hills in ā€˜Shanti Nilayaā€™! Doesnā€™t it look queer? There seems to be a special reason for this.

Long ago, Padmavathi used to live in ā€˜Shanti Nilayaā€™, a golden palace, perched on a hill as high as the Seven Hills. But the mata in ā€˜Shanti Nilayaā€ used to bestow a little more benevolence than the Swami in ā€˜Ananda Nilayamā€™.

Because of the weight of her benevolence, the hill on which her palace was perched, sank into the ground. That was the reason for both being separate ā€“ one on the top of Seven Hills and another on the ground level in Tiruchanur. This is the story, some say.

Swami – Standing in Ananda Nilayam

Another point to note: Swami is in the standing posture in the temple on the hill, with all his weaponry as if he is ready to go somewhere. Itā€™s difficult for the devotees to convey to him any of their problems. Due to this diffidence, we forget to seek from him all that we want.

Sri Venkateswara Swamy - 108 Divya Desams

Alamelu – Sitting on Lotus

But downhill! Alamelu Manga mata sits on a lotus very leisurely holding two lotuses in her hands in abhayamudra [assurance], as if saying, ā€œCome on, tell me what you wish!ā€ She listens to our pleadings and passes them on to her husband. She pressurizes Him and ensures that he grants them.

 

In case, Swami pretends not to have listened to her messages, She says, ā€œSwami, itā€™s only because of keeping me on your chest as ā€˜Vyuha Laxmiā€™, you have been in existence as Srinivasa. Itā€™s because of me you left Vaikunta and did penance on the bank of Lotus.

PushpaYagam - Tiruchanur - Padmavathi Ammavaru

Like that, she teases him and tactfully diverts His attention towards the devotees and their pleadings. Thus she is a mother of Mothers ā€“ Alamelu Mangamma.

Final result!!! Swami accedes to her pleadings and recommendations and grants them saying, ā€œYou have more benevolence on the devotees than I.ā€ Like that Lord, Srinivasa has been granting the wishes of the devotees with a smile for ages. This is what happened because of Alamelu Manga Mata of Tiruchanur.

Padmavati Devi

GODDESS PADMAVATI DEVI

  • The sacred bath ‘ABHISHEKAM’ is performed to Goddess Padmavati Devi on Fridays.
  • All the rituals and pujas offered to Ammavaru are as per the procedures of ā€˜PANCHARATRA AGAMAā€™.
  • Goddess Mahalakshmi immersed herself in penance and emerged as ā€˜SRI PADMAVATI DEVIā€™ from a Lotus located at the center of Pushkarini (holy pond) on the auspicious ā€˜PANCHAMIā€™ day. Since then that day has been called ā€˜TIRUCHANUR PANCHAMIā€™.
  • It has been an age-old tradition to worship ā€˜GODDESS PADMAVATI DEVIā€™ before worshipping ā€˜LORD SRINIVASAā€™.
  • The Utsavas (festivities) at Tirumala are called ā€˜SRIVARI UTSAVASā€™ and the Utsavas at Tiruchanur are called ā€˜SRI UTSAVSā€™.
  • Gaja Seva (Elephant Service) occupies a prominent place in Tiruchanur since Goddess Padmavati Devi is the incarnation of ā€˜GAJA LAKSHMIā€™.
  • The Sanctum Sanctorum of the Ammavari Temple in Tiruchanur is called ā€˜SHANTI NILAYAMā€™.
  • The laddu prasadam of Ammavaru in Tiruchanur is called ‘AMRUTHA KALASAM’.
  • The flagstaff hoisted to commemorate Dwajarohanam has an ‘ELEPHANT’ symbol as it is dear to Ammavaru.
  • The very mention of Tiruchanur will bring to our mind the sacred manifestation of Goddess Alarmelmanga in the Lotus Tank ā€˜PADMA SAROVARā€™.

Gaja Vahana Seva - Padmavati Devi Ammavaru