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.
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.
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.
