Tag: Brahmotsavam

Navamam Navaratnamcha Brahma cha Kamalasanah
NidhiGrahascha Khandamcha Randhro Bhavascha Labdhakah

1. Navamam,
2. Navaratnam,
3. Brahma,
4. Kamalasana,
5. Nidhih,
6. Grahah,
7. Khanda,
8. Randhra,
9. Bhava and Labdhakah-these ten are the names of number nine.

In the Dictionary of Symbols, the name Brahma indicates nine Brahmas and thereby, the number nine. The festival celebrated by Brahma in the name of Sri Venkateswara went on for nine days, from Dhwajarohana to Dhwajavarohana.

So the name of Brahmotsavam is appropriate for the grand festival that goes on for nine days.

Three more Brahmotsavams

Besides the annual Brahmotsava, there are three more Brahmotsavams that take a day each-Arsha on Rathasaptami, Rakshasa on Kaisika Dwadasi, and Daivika on Mukkoti Ekadasi, all of which are celebrated in Tirumala.

Gods were invited

All the gods were invited to the grand festival celebrated by Brahma for Lord Venkateswara. Indra and the other Lords of the Directions (dikpalas) visited Venkatadri on their chariots.

All the royal devotees in India followed suit, with pious intentions. Devotees and the commoners from all parts of the country reached Venkatadri, repeatedly chanting the sacred name of Govinda.

Lord Srinivasa whom even the best of yogis might not witness, manifested himself in person, out of love for all the living creation. Brahma invited Viswakarma, the doyen among sculptors and made him build in and around the hill, keeping in view, gods and human beings, guest houses, choultries, and shelters for cool water for all.

He arranged all amenities for all the invitees, guests and devotees. All those who came to take part in the festival said in praise of Brahma:

Angeechakara vidhina nirmitancha mahotsavam
Utsave darsanam punyam Srinivasasya Sarnginah

“Srinivasa gave his consent for the celebration. Brahma is performing the same very well indeed. During the festive days, it is a blessing to visit Srinivasa, holding a bow”.

Mada Streets during Brahmotsavams

All the streets around the temple of Tirumala were beautifully decorated with flags, gem-studded festoons, flower garlands, and plantain trees. The sages performed homas with Vedic chants in enclaves and got up for the yajna.

Brahma decorated Srinivasa with gorgeous ornaments offered by Kubera and offered special services.

He offered six kinds of prasada made of rice treated with dal and mixed with ghee-gudanna, mudganna, madhuranna, dadhyanna, besides tilapupa, mashapupa, manohara and modaka along with fruits of several varieties and delicious ambrosia – like curries specially prepared for the occasion on a massive scale.

Brahmotsavam

Brahma the creator, with the sun then transiting Virgo (Kanya), the month of Aswayuja as per the Chandramana (the Lunar Calender), fixing Avabhritha (Chakrasnana or the holy dip of the disc) in star sravana, the star of Srimannarayana’s incarnation, having invited divine sages like Vaikhanasa, Bhrigu, and Maricha, as its priests (ritviks), on Suklapaksha vidiya in Hastha nakshathra, with a preceding Dhwajarohana, celebrated the great festival for nine days.

That was the foundation of today’s Brahmotsava.

To prove this and to remind us of the festive day and Sravana, the star of the nativity of the incarnation of Sri Venkateswara, the festival initiated by Brahma, is being celebrated even to date, fixing the Avabritha on a day with star Sravana in the month of Kanya.

Tarigonda Vengamamba describes the details of Brahmotsava in her Venkatachala Mahatmyam, (2-120) thus:

When the Sun transits Virgo and the star is Chitta, Dhwajarohana;
when the star is Uttarashadha, Rathotsava (the car festival); and
when the star is Sravana, Chakrasnana must be performed.

As per the Vedic saying “ritagam satyam parabrahma, ekameva adwitiyam Brahma, Narayanam parabrahma” the Para Brahman is no other than the one who is called Narayana.

The Brahmotsavam is the great festival performed for that para brahman. As this festival is initiated by Brahma, it is called Brahmotsavam.

To show that even to date the Brahmotsavas of Lord Venkateswara is performed under the leadership of Brahma, the chariots either during the day or night, follow a small chariot, gorgeously decorated, the Brahmaratha. Brahma of no shape, no guna, ascends and conducts the festival.

But on the day of Rathotsava, there will be no Brahmaratha in front as Sri Venkateswara is the adorable incarnation of para Brahman.

So on the day of the car festival of the Lord, Brahma himself takes part as the charioteer and invisible to others, holds the reins and drives the chariot of Lord Venkateswara.