Kitchen Hall (Potu) Inside Tirumala Temple
‘Potu’ according to temple traditions gives the meaning of kitchen hall or room. Here tasty delicious sweets are prepared.
When we come out of the golden door, after having the darshan of ‘Pratyaksha Daivam’ i.e., God visible to the naked eye, we will be entering the premises of Vimana Pradakshana path. Right opposite to us we will find the main kitchen hall where all the offerings meant for God are prepared.
Now let us try to know about Vakula Matha who supervises all the preparations.
Exactly towards the southeast direction of Sanctum Sanctorium on the Vimana circumambulation path on the three-foot high platform, there is a pillared structure. It is a 61 x 30 feet structure. It is here right from time immemorial all the offerings meant for Lord Venkateswara are being prepared.
Since the temple images cannot be shown, given is the layout for reference
This is the only kitchen the temple had. Taking into consideration the ever-growing number of devotees, they have very recently converted the existing Mandapam which is north of Sampangi Pradakshana path as a new kitchen hall. The old kitchen hall is now being used as a store room cum distribution hall for Lord’s prasadams. Now all sweets and savouries are prepared in the New kitchen hall.
Precious Jewels and Offerings
Two things are attracting the pilgrims to Tirumala temple.
- People are enamoured when they see costly and precious jewels and ornaments that adore the Lord.
- The second best thing is the offerings that are offered to Lord Venkateswara.
Nowhere in the world one can see such glittering costly jewellery, ornaments and delicious offerings. These things are as they say in Sanskrit ‘Na Bhooto Na Bhavishyathi’, never before and never never in future. This ultimately proves that Lord Venkateswara loves to be adorned by jewellery and loves to have a delicious variety of eatables as Naivedyam. He will be more happy when devotees eat offerings to God as prasadam.
The great Annamacharya in one of his keerthanas has praised the Lord’s love for Naivedyams. Similarly, an unknown poet has praised the Lord’s love for eating. Tenali Rama Krishna who is known for his ready wit and humour calls him ‘A good eater’.
Thomani Pallalu
There is one more speciality of Lord Venkateswara. Every day He uses new plates. That is why they say ‘Thomani Pallalu’ (No washing of plates, i.e., use and throw plates). The offerings are offered to Him in broken clay cullets. He loves to eat in those broken clay cullets only. He accepts the offerings and returns them to His devotees so that they can heartily relish them.
Gamaykarlu
So many emperors, kings, zamindars and rich as well as poor people have donated their mites. Yet He prefers to eat in clay cullets. In the olden days cooks, by the name ‘Gamaykarlu’ used to cook the offerings in clay pots by using firewood. Slowly they have introduced brass vessels.
Now in the place of firewood to prepare the Naivedyams, they have started using Gas cylinders. The cooks in a very very piously hygienic way prepare the offerings. These cooks are blessed beings. Even Mother Kousalya and Devaki would not have offered food to Rama and Krishna after themselves preparing them.
Lord Venkateswara is relishing cooked food. How fortunate all beings are.
Food Offerings to Deities
Daily thrice offerings are offered to Lord Venkateswara. Before they are offered to Lord Venkateswara they are first offered to Sri Varaha Swamy. The preparations prepared in the kitchen are traditionally taken to Sri Varaha Swamy i.e., with umbrellas, fans, and piped music.
Vimana Pradakshana Deities
After offering the preparations to Varaha Swamy, they are offered to Lord Venkateswara and the other Utsav Moorthies. After that, they are offered to deities of Vimana Pradakshana path like
- Dwara Palakas,
- Garuda Alwar,
- Varada Raja Swamy,
- Vakula Matha,
- Yoga Narasimha Swamy,
- Vishwaksena,
- Bhashyakaras etc.,
Then the ‘Bali is offered to the presiding deities of all the eight directions. With this, the Naivedyam programme comes to an end. Nivedana Ananthara Nivedana is offered to Sri Bedi Anjaneya Swamy. He dwells in a Temple which is in the Sannidhi street, right opposite to the main temple.
Nivedanas – Offerings
Everyday morning during Suprabhatam time priests offer Butter, milk and sugar to Lord Venkateswara. In Dwapara Yuga it is said Mother Yashoda used to give butter balls to her son Krishna. Maybe that tradition is being continued even in this Kaliyuga.
After Suprabhatam Lord Venkateswara’s court will be organized with great pomp and show. Lord Venkateswara majestically arrives in the court. He will be received with all honours. Then the Panchanga Sravanam will take place i.e., Thithi, Vara, Nakshatra etc., are recited. Then the audit report will be presented to Him, giving full details about income as well as expenditure.
After this Lord will be given roasted gingly powder mixed with Jaggery. This particular item is very dear to Lord Sani. To please him Lord Venkateswara will have it every day. Whoever worships Lord Venkateswara, particularly on Saturdays will be free from the ill effects of Lord Sani, the Saturn.
First Hour Offerings
After the court, the priests will chant the Lord’s 1000 names, which is known as Sahasra Nama Archana. Soon after completing the chanting of 1000 names, Offerings like pulihora i.e., Masala Tamarind Rice, Pongal, Curd Rice, Sweet Pongal, Laddus, Vada’s, Appams etc., are offered. But these things are not taken very near to Him. They will be kept outside Kula Sekhara Padi.
Meanwhile, the chief cook will carry only curd rice known as ‘Matra’ that too in a clay cullet and offer it to Lord Venkateswara.
Except for the curd rice with thick cream, nothing is directly offered to Lord Venkateswara. The rest of the things mentioned above are offered from the other side of Threshold. Even this, i.e., Lord Venkateswara relishing only curd rice, dates back to Dwapara Yuga Tradition. This will once again remind us of the fact that there is no difference between Lord Krishna of Dwapara Yuga and Lord Venkateswara of Kaliyuga.
Second Hour Offerings
In the afternoon, after Ashtothara Satanama Archana i.e., chanting 108 sacred names of Lord Venkateswara, the offerings meant for the afternoon i.e., second-hour offerings will be kept ready in the kitchen. In addition to the dishes or items mentioned above items like Suddaannam, Seera i.e., sweet upma and savoury upma, kheer, kesari bath, milk rice, kadambam i.e., mixture etc., are also offered to Him. He relishes these things very much.
Third Hour Offerings
After the second hour offerings, Sri Malayappa Swamy with Bhoo Devi and Sri Devi gets ready for Nitya (daily) Kalyana Utsavam (marriage ceremony). Soon after kalyana Utsavam items like laddus, vadas, appams, dosas, sweet pongal, pulihora, savoury pongal, curd rice etc., are offered.
Immediately after Kalyana Utsavam to please those devotees who would have bought Vasanta Utsavam tickets, the Lord will participate in the Vasantha Utsavam. During Vasantha Utsavam Lord Malayappa will be offered Dosas. From there Lord Malyappa i.e., Utsava Moorthy of Lord Venkateswara will proceed to Mandapam of Mirrors to participate in Dolotsavam i.e., swing cot ceremony.
There he is offered pancha kajjayam i.e., powder of sugar, poppy seeds sugar candy, dry grapes, chashew nuts, almond, dry coconut etc., same thing is offered to Lord even after Sahasra Deepa Alankara Seva. The aforesaid powder will also be prepared only by the kitchen staff.
Offerings – Thomala Seva
In the evening in solitude, Thomala Seva (worship with flowers) is offered to the Chief Idol. Soon after Thomala Seva big-sized Ghee Dosas known as Thomala Dosa Padi, Molahaara, kadambam etc., are offered.
After Ashtottara Satanama Archana the third hour offerings are offered in the night. Even the items mentioned above are offered.
Tiruveesam – Hour offerings
Finally during ‘Tiruveesam’ hour to Lord Venkateswara sweet pongal is specially offered.
At the time of Ekantha Seva i.e., bedtime service He is offered lukewarm milk with added sugar, fruits and pancha kajjayam along with meva, as a kind of sweet liquid.
Along with the first hour, second hour, third hour and tiruveesam hour, every Monday they perform a special pooja to Malayappa Swamy. At that time big sized vadas, laddus and other preparations are offered. On every Wednesday Sahasra Kalasa Abhishekam is offered near the golden door. At that time along with usual routine items even milk rice (ksheeraannam) is also offered.
Offerings – Tiruppavada Seva
Every Thursday worship by the name ‘Tiruppavada’ takes place. On that occasion, they prepare 420 kilos of pulihora i.e., masala tamarind rice.
The heap of this rice will face the Chief Idol near the golden door. From this point itself, the heap is offered to Lord Venkateswara. They also offer giant-size Jelebis and Tengulam (a deep-fried savoury).
On Fridays, God is offered Polees (a sweet chapati) and Sukhiyas (sweet).
Every Sunday the Sunday prasadam by the name ‘Chalipindi’ is offered to Him. This is also known as ‘Amruta Kalasam’. The same will be offered to Garuda Alwar after offering that to Lord Venkateswara.
On festive days like Vaikunta Ekadasi day Swamy Varu i.e., Lord Venkateswara relishes Dosas and boiled chana i.e., Bengal Gram. In addition to this Lord Venkateswara soaked Green gram, and Panakam (Jaggery mixed water) are also offered. In Dhanurmasam (Dec- Jan) Dosas prepared with Jaggery are specially offered.
Offerings during Special days
On some special festive days, Lord Venkateswara likes to have Kheer, Kesari Bath, Saakari bath, Bakalabath etc. Special offerings will be offered on Ugadi day, Deepavali day, during Brahmothsavam, processions, Paruveta etc.
Different varieties of prasadams are prepared in the temple kitchen hall. The cooks know the exact items to be prepared to suit the worship. They know the timings so well that at the appointed time, at the appointed place, appointed items are prepared and offered to the Lord.
When these preparations are being prepared Vakula Matha sitting on a platform supervises the preparations. Vakula Matha is considered to be Lord Venkateswara’s mother.
Nowhere in the world offerings are prepared in such a large quantity. All the preparations are made out of pure ghee. One day’s Ghee residule it is said will be quite sufficient for one year to prepare prasadam in other temples. Annamaiah has praised the preparations prepared in the temple.
Tindi Mendaiah
Lord Venkateswara is known as ‘Tindi Mendaiah’ (who eats a variety of dishes) Naivedya Priya and Thomani pallalavadu i.e., everyday new vessels will be used.
