Vaarotsavas – Weekly Services / Weekly Sevas
A few services are rendered to Lord Sri Venkateshwara as Vaarotsavas once a week without fail.
Every day is a festival day in Tirumala. On each specific day, the Lord of Lords blesses His devotees in a specific ritual during the weekdays. These rituals are categorized as weekly pujas. A limited number of Devotees is allowed to take part in these weekly sevas on the issuance of a limited number of tickets.
Let us learn about some of the sevas conducted on different days of the week.
Monday – Visesha Puja (Special Worship)
There is mainly a Vishesha Puja (Special worship) every Monday at 6 am. It is conducted for Sri Malayappa Swamy along with his consorts Sri Devi and Bhu Devi in the Kalyana Mantapam (Marriage Pandal) of Sampangi Circumambulation. This seva offered every Monday commenced on April 8, 1991, and later became an arjitha seva (paid service).
After the second archana and second naivedyam in the Lord’s temple, Sri Malayappa Swami is taken to the Kalyana Mantapam with His consorts. After completion of Homas as per the Vaikhanasa Shastra, Tirumanjanam/Snapana (Oblution) is conducted for the Lord. The participants are given tirtha (holy water of the Lord) and prasadams.
Vishesha Puja Timings and Cost – Click here
Tuesday – Ashtadala Paada Padmaaraadhana
(Worship of the lord’s feet with Golden Lotuses)
The main deity is offered the Ashtadala Paada Padmaaraadhana service as the second archana every Tuesday at 6 am with 108 golden lotuses. This takes place for about 20 minutes.
It is interesting to note that a Muslim devotee from Hyderabad donated the required 108 golden lotuses to the Lord. It is now offered as a paid service. It is a feast to the eyes of the devotees.
Ashtadala Paada Padmaaraadhana Timings and Cost – Click here
Wednesday – Sahasra Kalashabhishekam (Oblution with 1000 Vessels)
Sahasra Kalashabhishekam is an important seva that takes place every Wednesday before the Golden Entrance. This is done to Sri Malayappa Swamy along with Sri Devi and Bhu Devi and Vishwaksena, the Chief Commander of the Lord. There is evidence to suggest that this has been taking place since 1511 AD or even earlier.
Only paid visitors can participate in the seva which takes place before the Golden Entrance. Later, they will be offered the darshan of the main deity and prasadams. It is believed that the participants will be cleansed of all the thousand types of sins.
Sahasra Kalashabhishekam Timings and Cost – Click here
Thursday – Tiruppavada Seva / Netra Darshanam (Sight of Lord’s Eyes)
The food offered every Thursday after the second archana is called Tiruppavada Seva or Annakoototsavam.
At 6 a.m. every Thursday, the main deity is stripped of all the ornaments. The namam (upright mark) of the Lord on His forehead is reduced in size to have a clear vision of the Lord’s Eyes.
Later, a big heap of tamarind rice (pulihora), jilebies and murukus is laid before the Lord at the Golden Entrance. It is decorated with flowers and offered directly to the main deity in the sanctum sanctorum. Vedic scholars recite the Vedas as well as Srinivasa Gadya (prose). Only paid visitors can participate in this service.
Later, all the devotees get the opportunity to see Tiruppavada Seva as well as Netra Darshana (the sight of the Lord’s Eyes). It is said that those who pay for the seva are purged of all their lapses related to food and get plenty of food down the generations.
Tiruppavada Seva Timings and Cost – Click here
Poolangi Seva – Garlanding Service
Tomala Seva which takes place every Thursday in the evening is called Poolangi Seva (Garlanding Service). This takes place completely in solitude. Priests adorn the main deity from head to foot with the flowers brought by the Jiyyangars. The Lord appears as though he has worn a flower dress.
The visitors are enraptured by the sight of the Lord in Poolangi Seva emitting fragrance. The sight, it is said, burns all your sins and scents of the past lives.
Poolangi Seva Seva Timings and Cost – Click here
Friday – Abhishekam (Ablutions)
The ablutions that take place to the main deity of Lord Sri Venkateshwara Swamy at 5 o’clock early in the morning on Friday is called Shukravaraabhishekam. It is said that this practice has been there since 614 AD. Bhagavad Ramanuja, it appears, offered Abhisheka on the occasion of instituting the golden Alamelu Manga image on the chest of the Lord. Abhishekam is done with the sacred waters of Akasha Ganga along with spices like civet, saffron and camphor for about an hour.
Later, Abhishekam is done with turmeric for Maha Lakshmi situated on the chest of the Lord. It is only during the Abhishekam that the devotees can see the original figure of Lord Srinivasa who manifested Himself for the sake of people in Kali Yuga at the instance of Brahma and other angels.
Later, Abhishekam is conducted for the golden Alumelu Manga clinging to the neck of the Lord. The devotees are greatly attracted to the seva. The Abhisheka Darshana comes to an end with the sprinkling of holy abhisheka water on the devotees which cleanses them from all sins and endows them with health and wealth.
Abhishekam Timings and Cost – Click here
Nija Pada Darshanam (Vision of the Holy Feet)
After the couples have a glimpse of the Lord at the end of Abhisheka starts the Nija Pada Darshanam (the sight of the feet of the Lord). The paid devotees can participate in this seva and see the Holy Feet of the Lord without any covering. This is the only seva in which one can see the feet of the Lord.
At all other times, the feet of the Lord shine with golden coverings. According to the Puranas, the sight of the Lord’s feet purges the devotees of all their sins.
To know more about how to avail of Srivari Arjitha Seva Tickets please visit https://ttdevasthanams.ap.gov.in
Note: Images are from the Replica of Tirumala Temple (photography is strictly prohibited inside Tirumala Temple)
