Poola Ara (Flower Room)
By the side of padipotu i.e., the holy kitchen, in the eastern direction, there is one room. As the flowers to be offered to Lord Venkateswara are stored here, they call it poola ara, which means flower room. Some people call it Pushpa mandapam (flower portico).
Garlands meant for various Gods and Goddesses are prepared in this room.
In the Sanctum Sanctorum, a special pooja by the name ‘Thomalaseva’i.e., flower decoration service is performed twice a day. The first seva takes place at 3.30 AM and the second seva at 7 PM. Garlands for this ‘Seva’ are prepared in the flower room.
Similarly, even for other poojas like Kalyana Utsavam, procession etc., the garlands are prepared here.
Yamunottara / Yamunottarai
This room is also known as ‘Yamunottara’ or Yamunottarai (In Tamil). Yamunottara or Yamunottarai means the banks of river Yamuna. The holy tank of Lord Venkateswara is considered the river Yamuna. Lord Venkateswara is considered to be an embodiment of Lord Krishna of the Dwapara age.
Idol of Krishna
To commemorate this incarnation of Lord Vishnu, a beautiful idol of Krishna playing on a flute is installed here. The idol has two spouses of Lord Krishna i.e., Rukmini and Satyabhama by His side. These idols face south. This one-foot-long idol attracts the attention of all devotees who come to Tirumala.
On every Krishnashtami Day Lord Venkateswara Who is an incarnation of Lord Krishna arrives into this flower room. On His arrival, exclusive poojas are offered to the Lord. From there Lord Venkateswara starts to Yamunottara in a Palanquin. In another palanquin Krishna too reaches Yamunottara. Again here poojas are offered to both Lord Venkateswara and Lord Krishna.
This flower room has another significance. In the 11th century A.D. on one fine day, Sri Ramanujacharya explains the excellence of Lord Srinivasa to his disciples in Sri Rangam. He told them that Lord Srinivasa of Tirumala loves flowers and loves to be worshipped by flowers.
Tirumala – Pushpa Mandapam
To please Lord Srinivasa the entire mountain range of Tirumala blooms with flowers of different varieties throughout the year. Because of these flower gardens, Tirumala gets the name Pushpa Mandapam. Even Nammalvar the famous saint among twelve reputed devotees of Lord Vishnu speaks about Lord Srinivasa’s love for flowers in his work ‘Tiruvai Mozhi’.
He further says that the best and holy way of pleasing Lord Srinivasa is to offer Him flowers.
It is said that Sri Ramanujacharya had sent his disciples to Tirumala to see that uninterrupted flower decoration takes place every day. It is believed that he had made some permanent arrangements for this worship. At the behest of Sri Ramanujacharya, his disciple, Ananthalvar had come down to Tirumala to offer flower worship to Lord Srinivasa, throughout the year.
Even before Ramanujacharya or his disciple Ananthalvar, it is said that Sri Ramanuja’s great guru Yamunacharya too had offered flowers to the Lord, as per Ananthalvar’s ‘Sri Venkatachala Itihasa Mala’s book. In fond memory of Sri Yamunacharya, even today the flower worship is known as Yamunottarai.
To show the deep veneration to Lord Venkateswara women devotees do not wear flowers. Flower-wearing is prohibited in Tirumala. Flowers here are meant only for Lord Venkateswara. Hence no human being is allowed to wear them. There are many gardens.
Gardens in Tirumala
Flowers from gardens like
- Perindevi Thota (thota in Telugu means garden),
- Ananthalvar Thota,
- Tallapakam Vari Thota,
- Tarigonda Vengamamba Thota,
- Surapuram Vari Thota,
- Ram Bageecha etc.,
are exclusively used for Lord Venkateswara’s daily pooja.
A very great devotee by the name of Tarigonda Vengamamba while praising Tirumala Hills says “the hill that worships Lord Venkateswara with a variety of flowers”. Now only for names sake we have above mentioned gardens. T.T.D. is now maintaining their flower garden. Even today, the flower worship is carried out with its age-old traditional name “Yamunottarai”.
The old flower room is now converted into a store room to store Swamy’s prasadams like ‘Laddu, Vada’ etc., The flower room is shifted to the premises of Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple. From the present flower room in a predecided way, garlands are sent to the main temple. Lord is decorated with flowers as per tradition and convention. They have not changed the decoration methods. Lord is decorated with seasonal flowers.
Garland Names
Names of Garlands that beautify the Chief Idol of the Lord are as follows – Depending on the place they occupy on the Chief Idol of the Lord, the garlands get different names.
Sikha Mani
From the top of the crown a garland of 8 cubits (a cubit is equal to the length of forearm. In Telugu they call it Moora) goes down from the shoulders. This is known as Sikha Mani.
Salagrama Mala
From the two shoulders of the Chief Idol a hanging garland of Salagrama (a piece of ammonite, vaishnavites consider this as a type of Vishnu) touches the feet of Lord Venkateswara. Adjacent to this another lengthy garland adores the Chief Idol. These two garlands are of 4 cubits length.
Kantasari
A two layered garland from the neck decorates two shoulders. This garland is 3.5 cubits length.
Vakshasthala Lakshmi
Two garlands decorate the two spouses of Lord Venkateswara, Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi who dwell in the chest of the Lord. Each garland is of 1.5 cubit length.
Sankhu (conch shell), Chakram (The Holy wheel)
Two garlands decorate the Sankhu as well as the Chakra of the Chief Idol. Each garland will be of one cubit length.
Katari Saram
(Saram means chain) Near the navel of the Chief Idol there is a sword by name Nandaka. A garland of 2 cubits length decorates the sword.
Thaavalamulu
(i)Under two elbows (ii) from the waist upto knees and (iii) from knees to the feet three garlands will beautify the Chief Idol. First one is of 3 cubits length, second one is at 3.5 cubits length and the third one is of 4 cubits length.
Thiruvadi Dandalu
Two garlands of 1 cubit length taken around the lotus feet of the Lord.
Every Thursday in the evening a special garland apart from the aforesaid garlands is offered to Lord Srinivasa. This particular offering is known as ‘Poolangi Seva’ (a special pooja performed with flowers). At the time of this particular pooja or seva, all the ornaments placed on the Chief Idol are removed. The Idol is decorated with fresh flowers.
Similarly, garlands are offered to other deities of the temple, which is considered to be an ‘Ananda Nilaya’ an abode of happiness.
Garlands offered to Utsava (Mobile) Moorthies
- Bhoga Srinivasa Moorthy: 1 Garland
- Koluvu Srinivasa Moorthy : 1
- Garland Malayappa Swamy with spouses Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi : 3 Garlands
- Ugra (ferocious) Srinivasa Moorthy With Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi : 3 Garlands
- Seetha, Rama and Lakshmana : 3 Garlands
- Sri Rukmini and Sri Krishna: 2 Garlands
- Chakrathalvar (Sudarshan): 1 Garland
- Anantha, Garuda and Vishwaksena : 3 Garlands
Garlands that are offered to other idols of the temple
- Security guards of Golden Door: 2 Garlands
- Garudalwar : 1 Garland
- Varadaraja Swamy : 1 Garland
- Vakulamalika : 1 Garland
- Bhagawad Ramanujacharya (Chief Idol and Utsava Moorthy): 2 Garlands
- Yoga Narasimha Swamy : 1 Garland
- Vishwaksena : 1 Garland
- Potu Thayaru : 1 Garland
- Bedi Anjaneya Swamy : 1 Garland
- Sri Varaha Swamy Temple : 3 Garlands
- Konetigattu Anjaneya Swamy :1(only on Sundays)
Apart from these garlands which are offered to different deities daily, even the garlands for special occasions like Vasantha Utsavam (spring festival) processions (the mobile idols – utsava moorthies are taken in a procession around the temple) are prepared in this Flower room only.
The different varieties of fragrant flowers and Tulasi that are used for preparing the garlands are grown in the flower garden specially and exclusively meant for God.
Twice every day i.e., in the morning as well as in the evening garlands are offered to God. This particular pooja is known as Thomala Seva (Flower worship). The Vaishnava Saints (Jeeyangars) carry these garlands prepared specially with the flowers with great devotion, on their head.
To the accompaniment of auspicious music and the chanting of Veda Mantras the Jeeyangars, before entering into the Sanctum Sanctorum go around the Dhwajasthambham and Vimanam.
Govinda! Govinda!! Govinda!!!
