Jyeshtabhishekam is an annual ritual performed to Sri Malayappa Swami along with Sridevi and Bhudevi at Tirumala in the Jyeshta masam (May / June).
The main purpose of this ritual is, to protect the icons/idols with utmost care. Hence, this ritual is conducted. In this ritual, Sri Malayappa Swami along with His Consorts can be seen in the truest form, without any ornaments.
First, all the ornaments/ armors are removed from the deities. Then the deities are carefully anointed with specially made herbal preparations called ‘Visesha Sugandha Tailam’.
An important Vaikhanasa text, ‘Prakeernadhikara’ prescribes a sacred ritual, Abhideyaka abhisheka for preserving the deities is done. During the ritual, all the three deities are brought to the special platform.
A sacred Abhishekam with auspicious contents are offered amidst chantings of divine mantras. Then the armours are also being worshipped in a sacred manner.
In all three days, the ritual starts with a sacred bath (Abhishekam).
On the first day, the deities are adorned with a most exquisite and dazzling armour called ‘Vajra Kavacha’ (cover) entirely in diamonds. Then the deities are taken out in a procession along the four mada streets around the temple.
On the second day, the deities were bedecked with a charming ‘Muthangi’ (an armour of pearls) and Kavacham (shield).
On the third day, the ‘Golden armour’ is adorned to the Lord.
Thus, jyeshtabhishekam is grandly conducted for three days and it is an eye feast to the eyes. Let us participate in this ritual and seek the blessings of the Lord.
Sriman Narayana, the Almighty manifests Himself in five distinct forms namely the Param, Vyuham, Vibhavam, Antaryami and Archa. In all these forms the Lord is always inseparably united with His divine consort Sri Mahalakshmi.
The Parabrahamam is identified only by the presence of the “Sri”, the Divine Mother.
The Vedas, the verses of the Alwars, the Itihasas, and the Puranas authored by the sages like Valmiki, Vyasa, and Parasara all established the divine couple as the ‘Paratatvam’. While praising the Lord, the Vedas identify him as the one who is “Sripati”. Likewise, while speaking of the Divine Mother, the Sri Suktam hails Her as “Vishnupatni”.
The Almighty has two kinds of determination namely Anugraham and Nigraham. He is undoubtedly an ocean of mercy, the protector of all. He also has the crucial role of establishing ‘dharma’ for which it is necessary to annihilate the demonic forces.
The benign Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi is the abode of unalloyed grace and mercy and has no intent of punishing even the worst sinners like Ravana or Kakasura.
“I pray to the goddess who being the consort of the Lord is with Him in all the acts of protecting the whole universe. She is the very personification of mercy and is incapable of the very thought of punishing anyone” says Swami Desikan in his stotra, Yathiraja Saptathi.
The Almighty is resplendent as Sriman Narayana in all His manifestations. In Srivaikunta, His permanent abode, He is the Lord of the Celestials and is worshipped by Nityasuris like Ananta, Garuda, Viswaksena, and Muktas who reach the land of bliss after liberation. In this Nitya Vibhuti, His permanent abode, He is ever present with His consort the Divine “Sri”.
This land of bliss is beyond the reach of mortals and even Devatas. When the Devatas want to approach the Lord, they do so in His abode in the Milky Ocean. The Lord is present with Sri Mahalakshmi reclining on the Adi Sesha here.
The Almighty in all His mercy comes down to the mortal world, His ‘Leela Vibhuti’, from time to time to protect the virtuous, annihilate demonic forces, and uphold ‘dharma.’ These incarnations are called the ‘Vibhava Avatharas’.
In all these appearances, the Divine Mother incarnates with Him in every ‘avathara.’ When He appeared as Lord Rama, the Goddess Srilakshmi appeared as Sita. When He incarnated as Lord Krishna, She appeared as Rukmini. The sage Parasara in his Vishnu Puranam shows that in every form the Lord assumes, Sri Mahalakshmi too assumes a form that is eminently suitable to His divine ‘leela’.
The Almighty is present within every object in His creation. The Paramatma’s presence within our soul is called ‘Antharyami’. This very minute manifestation too is in unison with His ‘Sri’.
All the above manifestations are beyond the reach of the human beings. Param and Vyuham cannot be attained with the physical body. ‘Vibhava Avatharas’ can be enjoyed only by those who lived in the times of the incarnation.
The Lord within the human beings can be realized only by great ‘yogis’ with immense spiritual strength. The form which is easiest to attain, infinitely merciful, and available always to all the seekers without any discrimination is the Archa (idol) form.
This Thirumeni is “Subhasrayam” meaning it is divine and can destroy the evil ‘karma’ of all who worship it and confer all boons. It is always available. The Lord is waiting for His devotees to come to Him.
In the Archa form, the Almighty in all temples is seen with His divine consort who is ever present in His chest as ‘Thirumarbu Lakshmi’.
The Lord’s holy chest is a temple for Her to reside both to be ever-present with Him and to be ever-available to bless His devotees. In some temples, she resides in exclusive shrines like ‘Thani Kovil Nachiyar’ like in Srirangam and Kanchipuram. In some temples, She resides with the Moola Moorthi as in Uppiliappan Kovil, Thirunaraiyur. In most temples, one finds Her as Ubhaya Nachiyars along with the ‘Utsavar’.
In Thiruvengadam (Tirumala) the most prominent among the Divya Desams the Lord is named Srinivasa as the Devi is inseparably wound up with Him. She showers grace as the ‘Thirumarbu Lakshmi’ and as Sridevi and Bhudevi in the Bhoga Archa. There is no separate shrine for the goddess within the temple on the Hills. The separate Sannidhi (Shrine) to the Alarmel Mangai
Thayar (Sri Padmavathi Devi) is at the base of Tirumala Hills in Alarmelmangapuram or Tiruchanur. This ‘kshetra’ has been widely spoken of in the Puranas like the Padma Puranam and the Varaha Puranam as the ‘avatara kshetra’ of the goddess. She is said to have emerged here in a golden lotus in the Padma Sarovaram, the temple tank when Lord Srinivasa performed penance and worshipped Her with divine golden lotus flowers.
This Pushkarini is compared with the celestial Milky Ocean where the Devi incarnated when the Lord churned it assuming a thousand arms to help the ‘devas’ get ‘amruta’ to empower them to fight with the ‘asuras.’ The task was so mighty that the Lord enticed the ‘asuras’ to participate for a share of ‘amruta.’ He assumed numerous forms to join both sides and also became a divine tortoise (Koormavatara) to support Mandara Hill from below.
The Divine Sri emerged from the churning Ocean and was bathed with golden pots from the heavenly waters carried by the clouds Pushkala, Avartaka which was showered by eight elephants. The Goddess rose from Her Padmasana, walked straight to the Lord and garlanded Him as all the Devas watched the extraordinary scene. What started as an exercise to procure ‘amruta’ for the Devas turned out to be a clever plot with a concealed plot for the Lord to be united with His consort.
The Devas got their ‘amruta’ while the Lord, the Universal Charmer got back His Devi who is also known by name ‘Amruta’. The incarnation of the Goddess Padmavathi Thayar in the Padma Sarovaram at Tiruchanur is a divine ‘leela’, very similar to the mind-boggling effort of churning an ocean with a mountain.
Lord Srinivasa performed ‘Tapas’ in this sacred ‘kshetra’ to be united with His consort.
Various Utsavams
At Tiruchanur, her ‘avatara sthalam,’ Goddess Padmavathi resides in the ‘archa’ form ever ready to shower Her benign grace on Her devotees. It has been an age- old tradition to worship the goddess before ascending the hills to secure ‘darshan’ of the Lord of Thiruvengadam.
All the rituals are performed according to the ‘Pancharatra Agama’ tradition in Tiruchanur. The Golden Vimanam in Tiruchanur is called ‘Shanthi Nilayam. This is a temple where the goddess enjoys a pre-eminent position and is hailed by the Agama Sastra as ‘Svatantra Veera Lakshmi’.
She enjoys all kinds of ‘utsavas’ (Nithyotsava, Pakshotsava, Masotsava, Samvatsarotsava and Pavitrotsava), Thirumanjanam on Fridays, Unjal Seva and daily Kalyanotsavam. During the annual Karthika Brahmotsavam, the Goddess comes out of the temple in various mounts like Chinna Sesha Vahanam, Pedda Sesha Vahanam, Garuda Vahanam, Hanumantha Vahanam, Gaja Vahanam, etc.
The Vahana Seva tells Her devotees that the celestial beings like Garuda and Sesha serve the Lord’s consort just as they serve the Lord. In the Brahmotsavams for the Padmavathi Thayar the Gaja Vahanam is the highlight just as Garuda Vahanam is special for the Lord.
This is because the elephant is regarded as the symbol of royalty, great wealth, and regal splendour. It is fitting that the goddess of wealth should ride the elephant. Moreover, the temple flag hoisted in the Dwajasthambham too is adorned with an elephant.
The goddess is present in many temples as Gaja Lakshmi with two elephants offering garlands with utmost devotion and reverence. The Puranas describe the story of Lord Indra’s elephant throwing and stamping Lakshmi Devi’s ‘prasadam’.
Since then, all elephants are atoning for the great sacrilege by devoted service to the Devi.
The glorious ‘darshan’ of the goddess Padmavathi Thayar, Her Thirumeni sparkles with the glow of gold and her holy face and eyes brim with grace. Her rich silk robes, exquisite ornaments and her huge floral garlands complete the picture of perfection.
The goddess is seated on a lotus flower and holds lotus flowers in Her hand. Unlike the Lord She carries no weapons as She is the personification of grace and mercy.
The Brahmotsavams of Sri Padmavathi Devi in this year will be conducted between 10th November 2023 to 18th November 2023. The grand festival will conclude with the Theerthavari on 18th November 2023 which is famous as ‘Panchami Theertham’ as it falls on Panchami Thithi of Suklapaksham, Karthik month to mark the holy ‘avatara’ of the goddess Padmavathi Thayar.
Auspicious Presents from Swami to Ammavaru
Lord Srinivasa sends an array of auspicious presents like turmeric, sandal paste, rich silks, dazzling ornaments, and garlands to greet His consort. All these offerings are brought from the Tirumala Hills by the officials, and priests and carried to Tiruchanur on an elephant. Lakhs of devotees pour into Tiruchanur to take a dip in the Padma Sarovar to celebrate the day joyously and receive the blessings of the Goddess.
The SVBC channel brings the spectacular ‘utsavam’ live to give ‘darshan’ to people all over the world and to shower the blessings of the goddess Padmavathi Devi on Her devotees forever.
Information Source – SAPTHAGIRI Magazine – Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
Before proceeding to Tirumala, the devotees should go to Tiruchanur for the grand ‘darshan’ of Goddess Padmavathi Devi which is traditional.
Tirumala
is not a place of excursion or place of entertainment. It is a place of ‘yoga’ and ‘practice.’ The Ananda Nilayam is a sacred place for worship. The entire Tirumala is charged with sacredness and godliness.
Devotees who visit Tirumala and the Ananda Nilayam must maintain discipline, peace, and sacredness so that they can experience divine feelings and spiritual happiness.
They should forget about their family affairs, worldly fortunes, power, and status. They should think about their present atmosphere, chant the holy name ‘Govinda’, and discuss things related to the Lord.
Tirumala is a magnificent ‘kshetra’ which can protect all ‘lokas.’ Human beings need not worry about its safety and protection. But the devotees must be sacred in mind, speech, and action in the ‘kshetra.’
One should not waste time in unnecessary talk or argument. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is providing many facilities and services to donors, charitable people, Srivari sevaks, and devotees.
As there is an ever-increasing number of devotees day by day, the facilities may not reach all the devotees. So, the devotees are requested to cooperate with the staff of the Devasthanams with patience and fulfill the grand ‘darshan’ of the Lord. They should respect the feelings of other neighboring pilgrims.
Thereby, one gets the abundant grace of Lord Venkateswara. Consequently, one gets salvation which is the chief target of one’s life.
There is one ceremony or the other almost daily for Lord Venkateswara manifest on Tirumala.
Different ceremonies are conducted on a grand scale for the Lord with different time frames— daily, fortnightly, monthly and yearly. Of them, special mention may be made of annual Brahmotsavas.
Devotees go on raptures witnessing the Lord on different carriages and earnestly wait for the next earliest opportunity to visit them. Brahmotsavas are conducted twice this year much to their jubilation.
Because of the addition of one month as per the Telugu Calendar, two categories of Brahmotsavas are conducted this year, namely—Salakatla and Navaratri (nine-day).
Serpent Sesha’s Service to the Resident of Ananda Nilaya – Pedda Sesha Vahana Seva)
Seven-hooded Serpent Sesha’s service (Pedda Sesha Vahana Seva) to the Lord along with His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi. Since the Lord is settled on Seshadri making Sesha His bed, Sesha’s carriage is preferred on the very first day of celebrations.
Adisesha serves the Lord variously in different postures as the habitation, bed, seat, shoes, upper garment, pillow, umbrella to shade from sun and shower, pedestal and servant. Hence, he is regarded as Sesha.
This procession suggests the rise of serpentine kundalini from mooladhara (primary consciousness) to Sahasrara (highest consciousness) in yoga.
There is one ceremony or the other almost daily for Lord Venkateswara manifest on Tirumala.
Different ceremonies are conducted on a grand scale for the Lord with different time frames— daily, fortnightly, monthly and yearly. Of them, special mention may be made of annual Brahmotsavas.
Devotees go on raptures witnessing the Lord on different carriages and earnestly wait for the next earliest opportunity to visit them. Brahmotsavas are conducted twice this year much to their jubilation.
Because of the addition of one month as per the Telugu Calendar, two categories of Brahmotsavas are conducted this year, namely—Salakatla and Navaratri (nine-day).
Srinivasa on the Younger Serpent Sesha – Chinna Sesha Vahana Seva
Lord Venkateswara alone proceeds on the younger five-hooded Serpent Sesha’s carriage (Chinna Sesha Vahana Seva) on the second day of Brahmotsavas. Born of the aspect of Narayana, Sesha has the privilege of offering his service twice with his intimacy to the Lord. Vasuki is regarded as the younger Sesha.
There is one ceremony or the other almost daily for Lord Venkateswara manifest on Tirumala.
Different ceremonies are conducted on a grand scale for the Lord with different time frames— daily, fortnightly, monthly and yearly. Of them, special mention may be made of annual Brahmotsavas.
Devotees go on raptures witnessing the Lord on different carriages and earnestly wait for the next earliest opportunity to visit them. Brahmotsavas are conducted twice this year much to their jubilation.
Because of the addition of one month as per the Telugu Calendar, two categories of Brahmotsavas are conducted this year, namely—Salakatla and Navaratri (nine-day).
Mother of Learning on Swan – Hamsa Vahana Seva
In the evening of the second day, the Lord appears as Saraswati, Goddess of Learning, on the Swan carriage (Hamsa Vahana Seva). This service suggests discriminating power of the good and the bad. The liberated soul is compared to a swan. God as the wisest swan on the swan carriage offers a delightful sight.
There is one ceremony or the other almost daily for Lord Venkateswara manifest on Tirumala.
Different ceremonies are conducted on a grand scale for the Lord with different time frames— daily, fortnightly, monthly and yearly. Of them, special mention may be made of annual Brahmotsavas.
Devotees go on raptures witnessing the Lord on different carriages and earnestly wait for the next earliest opportunity to visit them. Brahmotsavas are conducted twice this year much to their jubilation.
Because of the addition of one month as per the Telugu Calendar, two categories of Brahmotsavas are conducted this year, namely—Salakatla and Navaratri (nine-day).
Lord of Seven Hills on Lion-Carriage – Simha Vahana Seva
The Lord appears on the Lion carriage (Simha Vahana Seva) on the third day morning of Brahmotsavas. Manifesting Himself as the lion, He suggests eradication of violence in human nature.
Just as the animals are scared at the sight of the lion, human beings should restrain themselves from sin for fear of punishment at the hands of the Lord. In yogic science, the lion is a symbol of forbearance and speed. Thus, the lion simile suits the Lord.
There is one ceremony or the other almost daily for Lord Venkateswara manifest on Tirumala.
Different ceremonies are conducted on a grand scale for the Lord with different time frames— daily, fortnightly, monthly, and yearly. Of them, special mention may be made of annual Brahmotsavas.
Devotees go on raptures witnessing the Lord on different carriages and earnestly wait for the earliest opportunity to visit them. Brahmotsavas are conducted twice this year much to their jubilation.
Because of the addition of one month as per the Telugu Calendar, two categories of Brahmotsavas are conducted this year, namely—Salakatla and Navaratri (nine-day).
Aswa Vahana Seva
On the eighth day evening of Brahmotsavas, the Lord goes for a ride on the Horse carriage (Aswa Vahana Seva). The purpose of this ceremony is that Lord Srinivasa incarnates as Kalki on a horse at the end of Kaliyuga to punish evil and protect the good.
The Almighty i.e., the Paramatma is the Creator of the five elements of Nature namely Air, Space, Earth, Fire, and Water. Nature is the amalgamation of all the five Elements.
All five elements are essential for the existence of life on Earth.
Air moves in the living body in the form of oxygen.
Space and Earth are other essentials to lead life.
Fire and Water maintain normalcy in the human body. It is a great sin on the part of man to pollute the five elements of Nature.
To facilitate his living, man has invented different artificial resources that are contributing much to the devastation of Nature. Plastic is the most significant thing of all. The use of plastic pollutes man on one side and the other side, it pollutes the entire Nature beyond human control.
The main reason is that Mother Goddess can absorb any kind of material but she is not in a position to assimilate the two things into her womb. So pollution caused by these two terrible things becomes highly poisonous and dangerous to human existence.
Polythene and plastic
are not the things that absorb the five elements of Nature. As they remain in their original form, they obstruct the normal environmental growth for human beings for generations. It cannot be destroyed and devastated in its form. It obstructs the natural characteristics between human beings and the world.
The entire mankind must ban the use of polythene and plastic. The things made of polythene and plastic are very small in size but in the matter of spreading, these small things can pollute and poison the pure Himalayas also.
One should think that the use of these two things is a great hurdle for the protection of the environment and sanitation.
Alipiri – Toll Gate to Tirumala
Sacred ‘Kshetra’
Tirumala is considered to be a sacred ‘Kshetra’ among 108 ‘divya kshetras’. In the Kshetra, Lord Venkateswara, the direct manifestation of Lord Vishnu, resides and radiates in the Ananda Nilaya.
Thousands of devotees used to visit Tirumala for the sublime ‘darshan’ of Lord Venkateswara. Every devotee must contribute his mite to the aspect of cleanliness of the environment of familiar Tirumala since it is ‘Kaliyuga Vaikunta’.
If any devotee neglects his role in protecting the environment, the pollution would be uncontrollable. It would become a great hill of pollution and the quantity of pollution would be in leaps and bounds. It causes an unimaginable threat to cleanliness and a neat environment.
At this critical juncture, the process of eradication of polythene and plastic must be streamlined for better living. There is every scope to ban the use of these two dreadful things if everyone should come forward to eliminate the nuisance and create awareness in society.
No Usage of Polythene/ Plastic Bags
It is better for the devotees who wish to come to Tirumala not to use polythene bags and plastic water bottles. It is also better to take their polythene bags and plastic bottles with them if they were brought under unavoidable circumstances or they should be thrown carefully in the dustbins intended for them.
LET US PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT IN UNISON LET US MOULD TIRUMALA A POLLUTION-FREE KSHETRA
is the Abhisheka ceremony performed to the Lord of Tirumala in the month of Jyesta.
This is a three-day ceremony of holy both to Sri Venkateswara which is annually performed to be concluded by the constellation of Jyesta.
Abhidheyaka Abhisheka is another name for this ceremony.
The word ABHIDHEYA means to protect something from being broken. During this annual festival, enough care is taken to protect the three most ancient idols of Sri Malayappa Swami, Sri Devi and Bhu Devi from being broken for any reason.
Hence this is called Abhidheyaka.
Abhisheka is a ceremony of a sacred bath to the Great God with holy material like Pancha Amritas (Five Nectars). So also is Jyesta Abhisheka.
The process of the ceremony
As per the daily ritualistic procedures, Suprabhatham, Tomala Seva, Sahasra Namarchana and Naivedya offerings (of the First Bell) and immediately the second Archana and the Naivedya offerings (of the Second Bell) are all performed.
Then the idols of Sri Malayappa Swami and His Two Divine Spouses, the Mothers of the Universe – Sri Devi and Bhu Devi are brought to the Kalyana Mandapa of Sri Swami Varu.
Santi Homa (Homa for Peace), Sata Kalasa Pratista Avahana (Installation of Hundred Divine Vessels (Kalasas) inviting the Divine beings into it) and Nine Kalasa installation Avahana ceremonies are performed during which all the Gods are worshipped with great devotion having kept them on an elevated dais.
Naivedyam and Harati are also performed. Then the Kankana Pratista ceremony is performed.
The Kankanas thus made ready are bound to the idols of Sri Malayappa Swami, Sri Devi and Bhu Devi while the recitation of the mantras is in progress. The Homa Tilaka is adorned on the foreheads of the three Deities at the beginning of the Snapana Tirumanjana (Holy Sacred Bath event).
Jyestabhishekam
At the outset of the sacred bath, the priests fill the golden conches with the holy pure waters and pour from head to toe Sri Malayappa Swami while the Vedic scholars chant Purusha Sukta and then to the Two Goddesses chanting Sri Sukta, Bhusukta, Nila Sukta and Narayana Sukta.
After the Pure water abhisheka the milk is taken for abhisheka of all three.
Then the priests take the waters from some of the hundred vessels and continue the abhisheka process to them. Then the Abhisheka with Curd and again with waters from some more Kalasas are performed to all the three Deities.
After that in a sequence, the Abhisheka with Honey, Coconut water, Turmeric Water and Pure water from the remaining hundred vessels are offered to the deities. Then in a very systematic and artistic manner, the sandal paste is smeared to the Lord and His Spouses.
All three are adorned with the Garlands of Tulasi leaves after marking their foreheads with holy Tilaka.
Sahasra Dhara Abhishekam
Afterwards, the abhisheka with the waters from the Nine Kalasas is performed through the thousand holes Plate which is called ‘Sahasra Dhara Abhisheka’. The Abhisheka Waters thus poured from the head to the toes of the God and two Goddesses were collected into some vessels.
Puto Bhava
After the completion of the Abhisheka process, the priests sprinkle first the abhisheka waters on their heads and then sprinkle on the heads of all those devotees who participate in this Jyesta Abhisheka Ceremony uttering the words “Puto Bhava” (Become Sacred with these waters sprinkled on your head) in Sanskrit.
Then the three Festive Idols are well dressed and adorned with garlands and other ornaments and sacred offerings (Naivedya) is offered.
Diamond Armour
In the evening Malayappa Swami is decorated with the Diamond Armour, different kinds of other ornaments and garlands and taken around into the holy Mada Streets of the Tirumala Temple.
On the second and third days, the Abhisheka Process is the same. But in the evening Malayappa Swami is adorned with Muthangi Armour (Pearl) on the second day and the third day with Golden Armour.
This is a very grand occasion for the devotees to receive the Divine Blessings of God and the Two Goddesses for all kinds of prosperities, pleasures, happiness and good health.
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