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ToggleAnivara Asthanam - The annual budget festival
Every day there will be many sevas and utsavams performed to the Lord. There will be Daily, Weekly, Nakshatra (star), Monthly, and Yearly sevas. Among Annual sevas Anivara Asthanam is one of the prominent ones.
According to Suryamanam (Solar Almanac), the day of Dakshinayana starts i.e., Karkataka Sankranti, the Anivara Asthanam will be performed. As the Utsavam is being held on the last day of the Tamil month Ani, This is known as Anivara Asthanam.
Koil Alwar Tirumanjana Seva
On the preceding Tuesday of Anivara Asthanam, Koil Alwar Tirumanjana seva will take place. The traditional temple cleaning fete, Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam will held as a prelude to the Anivara Asthanam.
All the utsava idols, and puja utensils were temporarily removed from the sanctum sanctorum, and the main idol was provided with a waterproof covering before the priests carried out the cleansing rituals.
A herbal mixture of Parimalam made of refined camphor, sandalwood powder, vermilion, turmeric, and a tuber Kichiligadda that acts as a disinfectant was applied to all the walls, smeared on roofs and pillars inside the sanctum sanctorum as well as at other sub-temples inside the temple
In this seva, the temple, sacred vessels used in the temple, and Utsava Deities will be cleaned with fragrant paste. Koil Alwar Tirumanjana seva usually be performed on four occasions every year. On the preceding Tuesdays of
- Ugadi,
- Anivara Asthanam,
- Brahmotsavams and
- Vaikunta Ekadasi.
Jeeyar Swamy Present Vastram
Tirumala pontiff Sri Sri Sri Pedda Jeeyarswamy brings six big pattu vastrams on a silver platter over his head to Srivari temple of which he presents four vastrams to Mula Virat and two to utsava idols of Sri Malayappa Swami and Sri Viswaksena.
Thereafter archaka took over temple keys and place the keys at the Lord’s feet. After that, Harati, Chandana, Tambulam, Thirtha and Shatari honors will be given.
Significance of Festival
On this day utsava idols of Sri Malayappa Swami and His consorts are brought on Sarvabhoopala Vahanam (Sarvabhupala Vahanam) to Golden threshold (Bangaru Vakili) along with the idol of Senadhipathi ‘Sri Viswaksena’.
Special pujas, Prasadam, and Kainkaryams are performed for them and also for the Main Deity simultaneously.
Flower Palanquin - Pushpa pallaki
In the evening there will be a Pushpapallaki Seva (flower palanquin) to the Lord.
In that seva, Lord Malayappa Swamy along with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi will be taken in a well decorated Pushpa pallaki around four Mada streets to the delight of the devotees, who seek the blessings of the Lord. Lord blesses all the devotees.
In this Pushpa pallaki, the Darshan of Sri Malayappa Swamy, results in the endless blessings on the Devotees.
Special Attraction
This flower palanquin is decorated with lots of sacred flowers. Approximately 1000 kg of flowers are being used to decorate the flower palanquin. Every year TTD Garden Department will take care of the flower palanquin. The flowers for embellishing the palanquin will be given by the donors.
Before a week the Asthanam day, garden department staff will start the decoration of performing pujas. After puja, they will start decorating the palanquin according to some theme like dasavatharas theme etc. The exquisite palanquin with decorated flowers feasts the eyes of the devotees.
Then the offered flowers are sent for reuse as intense sticks using dry-flower technology methods started by the TTD recently.
Procession of Pushpa Pallaki on the day of Anivara Asthanam
Importance of Anivara Asthanam
Pilgrims are not allowed for this Anivara Asthanam festival.
The uniqueness of the festival is that the previous year’s accounts of the temple is presented before the Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy.
New account books will also be presented at the feet of the Lord for recording the accounts of the next financial year. The entire process is called 'Asthanam' which will be performed in the Sanctum Sanctorum near Bangaru Vakili in the presence of Processional Deities of Lord Malayappa Swamy and his two consorts.Â
