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ToggleChandra Prabha Vahanam
On the seventh night Venkateswara parades in cool weather through the temple streets of Tirumala mounted on the Chandra prabha Vahanam. For the Lord, Venkatadri Vishnu, the sun and the moon are the two eyes.
Lord Vishnu of Venkatadri, who goes in procession in the morning on Suryaprabha, goes on Chandra prabha Vahana during the night, as the moon can emit its rays only during the night. The Purushasukta explains that the moon is born from the Lord’s mind, “chandrama manasojatah”.
The moon shines with the help of the sun’s rays. Hence the Chandra prabha Vahana is taken out at night only after the Surya prabha Vahana is taken out in the morning.
Through the Suryaprabhavahana and the Chandraprabhavahana, Lord Venkatesa shows that the Sun’s heat and the moon’s coolness are both his manifestations. The sun and the moon are the god’s eyes. The humans obtain light from the sun and mind from the moon.
With tons of flowers
Throughout the ‘utsavam’ on all days, the entire temple, the Mada Veedhis, the Vahana Mandapam, and the Swamy Pushkarini are decorated with tons of flowers and festive lights. The lighting almost transforms night into day the ‘vahanas’ in the night appear much more radiant and dazzling in the dark. Every day the Lord listens to the chanting of the Vedas and Dravida Vedas (Divya Prabhandas) with Tirumalai Kelviappan Pedda Jeeyar and Chinna Jeeyar Swamies at the forefront leading the scholars.
Eminent musicians are brought to play ‘nadhaswaram’, clarinet, drums, and devotees sing and dance in large groups before the Lord expressing their joy. The procession with the Brahma Radham in the front comprises of decked-up elephants, horses, and oxen.
Many groups of devotees register with the TTD to participate in the ‘Srivari Seva’ activities in various capacities. With boundless enthusiasm and devotion, they dance, sing, and chant the holy names of the Lord in his presence. Huge quantities of divine 'prasadams' are offered to the Lord and distributed to the devotees.
The quantities of food items prepared at the Free Annadanam Complex are truly gigantic which is appropriate considering that the Lord of the Seven Hills was described as ‘Ulagam unda peruvayan’ by Nammalwar. Ancient, priceless exotic jewelry and many new additions like diamond crowns are worn by the Lord during the ‘utsavam’.
