Lakhs Throng Siva Temples In AP, TS For Sivaratri

On the occasion of Maha Sivarathri today, Siva temples in both the Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh reverberated with the chanting of "Om Namah Sivaya" showing obeisance to the three-eyed Lord.

Devotees formed serpentine queues at various Siva temples since the early hours for a darshan of "Vishwanatha", and performed abhisekhams, kalyanams and special pujas. All temples of Lord Siva in both the states were tastefully decorated with colourful flowers and illumination. The popular Siva temples at Srisailam, Draksharamam, Srikalahasti, Kotappakonda, Palakollu, Amaravathi, Samarlakota and Bheemavaram in Andhra Pradesh, and at Vemulawada, Keesara, Alampur (the Bala Brahmeshwara temple), Komuravelli, Inavolu and Palampet (the Ramappa temple) in Telangana were thronged by thousands of devotees.

The Srisailam shrine, one of the 12 jyothirlingas, turned into a sea of devotees. After bathing in the Pathalaganga, devotees waited in long queues and had darshan of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy. The processional deities of the Lord and His Consort were decorated with gold ornaments.

In Bhadrachalam, devotees in thousands thronged the Atma Lingeswara Swamy temple in Palwancha to witness the sun's rays touching the Siva linga, and the temple premises reverberated with the chant of "Sambho Sankara" by the ecstatic devotees.

Thousands of devotees also visited the Srikalahasti Vayu Lingeshwara Swamy temple in Chittoor district. In view of huge rush, the temple authorities cancelled the much sought-after "Rahu-Kethu" puja. The APSRTC plied special bus services to Srikalahasti from Tirupathi, Nellore and Chennai.

Endowments Minister A Indrakaran Reddy, accompanied by his family members, performed a special puja at the Rajarajeswara Swamy temple at Vemulawada, and presented silk vastrams to the divine couple. The TSRTC plied special buses from all parts of the state to the town for the festival. A delegation of priests from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam visited the temple and presented "pattu vastrams" to the Lord on the occasion.