The annual 9-day Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala will commence on September 30.
The annual 9-day Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala will commence on September 30.
During the festival, the processional idol of the Lord, popularly revered as "Sri Malayappa Swamy" will be paraded on different carriers along the four Mada streets encircling the shrine.
As a prelude to the annual ritual, Ankurarpanam will be held on the evening of September 29. Various varieties of grains are sown in different mud pots at the yagashala, signalling the start of the event. On September 30, the sacred flag with the image of Garuda will be unfurled in the evening inviting deities of all the worlds to take part in the annual fete of the Lord. Later, Lord Malayappa Swamy will ride on the Pedda Sesha Vahanam in the four Mada streets flanked by His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi on either side.
The second vahana seva of the Brahmotsavams will be the Chinna Sesha vahanam on Tuesday morning. This vahanam is symbolic with Vasuki, the five-hooded serpent king. In the evening, the Lord in the form of Saraswathi, the goddess of wisdom, will ride on the Hamsa vahanam.
On the third day of the festival on October 2, the Lord will ride on the Simha vahanam showcasing the strength and power of His divine existence. In the night on the same day, the Lord will ride on "muthyapu pandiri vahanam" - palanquin of pearls.
On the fourth day on October 3, the Lord will ride on the Kalpavruksha vahanam. In this form, the Lord is believed to bestow all boons sought by His devotees as the divine Kalpavriksha tree is considered to be a boon giver. In the evening, the Lord will ride on the Sarva Bhopala vahanam, which epitomizes His universal supremacy.
On the morning of October 4, the fifth day of the festival, the Lord will adorn the Mohini avataram, that is aimed at depicting Him helping the devotees break away from the Maya in this world. In the evening, the Lord will ride His favorite carrier, the Garuda vahanam. Devotees throng the Tirumala hills in lakhs on that night to for a glimpse.
On day 6, the Lord is believed to bless His devotees in the Sri Rama avatar, while riding on His favourite disciple Hanumantha. In between the morning and evening vahanams, the processional deity of Sri Malayappa Swamy will be taken out in a procession on the swarnaratham. In the night, the Lord will ride his divine elephant vahanam.
On day 7, the Lord will ride the Surya Prabha vahanam as Surya Naryana Murthy. In the evening, He will ride the Chandra vahanam.
On the morning of day 8 (October 7), a rathotsavam will be conducted along the four Mada streets. This provides a unique opportunity to the devotees to pull the vahanam. The evening will see the final vahana seva as part of the Brahmotsavams, when the Lord rides the Aswa vahanam.
On the morning of the ninth day of the Brahmotsavams, the anthropomorphic form of the Lord, Sri Sudarshana Chakrathalvar, along with Lord Malayappa Swamy and goddesses Sridevi and Bhudevi, will be given the final abhishekam and will be taken to the Swamy Pushkarini for a holy bath before they return to the Ananda Nilayam. Thousands of devotees line up at the Swami Pushkarini to obtain the blessings of the Lord and also bathe in the holy waters after the celestial bathing. This event is performed after the Pallaki and Thiruchi utsavams conducted in the Srivari temple in the early hours.
The evening marks the conclusion of the Brahmotsavams. The unfurling and lowering of the Garuda Dhwajapatham takes place as per the Agama, symbolizing the successful conduct of the nine-day mega religious event.