SRI PAT BRAHMOTSAVAMS GEARS UP FOR NOCTURNAL FESTIVAL ANKURARPANAM

TIRUCHANOOR BRAHMOTSAVAM SPECIAL STORY – 2 SRI PAT BRAHMOTSAVAMS GEARS UP FOR NOCTURNAL FESTIVAL ANKURARPANAM

As a ceremony of prelude to annual Navahnika Karthika brahmotsavams of Goddess Padmavathi Devi of Tiruchanoor, Ankurarpanam-the seed sowing festival will be observed with religious gaiety on Friday evening in the temple.

IMPORTANCE:

Ankurarpanam or beejavapanam is one of the most important rituals of the Vaishnava Agamas including Vaikhanasa and Pancharatra Agamas. The essence of this ritual is to make a sankalpa to celebrate a utsavam( festival) and get the grace of the the chief deity whom you invoke.

Sastras prescribe doing ankurarpana 9 days before the festival. Akin to Ankurarpanam will be performed nine days before the annual karthika brahmotsavam of Goddess Sri Padmavathi Devi in Tiruchanoor.

ONLY DURING NIGHT TIMES:

Another important thing to note is that ankurarpana is done during the night time only. This dictum has its basis in astrological principles. As chandra is the “sasya karaka” the controller of plants, sowing a seed in the day time is not considered wise. In fact chandra is considered strong in the night. Also an auspicious lagna or muhurta should be used for this purpose as any activity that is started in an auspicious time “will” be a success.

The specially designed mud vessels known as “palikas” will be used for performing Ankurarpanam. “Samurtarchana Adhikarana” by Atri gives the details of the Puja Vidhi. Earlier, Lord Sri Bhu Varaha Swamy is invoked followed by Gayatri Anusthanam, Bhusukta Parayanam and later follows Bhumata Udwasana followed by Mritsangrahanam.

In the afternoon the seeds will be soaked in water collected in these mud pots. The sprouts that emanate from the seeds give the indication of the successful conduct of the festival. This entire process of collecting mud in the mud pots, sowing seeds (Navadhanyas) in them, their sprouting is called “Mritsangrahanam”. This event takes place in Friday Gardens.

AKHANDA DEEPARADHANAM

According to Pancharatra Agama Advisor Sri Tirumala Kanduri Srinivasacharylu both Vaikhanasa and Pancharatra Agamas are like two eyes of the Deity. When Vaikhanasa Agama Vidhi follows “Mantra Vidhanam”, the Pancharatra follows “Tantra Vidhi”.

During these nine days, Akhanda Deepam will be lit in Yagashala on the day of Ankurarpanam which continues till the completion of annual brahmotsavams.

LAKSHA KUMKUMARCHANA

This was introduced by TTD about a decade ago in Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple. In this unique fete, the 1000 divine names of Goddess will be chanted ten times by 20 Archakas. The devotees will take part in this ritual as it is performed for well-being and prosperity of entire humanity.

ISSUED BY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER TTD, TIRUPATI