ANNABHISHEKAM PERFORMED WITH RELIGIOUS FERVOUR IN KAPILESHWARA SWAMY TEMPLE

TIRUPATI, OCT 18: The rice-anointing ritual of Annabhishekam has been performed to Lord Shiva in the TTD-run Sri Kapileshwara Swamy temple with religious
grandeur on Friday in Tirupati.

This yearly ritual to Lord Shiva is performed on the full moon day afternoon in the auspicious month of Tula (Libra), where in the full Shiva Lingam is covered with Cooked Rice. Being Abhishekapriya (lover of celestial bath), Lord Shiva is rendered celestial Annabhishekam on this occasion only on this auspicious day.

On Friday the temple priests performed Annabhishekam in Ekantam for over two hours between 12noon to 2.30pm to the presiding deity of Lord Kapileshwara Swamy as per saivagama, with about 250 kilos of cooked rice and rendered Shiva Sahasra Namavali with utmost devotion. A small Shiva linga was made out of Anna and kept in front of the main deity on Panapattam (the shape surrounding linga). This linga was later immersed in the holy waters of the temple tank after rendering Astamantrapushpam. With this the unique ritual was concluded in the famous lord shiva temple in Tirupati.

It is believed that the pilgrim devotees who witness this special ritual will be free from all sins and also gives a chance to move closer towards success since the Pranic Energy (Life-Nourishing Energy) qualities of rice invoke the Power of Lord Shiva to come into the Shiva Lingam. Hundreds of pilgrim devotees thronged the temple on Friday to witness the rare sight of Lord Shiva as Annalingam.

Local temples Dy EO Smt Sharada, SVIMS Director Dr Vengamma, Health Officer Sri Venkatramana and other temple staffs were also present.

ISSUED BY TTDs PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICERS, TIRUPATI