ARCHAKAS RENDERS SACRED BATH TO MOTHER AS “MOTHER”

ABOUT 40 TYPES OF SACRED BATHING STYLES BEING RENDERED TO DEITY

AGAMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF SNAPANA TIRUMANJANAM

TIRUCHANOOR, DECEMBER 14: Snapana Tirumanjanam-the sacred bath which is being rendered every day to Goddess Padmavathi Devi at Tiruchanoor during the annual Karthika Brahmotsavams involves 40 interesting bathing styles.

ARCHAKA RENDERS SNAPANOPACHARAM AS MATRUVAT:

According to senior Archaka of the temple, Sri Vempalli Srinivasa Bhattar, usually archakas render the holy bath to divine mother as if a mother rendering bath to her new born baby with utmost live and care. This gesture is called “Matruvat” in Vedic language. During Snapana Tirumanjanam, the archakas renders forty types of ‘Snanopacharams’ to Goddess Padmavathi Devi.

INTERESTING VEDIC JARGONS INVOLVED IN HOLY BATH:

The Jalavritam-sacred bath includes different phrases which are Chatvaarimshat-40 in numbers. The religious fete commences with Panchakarma, Punyahavachanam, Navakalasa Sthapanam etc. and all the deities are invited.

Later the Goddess is seated on a specially arranged Snana Peetham in Mukha Mandapam. Some of the important bathing styles that are being rendered to Goddess during celestial bath-

Snana Saathi-wearing an exclusive sari for bathing purpose

Chandana Lepanam-applying sandal paste all over the body

Tailabhyangana-Applying oil to Her hair

Amalaka snana-applying Amla paste and giving head bath

Chatra-Chamara Seva-Raising the holy umbrella to provide Her shade

Vyajanam-offering col breeze with holy fan and drying Her hair

Kinkita-Combing the mother’s hair

Adarsham-providing mirror after getting ready to check Her divine beauty

PANCHASUKTAS RENDERED:

While offering the holy bath the Archakas render Pancha suktas. Unlike in Tirumala where the suktas commence with recitation of Purushasuktam, here the archakas begin the holy bath fete to Goddess chanting Sri Suktam followed by Bhu, Neela, Dasa shanti and Slokas from Taittiriyopanishat. Again the recitation of slokas from Taittiriyopanishat for this ritual are as per the tenets prescribed in Seekshavalli, Bhruguvalli and Anandavalli.

ISSUED BY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER TTDs, TIRUPATI