DENIZENS OF GUNTUR BOWLED OVER “GOLDEN LOTUS RITUAL”

GUNTUR, APRIL 14: Every day is a festival day in Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara as about 450 festivals are being performed in a year which comprises daily, weekly, fortnight, monthly and annual festivals.

To give a taste of this grandeur of festivities, TTD has commenced a novel programme Venkateswara Vaibhavotsavams since 2014. In this spiritual programme, the replicas of Tirumala Ananda Nilayam Vimanam and presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara will be set up in the chosen cities of the state and week long festivities that are being observed in Tirumala are replicated here.

This year old programme has become a huge hit among the denizens of the cities as they could get an opportunity to witness all the arjitha sevas that are being performed to Lord in Tirumala, sitting right in their home towns and enjoy the divine rituals on free of cost.

As a part of the ongoing fete in Guntur, the denizens were bowled over by the “Astadala Pada Pamaradhana” Seva – the weekly seva that was performed here on Tuesday after performing the daily rituals of Suprabhatam, Thomala and Archana.

Significance of Astadala Pada Padmaradhana :

This seva is conducted after the second bell. This ritual was first introduced in Srivari Temple in 1984 on the Golden Jubilee Year of TTD, when a Muslim Devotee offered Lord Srinivasa 108 gold lotuses.

The archaka commences the puja by offering dhupa(arti stick) and dipa(lit the lamp) to the main deity. Then he recites the divine names (108) of the Lord.

While uttering each name of the Lord, one golden lotus is offered at the holy feet of the lord. On completion of the archana to the Mula Virat, archana is offered to Goddesses Lakshmi and Padmavati. Later Ratha Harati is offered first, followed by ordinary Harati.

ISSUED BY TTDs PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, TIRUPATI