KAAREERISTHI COMMENCES IN TIRUMALA

EO TAKES PART IN MAHA SANKALPAM

TIRUMALA, SEPTEMBER 9: The five-day Kaareeristhi commenced in Tirumala on a ceremonious religious note with the ritwiks specialised in this particular yagam performing Ganapathi Prarthana on Wednesday.

TTD EO Dr D Sambasiva Rao along with his spouse Smt Jyothismathi took part in this Yagam and in Maha Sankalpam.

Later speaking to media persons, the EO said, the motto behind this vedic yagam is to appease rain god and get good rains for the welfare of the country.”About 40 Ritwiks hailing from South Indian States who are stalwarts in this Yaga Karma will be performing the Kratu for five days and on September 13 this holy fire ceremony will conclude with Purnahuti”, he added.

Briefing the media on the significance of the homam, the Pradhana Ritwik Sri Viswanath Gopalakrishna Shastry said, “In the vedas, Kaareeristhi has been described as the Yagam to appease the Rain God Varuna to shower good and healthy rains that would benefit the entire humanity. Kareeri means the black rice granule. Every item which is used in this Yagam is usually black in colour including the traditional attire of ritwiks who perform yaga with utmost dedication. We chant all the holy mantras from Rig, Yajur, Sama and Adhwarvana vedas and also narrate the episodes from Virata Parvam, Rushyasringa Shlokam and Sundarakanda”, he maintained.

Renowned Vedic scholar Sri Chirravuri Srirama Sharma said the black rice, black goat, black horse, Varshohi plant used in this Yaga Karma are all black in colour. Even the scientists use these materials for “Cloud Seeding” activity.

That is the greatness of our vedas”, he added.

Temple Deputy EO Sri C Ramana, OSD Sri P Seshadri, Health Officer Dr Shermistha, Deputy Conservator of Forests TTD Sri Sivaramprasad were also present.