“SEED FESTIVAL- ANKURARPANAM” OBSERVED WITH RELIGIOUS FERVOUR IN SRI TT
COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF LORD GIVES GREEN SIGNAL FOR MEGA FETE
TIRUMALA, SEPT. 15: The annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala has been flagged off with ceremonious Ankurarpanam or beejavapanam festival which is considered to be one of the most important rituals of the Vaikhanasa Agama. Earlier in the evening the commander in chief of Lord, Sri Viswaksenula avaru was taken on a procession around the four mada streets to see the arrangements made for the nine-day religious fete.
Ankuararpanam essentially means “sowing the seed”. The essence of this ritual is to make a sankalpa to celebrate a utsavam( festival) and get the grace of the Lord. Sastras prescribe doing ankurarpana 9 days before the festival.
IMPORTANCE OF ANKURARPANAM :
Shastras says that “Ankurarpanam” should never be done in the day time. This dictum has its basis in astrological principles. As chandra is the “sasya karaka” the controller of plants, sowing a seeds is done in the night.
Agamas also mention that the sprouts that emanate from the seeds are symbolic representation of the success of the event. The vessels called ” Palikas” are used to sow the seeds. After that the brahma peetam is decorated as prescribed in the texts using rice etc and different deities like Brahma, Garuda, Sesha, Sudarsana, Vakratunda, Soma, Santa, Indra, Isana and Jaya etc be invited and worshipped through fire by Acharya Purushas. Then “Somam raja” mantra and Vishnu sukta were recited for sowing the seeds and Varuna mantra chanted while sprinkling water.
TTD Chairman Dr Ch Krishna Murthy, TTD EO Dr D Sambasiva Rao, Tirumala JEO Sri KS Sreenivasa Raju, CVSO Sri G Nagendra Kuamr, Board Members Smt Pilli Anatha Lakshmi, Sri Sandra Venkata Veeraiah, Smt Suchithra Ella, Sri DP Ananth, Sri Sampath Ram Narayanan, Sri G. Bhanu Prakash Reddy, Dr Hariprasad, Temple DyEO Sri Chinnamgari Ramana, Peishkar Sri R Selvam and other officials were also present.
ISSUED BY TTD PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, TIRUPATI