THE LOTUS RITUAL MESMERISES VIZAGITES

Vizag, 29 July 2014: The weekly ritual of Ashtadala Pada Padmaaradhana which is usually performed On Tuesdays in Tirumala Shrine mesmerised the denizens of Visakhapatnam in jam packed Swarna Bharathi Auditorium on Tuesday.

On the final day of the week-long Venkateswara Vaibhavotsavams organised by the temple administration of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTDs), the Vizagites had a rare opportunity to witness the grandeur of Lord Venkateswara in this special ritual.

This seva is conducted after the second bell in Tirumala Shrine. The archakas followed the same procedure in the replica temple at Visakhapatnam. Renowned Spiritual Scholar Brahmasri Chaganti Koteswara Rao earlier narrated the importance of ritual.

The archakas commenced the puja by offering dhupa(arti stick) and dipa(lit the lamp) to the main deity. Then they recited the divine names (108) of the Lord.

While uttering each name of the Lord, one golden lotus was 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.

It will be interesting to note that 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. This reveals that Lord Venkateswara is “Universal God”.

Vizag Dist Collector Sri Yuvaraj, Tirupati JEO Sri P Bhaskar, HDPP Special Officer Sri Sriram Raghunath, Kalyanotsavam Project Special Officer Sri Ramachandra Reddy and other officials were also present.

ISSUED BY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, TTDs, TIRUPATI