TIRUPPAVADA THRILLS DEVOTEES IN VIZAG

VISAKHAPATNAM, JULY 24:On the second day of the week-long Venkateswara Vaibhavotsavams which kick started on Wednesday, the weekly arjitha seva of Tiruppavada has been performed in the replica temple at Swarna Bharati Auditiorium on Thursday.

Usually this seva is performed only on every Thursday in Srivari temple. The Lord will be in His unique form blessing the devotees in “Netra Darshan” which will witnessed only on this day. The Tiruppavada Seva was performed between 8.30am to 10am on Thursday after Suprabhatam, Thomala, Archana, Ist Bell etc.

After the morning pooja, the Mula Virat is divested of all ornaments, flowers etc. While the temple priests were chanting vedic hymns, the deity is be draped only in Dhoti and Uttareeyam. The Thirunamam Kaappu and Kasturi on the forehead of the main deity are also reduced in size resulting  in the unique posture of Lord where one can witness the peculiar Netra Darshan (where the divine eyes of the Lord can be seen) of the main deity. This divine glimpse of Lord enthralled the devotees in spiritual ecstasy. Later Annakutotsavam is performed where heaps of tamarind rice is poured in a large rectangular tub – like vessel.

Even as the veda mantras are recited, the previous wide Namam was peeled off and a thin Naamam was adorned on the forehead of Mula Virat just to cover the space between His eyebrows.

The significance of this ritual is that it is believed that the Lord’s first gaze after “opening” His Eyes (because they were covered by the Naamam earlier) should not fall on mortals, because it has huge power that could not be withstand by humans. Instead, it is made to fall on the mound of “Pulihora” directly in front of Him, thereby sanctifying it and reducing the intensity of His Gaze. The “Pulihora” therefore acts like a Veil (“Paavada” in Telugu/Tamil) protecting devotees from His Powerful  Gaze. Later Poolangi Seva is performed in the evening where the Lord is draped in colourful gralands of flowers.

TTD JEO Sri Pola Bhaskar, Spl Gr DyEO Smt Chenchu lakshmi, TTD officials and huge number of devotees took part in this religious fete.

ISSUED BYTTDs PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, TIRUPATI