TRADITIONAL SANCTUM CLEANSING FESTIVAL OBSERVED

Tirumala, 27 Sep. 16: In connection with the annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara which is scheduled from October 3 to 11, the traditional temple cleansing festival performed with religious pomp in the hill shrine of Tirumala on Tuesday.

SIGNIFICANCE: In the jargon of Agama, thus unique fete is known as “Koil Alwar a Tirumanjanam” which means cleansing of temple by devotee. This fete was done not only in the sanctum sanctorum, but also to the roofs, walls, pillars, Puja utensils etc. of the main shrine, sub-temples was also cleansed with a specially made sacred paste.

MAIN DEITY COVERED WITH MALAIGUDARAM

Another interesting feature of this fete, is that the presiding deity and Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy were covered with a specially made cloth “Malaigudaram” to prevent dust, soot and water while cleansing. The idols of other deities, Puja vessels were brought outside the sanctum near Ghanta Mandapam and cleansed throughly.

FOUR TIMES IN A YEAR

Since this fete is performed only four times in a year before Annual Brahmotsavams, Vaikuntha Ekadasi, Ugadi and Anivara Asthanam, the temple staff members took part in the cleansing fete with enthusiasm and performed with dedication.

APPLICATION OF PARIMALAM

After cleaning with water, an aromatic paste made out of sandalwood, camphor, turmeric, vermillion, a special root called Kicchiligadda was smeared to walls, roofs of the temple which not only emits wonderful aroma but also acts as a disinfectant.

ARTI AND NAIVEDYAM

After the completion of the cleaning activity, all the deities, Puja vessels are brought back to the sanctum sanctorum and the veil on main deit and Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy is removed. Special neivedyam and arti were rendered by the archakas amidst chanting of Veda mantras.

This unique fete took place between 6am to 10am. The devotees were allowed for darshan after the completion of the fete. TTD Chairman Dr Ch Krishnamurthy,TTD EO Dr D Sambasiva Rao, Tirumala JEO Sri KS Sreenivas Raju, Board Members Sri AV Ramana, Sri J Sekhar, Dr Hariprasad, Sri DP Anantha, Sri Sampath Ravinarayana, Sri G Bhanuprakash Reddy and others also took part in this fete.