Sevas at Tirumala

DAILY SEVAS AT TIRUMALA :

 SUPRABATHA SEVA

                   The Suprabatham, prapatti and mangalasasanam are recited and a decendent of Tallapaka Annamacharya sings a few hymns of the saint-poet,Devotees present at the time of Suprabatham can have the Suprabtham Darshan, also called Visvarupa Darshanam.

THOMALA SEVA

               This seva or ritual involves the decoration of the Lord with flowers .Thomala is the shortened form of the Tamil Expression. ‘Thodutha malai’- adorning the Lord with flowers. The flower garlands in Yamunathurai are brought by the periya Jiyar as per custom or his Ekangi in the temple with a lighted torch in a procession to the accompaniment of the beat of the Jeghanta.

                           The deity is then adorned with the flowers while the mantra pushpam is recited in the sayanamandapam.

ARCHANA

                    During the archana, also called Sahsranam Archana, the Lord is worshipped by reciting his one thousand sacred names.

KALYANOTSAVAM

                       Kalyanotsavam is also known as Vaivahikotsavam. It is conducted in the kalyanamandapa and its rituals are similar to those followed traditionally in Hindu marriages.The utsavamurthi of the Lord Malayappa Swamy is the bridegroom and His consorts (nachimars) viz. Sridevi and Bhudevi are the brides. An imaginary family pedigree of the brides and bridegroom is recited during the course of the ritual.The idols of the bridegroom and brides face each other with a screen in between. They are allowed to see each other only at the appropriate auspicious moment when the screen in removed. The priests’ peform homas. A purohit conducts the marriage and an archaka is consecrated to perform other rituals on the behalf of the bridegroom.

ARJITHA BRAHMOTSAVAM

                Brahmotsavam is performed for one day in an abridged manner Vaibhavotsava mandapam opp to Swamy Pushkarani. Sri Malayappaswami with his two consorts is worshipped with Vedic mantras and rituals and mounted on three vahanams-golden Pedda Seshavahanam,silver Garuda vahanam and silver Hanumantha vahanam.

DOLOTSAVAM(UNJAL SEVA)

                             Sri Malayappa swamy, Sridevi and Bhudevi are seated in an Unjal(swing) in the Aina Mahal(Mirror hall) and swung to the accompaniment of Vedaparayanam and Mangalavadyam.

SAHASRA DIPALANKARAN SEVA

                            This seva is performed in the unjal mandapam outside the Srivari temple. The beautifully decorated mandapam will be aglow with thousands of lamps. The Lord is seated on an Unjal which is rocked gently to the accompaniment of a clarinet orchestra.

VASANTHOTSAVAM

                        Vasathosavam is a festival of color. These periodical festival, celebrated in the spring season is performed in a abridged manner daily in vaibhavotsava mandapam .

EKANTHA SEVA

                      Ekantha seva or panupu seva darshanam is conducted when the Lord is put to sleep. Tarigonda Vengamabbas harathi (in a plate inlaid with one of the dasavasthrams on each day with pearls.) is offered.

WEEKLY SEVAS AT TIRUMALA

VISESHA SEVA

                         This seva was first introduced in Srivari temple on April 8 th 1991. This seva takes place on every Monday morning. Sri Malayyapa Swamy and his consorts are taken to Kalyana mandapam and worship is offered to them with homas and tirrumanjanam as per Vaikhanasa Agama.

ASTADALAPADA PADMARDHANA

                      The ritual is performed on very Tuesday after second archana. This seva, instituted in 1984 commemorating the golden jubilee celebrations of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam,features archana to the Lord with 108 golden lotus.

SAHASRA KALASABHISHEKAM

               Every Wednesday before Sarvadarshanam, sahasrakalasabishekam is performed for Bogha Srinivasa with water from 1008 small silver vessels.

  THIRUPPAVADA SEVA

                 This seva is performed to the Lord on very Thursday. This worship consists of cooking a large quantity of rice as pulihora and offering it to the Lord  along with the other sweet preparations such as payasam, laddu, gilebi ,thenthola , appam etc. The cooked food is arranged in a pyramidal trapezoid shaped with coconuts, flowers, sandal paste, kumkum etc and is offered to the Lord with appropriate mantras.

ABHISHEKAM

                  Abhisekam to the Lord is performed in the early morning every Friday. Camphor, saffron and milk are used for giving a sacred bath to the Lord.After chanting of the Vedic mantras and prabandam , abhishekam is performed to the gold image Sri lakshmi which hangs in a gold chain in a chest amidst  the chanting of Sri suktam.The lord is then dressed in a pithamabaram and adorned with valuable ornaments.

NIJAPADA DARSANAM

                        Every Friday after abhishekam devotees are allowed for nija pada darshanam. They can worship the Lords Holy feet without any frills during this darshan. The Lords feet will be decorated with ornaments on other occasions.

PERIODICAL SEVAS AT TIRUMALA

FLOAT FESTIVAL

                             This was instituted by saluva Narshima in the 16 th centuary. The festival is celebrated for 5 days. On the first day, Lord Krishna in the navaneeta nritya pose is worshipped.

On the second day Sri Rama is seated on the float and offered the worship. On third to fifth day malayyapa swamy along with Sridevi and Bhudevi is worshpped. The utsava deities are daily decorated and taken in position in the pushkarani on a beautifully decorated float.

VASANTHOTSAVAM

                 It is a 3 day festival conducted at Tirumala on tryodasi, chathurdasi and purnami in the month of chaitra. On all the days Sri malayappa swamy and his consorts are taken round in position and brought to the vaibovotsava mandapam, where abhishekam is performed. On the 3rd day Sri Rama with Sita, Lakshmana and Anjeneya and Sri Krishna with Rukimini are also  taken out in position and brought to the vaibotsava  mandapam.  

  PADMAVATHI PARINAYAM

                               This festival instituted in 1992, occurs on vaishaka sudda dasami. It is celebrated for 3 days .on the day evening Sri venkateswara and his consorts are taken out in position and brought to Narayan giri gardens were worship is offered to them.

2 nd day the position of the Lord will be on Aswa vahana. The parinaya utsvam is conducted on all the 3 days culminated with special poojas to the Lord and goddesses on Vaishaka Sudda Ekadasi amidst chanting of Veda mantras and vadya gosha. ABHIDHEYAKA ABHISHEKAM

                    The rituals, also called jyeshtabhisekam are performed in the month of jyeshta for 3 days. This is held in the kalyanamanadapam in a solemn manner.

                    The festival is meant for proper protection and preservation of the utsava idols through various pujas and mantras. On the first day the golden kavacha of the Lord is removed and abhishekam and snapana tiruamanjanam are perfomed .Later, the Lord is adorned with diamond kavacha. On the second day, he is adoned with pearl studded kavacha and taken out in procession. On the third day Malayappa swamy is decorated with golden kavacha after tirumanajanam.

PAVITROTSAVAM

                     This is essentially a purificatory ceremony,aimed at expiating the sins of omission and commission arising in the daily worship and other relions rited performed in the temple. This function is elaborately conducted in the month of August every year.

PUSHPA PALLIKI

                    This seva is performed on Anivara Asthanam day in the month of july every year. After the usual rituals associated with Anivari Asthanam, held on the first day of summer solstice (Dakshinayanapunyakalam) at the end of Ani month,Sri Malayappa Swamy along with Sridevi and Bhudevi is taken out in procession on a palanquin bedecked with flowers.

PUSPHA YAGAM

                    This ritual is performed in the month of Kartika. The function originally started in the 15th Centaury, was revived in 1980 by the Devasthanams. On this occasion, Sri Malayappa Swamy along with his consorts are brought to kalyanamandapam after 2 archanas and 2 nivedanas and the deities are offered Tirumanajanam. Later in the afternoon worship is offered to the Lord with different kinds of flowers. Later, pushparchana is done. It takes place 20 times. Afterwards , harati is offered.

KOIL ALWAR TIRUMANJANAM

                   Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam is a purificatory ceremony that takes place in the temple incluisnd sanctum sanctorum. It is performed four times a year-before Ugadi, Anivara Athanam, the annual Brahmotsavam and Vaikunta Ekadasi(on Tuesday only).

After the first bell the smaller idols and other articles including the Akhanda Dipams are shifted to the antechamber. The garbhagriha is then cleaned and a ground paste of Kumkum, camphor and sandalwood is applied on the walls and later its walls are wiped clean after a while with water. The water-proof covering is removed and laghu Tirumanjanam is given to the main deity and Bhoga Srinivasa. Food is then offered to the Lord during the second bell.