RE:Brahmotsavam

[Guest guest]

Here is the information provided to me

about Brahmotsavam by

our new priest Sri Srinivasa Bhattar.

 

This Utsava was first performed by Brahma

himself, that is why it is called Brahmotsavam.

 

Indra once killed a Brahma Rakshasa

(a Brahmana with Rakshasa characters or a Rakshasa

with Brahmana characters) and thus

had the burden of Brahmahatya Dosham(BHD)

To relieve Indra of this burden, Brahma himself

conducted a ceremony called Brahmotsava.

In this ceremony officiated by brahma himself, Indra held

SrimanNarayana on his head during the avabritha snanam.

 

Now this Brahmotsavam is conducted routinely

(generally once a year) to wash of all sins.

This utsavam begins with

Vynatheya Dwaja arohana and concludes with

Dwaja awarohana. At the end of the Utsava a

special bath called Avabritha Snanam

(Chakra teertha snanam) is performed by the

Pradhana Acharya of the temple. The acharya

keeps on his head the Utsavar murthy or

Sudarshana Chakram or Sri Shatari and takes

three dips in a river or pond or the water from

Kalasha is poured on. As the water descends

from the deity (Utsav Murthy, Chakra or Sri Shatari)

on to the shoulders of the Acharya, the Brahmahathya

dosha is washed away. Because there is no other sin

greater than BHD , by performing this, all sins

are washed away.

 

This is done every year and the time of the year

varies from temple to temple. the time

is chosen based on sampradayas of the temple.

Some examples of when it is performed are:

1. Pratishtapana day of the Deity

2. Pratishtapana day of the Sri Shatari

3. Thirunakshatram of the Temple Deity

4. It can also be performed on Kamyotsava day

(special utsava done

following the fulfillment of a specific desire).

Thus, there can be more than one brahmotsava

per year at a given temple.

 

K. Sreekrishna

[Guest guest]

That was a very informative followup on my question. Thanks a lot

Mr. K. Sreekrishna. Quite a revelation indeed. Any idea why it is in the

same order from "dwaja arohana" to "dwaja awarohana", I mean the "utsavar"

carried in procession in different "vaahanams"?

 

Anybody has his or her favorite day or night during "brahmotsavam". Mine is

"yaanai(elephant) vaahanam". Especially due to "yesal(sp?)". For that

kanchipuram is the best I've been to.

 

Other favorites are Garuda Sevai and Car festival.

 

Sriram Elaiyavalli