The Lighting of Maa ViLakku on PurattAsi SravaNam days -- Part III( Final)

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear SrI VenkatEsa BhakthAs :

 

It is still PurattAsi Saturday . In a couple of hours ,

the Sun will set and SandhyA Kaalam will arrive . Let me

share with you the final thoughts on the Maa ViLakku

lighting from another perspective .

 

Every day at Thirumala , there is a sEvai known as

"Sahsra DhIpAlankAra sEvai" .

 

This Seva is performed in the Oonjal MaNtapam

outside the temple.This sevai is different from

the Oonjal SEvai performed at the request of BhakthAs

in the hall of mirrors .

Prior to Malayappa Swamy's arrival with Ubhaya NaacchiyArs

at this Oonjal MaNtapam for Sahasra dheepAlankAra Sevai,

one thousand eartheren lamps are lit . It is a sight to see

the Temple staff light the 1000 lamps in quick succession

and to visualize the lit flames from the lamps gently swaying

in the evening breeze . The Oonjal is then set up . The devotees ,

who have paid to witness this sEvai take their seats in the marked

arena and asked to sit .Soon after the sound of MangaLa Vaadhyams

are heard and one sees Malayappa Swamy arriving at the MaNtapam

borne on the shoulders of the Temple staff and is positioned on

the Oonjal. The priests rock the Oonjal and the Lord hears

the Veda PaarAyaNam as the golden yellow evening light

offer their salutations to Lord VenkatEsa and His Devis .

The mellow rays of the evening sun match the jyOthi from

the 1000 earthern lamps . The thousand lit lamps remind us

of the AzhwAr Paasuram, where the Poyghai AzhwAr visualizes

the earth as the holding vessel (ahal) , the waters of the surrounding

Ocean as ghee for the lamp and his bhakthi as the wick , which is lit by

Sooryan's rays.

 

The Veda PaarAyaNam is followed by clarinet music accompanied by Tavil .

After VedAnjali is NaadhAnjali for the Lord . The Oonjal is swung by

the Bhattars gently in the background of the JyOthi of the 1000 lit lamps .

This is a blessed sight to behold and enjoy by the Bhagavath soundharya

aanubhava Rasika Saarvabhoumaas .AshtAnga Yogis witness this JyOthi

in their heartlotuses. We are ayOgis and can not see the antharyAmi

Brahman residing in our heart lotuses . For our benefit , the Lord appears

visible to us in an external sense on top of SeshAdhri as JyOthi Tatthva

Svaroopan in this SahasrAlankAra DhIpOthsavam daily . Such a darsana

soubhAgyam of the Lord from His sacred feet to His Crown will erase

all of our vishaya Vaasanaas ( KuvAsanaas) ascommented by an AchAryan:

 

" AapeeDAn MouLi Paryantham PurushOtthamam pasyatha : khalu

kuvasanAdhi nirAsa: sambhavEth ".

 

One ascends the ladder of PrEmai ( Bhagavath Vishaya Kaamam)

and prays for undiminished bhakthi to Him always .

 

People who paid for this service are now blessed with one UtthirIyam ( Upper garment)

and a blouse piece along with 5 laddus as PrasAdham by the DEvasthAnam

on behalf of the Lord of the Seven Hills . Exactly 30 minutes after His arrival

at the Mantapam , the punctual Malayappa Swamy starts back on His

journey into the inner sanctum of His temple . The 1000 lamps are extinguished

one by one and this is the equivalent of the " Malai yERRam " by BhagavAn

during the Maa ViLakku ceremony ( the ascent of the Lord to

His aasthAnam after the Sahasra DheepAlankaara SEvai) .

 

This SahasrAlankAra SEvai at Thirumalai every day is enacted at our

homes during the four PurattAsi Saturdays , since they are the Saturdays

of the month of the BrahmOthsavam at Thirumala .

 

Those who are observing Maa ViLakku Vratham are requested to post

a message on how the Maa ViLakku is prepared for this Vratham in

their homes .

 

NamO SrI VenkatEsAya ,

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan