Special Article on SAPTHAGIRIVASA SREE SREENIVASA BRAHMOTSAVAM

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SAPTHAGIRIVASA SREE SREENIVASA

BRAHMOTSAVAM

-Chippagiri Mohan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Venkatesho

Vasudevaha

Pradyumno

Anitha Vikramaha

Sankarshano

Anirudhascha

Sheshadri

Pathirevacha

 

 

 

Introduction

In Ashveeja masa the Tirumala

will be come like a newly bride where the Brahmostavas for the Lord Sreenivasa

will be commencing in this auspicious month millions of devotees visit this

shrine. Devotees climb the seven hills by reciting the Govinda namasmarane .

This is a place famously called BhooVaikunta where Lord Sri Sreenivasa

resides.It is a collection of Seven huge mountains Where Adisesha’s seven

hoods resembles , Seshadri, Neeladri,

Garudari,Ajanadri,Vrushabhadri,Narayanardri and Venkatachala.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Brahmotsavam festival is one of the most

important and auspicious functions in Tirumala. Popular stories trace the

origin of this celebration to Brahma Devaru who first conducted this festival

to Sri Sreenivasa . Brahma Devaru worshiped Sri Sreenivasa on the banks of the

holy Pushkarini in Tirumala to express thanks for the Lord’s protection

of mankind. Hence, this utsava bears his name as “Brahmotsavam,”

which means “Brahma’s Utsavam.” In Tirumala, Brahmotsavam is

celebrated in the month of Asveeja masa. This event is conducted for a period

of Nine days. When there is Adika Masa will be there the Brahmotsavams will be

celebrated for twice.

First Day

To mark the beginning of the Brahmotsavam in order

to conduct all the activities smoothly without any obstructions for this there

is a function called “Mangala Prathana” where the Utsava murti is

brought to the Dwajastambha the temple elements followed the Uthava moorthy .

Next event is important that is

“Garadua Dwaja “ Arorohana (Hoisting) This indicates the

significance of the commencement of the Brahmotsavam .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garadua Dwaja “ Arorohana

 

 

 

This indicates the prayers are devotees should

fullfilled. It is believed that Garuda goes to Devalokam and invites the

Devathas to attend the function. This event is conducted that there should not

be any obstructions and bad incidents should not occur at the time of this

Brahmastovas. There is a belief that The women who do not have children by

witnessing the Ankurapana and Dwaja Arorohana they will blessed with the

children.

In the evening the utsava murti will be brought in

the Pedda Seshavahanam by seeing this event the devotees start singing the

Kirthanas and their happiness has no bounds and they are totally immersed in

that event. On this day Lord Sreenivasa will be in the Alkankara of Sreenivasa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pedda Seshavahanam

 

 

 

 

Second Day

Oh! Vaikuntavasi Yestarday you are in the Pedda

Seshavahanam Today you will be brought in the Chinna Seshavahanam The Utsava

murti will be in the Alankara of SreeKrishna holding flute in his tiny hands

to show that he has lot and lots of love towards Padmavthi Devi. On this day

there will be 16 Shodashara Poojas are performed .Panchamurutha abisheka is

also done to the Lord. In the evening the utsava murti is in the Alkankara of a

beautiful woman and will be brought in the HamsaVahana . As

incredibly as the swan which separates the water content from milk, the

dominating deity of the seven hills too, on Hamsavahana, removes the papa and

blesses the bhakta based on his punya.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chinna Seshavahanam

 

 

Hamsa vahanam

 

 

 

 

As the powerful snake transforms itself as a vehicle

for the Lord during the Seshavahan and Chota Seshavahan in the Brahmotsavam

celebrations, the essence of the Sharanagati Tatva. After this Unjala Seva will

be performed.

 

 

Third Day

This is the day where is Lord Srrenivasa is great

warrior where the utsav murthi is brought in the Simha Vahana which signifies

he is the destroyer of Evils.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simha vahanam

 

 

Muthyalapandari Vahanam

 

 

 

 

In the evening the utav muthi is brought in Muthyapu

Pandari Vahanam( Muthina Vahana)

 

Fourth Day:

Nithya Poojas, Havana Homas are performed as usual.

On this day Along with the utav murthi Sreedevi, Bhoodevi are accompanied in

the Kalpavrusha Vahanam. Here the ustav murthi is seen holding the Kaliya Tail

in his hand and pressing the hood of Kalia with his right leg This alankara resembles the Kalia Mardhana when lord is in the Avathar of

Balakrishna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kalpavrusha Vahanam

 

 

Sarvaboopala Vahanam

 

 

 

 

In the night the utav murthi is brought in the

Sarvaboopala Vahanam .

 

 

 

Fifth Day:

This is the very important event of the Brahmastova

where is Lord Vishnu attained the Mohaini avathara at the time of Samudra

mathana to protect the Amrutha from the Dhanavas and lord also took the

avathara of Kuravanji who came in disguise and spoke to Akasharaja the about

of greatness of Sri Sreenivasa to mark that the ustavmurthi is in the Alkankara

of Mohini along with the Mohini Sri Krishna murthi is accompanied.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mohini Alankara

 

 

 

 

In the night Unjala seva is performed to Meena,

Kurma,Varaha, Mrugapathi and other avatahras of lord Vishnu. In the evening the

ustav murthi is brought in the Garuda Vahana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Stars in the Sky are competing with each other

and eager to see this Events. On the earth Bhakthas are mesmerized by the

events and they will be doing Bhajans and Performing Kolaatas and the they

will be singing Dasarapadas.

 

 

Sixth Day

Today is the day for Sree Rama and Pranadevaru.

Today the Utav muthi is called as Venkadri Rama . Pranadevaru Carrying Lord

Rama on his shoulders is the alankara of today. Sree Rama looks very

beautiful by wearing different types of oranaments .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the evening instead of Unjala Seva there will be

Vasanthavostava will be performed Including Bhoodevi and Sridevi are brought in

the golden chariot in the night the ustav murthi is brought on the Gajavahana

..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seventh Day:

It the Seventh day event is also significant where

the utav murthi is brought in Suryaprabha vahana where seven horses are

carrying the chariot the Lord

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sreenivas will be in the Alankara of Sri Gopala

Krishna besides him Bhoodevi and Sreedevi has seated. In the evening .

Sreenivasa will be carried on the Chandraprabha vahana . The Vahana will be

moved as Chandra is moving in the Sky

Eight Day:

Ratosthava marks the eight day of the Brahmastova

where Sree Krishna along with Bhoodevaru are carried in the chariot .Devotees

from the various part of the world eager to pull the chariot by louldly chating

Govinda… Govinda at the time Arathi many magala padas are sung by the

devotees and some devotees will be clapping they will immerse in their devotion

serving the lord.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is belived that the people who watch this Rathostavam will be getting the Vaikunta Prapthi. I think all the Devathas

will be the spectators of this events on this BhooVaikunta . In night the Lord

sreenivasa will be in Alkara of Kalki.

Ninth Day:

Eight days are passed off and this is the Ninth day

which marks the end of the Brahmastova this day is the Janma Nakshatra of Sree

Sreenivasa which is celebrated in a grand way on this day special abhisekams

are formed to utsava muthi this seva is called Avabhritha Utsava.

The Sudarsana Chakra is bathed in the Pushkarini and

all the devotees bathe afterwards. A priest takes the Sudarsana Chakra on his

head and takes a holy bath near the Dhvajastambham. Afterwards, the Chakra is

placed on a high platform, so the devotees can walk under it and be blessed

with the water dripping down from Sudarsana. It is belived that the drops which

fall on the devotees bodies the sins will be washed way. The devotees will be

fully content in their hearts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sudershana

 

 

 

 

Sri Venkatapathi Pathabhirama along with Sreedevi

and bhoodevi will be coming in the streets of Tirumala and stand before the

Dwajastambha for the event of “Dhvajavarohanam,”( the lowering of

the Garuda flag) .with “Dhvajavarohanam,” the Brahmastovas will be

concluded. The priests pay respects to Gods and Sages with the chanting of

Vedic mantras and see them off on their return to the Devaloka.

This year the Brahmastovas are commencing from 21st

September 2009. To mark this great event With the blessings from the Sri Hari

vayu Gurugalu Iam bringing this special article on the Brahmastova with the

pictures.

I conclude this article by quoting Sree Purandara

Dasara Kruthi on the Bhoovaikunta Vasa SreeSreenivasa.

Darayoladhika Venkatachaladi

Sthiravagi Pushkariniyalli Neelasihage

Paratara Sri Purandara Vittalage

Varavenkatesha Sree Sreenivasanige

Mangalam Jaya Mangalam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kalyanadbhutha Gatraya Kamithartha Pradayine!

Sri MadhVenkatanathaya Srinivasayathe Namaha!

 

Courtesy images :Tirumala.org and other sources

||Barathi Ramana Mukhya Pranantargata SriKrishnarpanamastu||

 

 

 

!!! Prathamo Hanuman Nama, Dvitiyo Bhimayevacha,

Purnapragnya Tritiyasto Bhagavatkaryasadhaka !!!

Mohan Chippagiri MCA

Lecturer in Computer Science

Bangalore