Brahmotsavam of Tirumala - Tirupati Balaji Darshan

Brahmotsavam of Tirumala

               During the Celebrations, Brahma took a promise from Srinvasa, that he would redeem the sins of all the piligrims who came to the Temple. Srinivasa agreed, and came to be known as Venkateswara, the lord of Venkatadri Hills.

               Brahma then decided to arrange a grand celebration. He called Vishwakarma and ordered the preparation of Chariots, Vehicles, Temple umbrellas & Diamond ornaments and gave Thondaimaan the work of making all the arrangements. All the kings of India were invited to this grand celebration.

               The celebration began on the first day of the New Moon, in the month of Bhadrapada (Tamil Purattasi) and went for 10 days. People came from every part of the Country to witness it. They desired that it should be repeated every year. Thus it became an annual Festival of Brahma _ The Brahmotsavam.

              This Brahmotsavam goes on for 11 days. Before the festival, tha Garba Griha & the small shrines are cleaned with a paste of Sandalwood, Camphor, Saffron and other Spices, a ritual known as Kovil Alvar Thirumanjanam. The day before the commencement is Mritsangrahanam, the temple officials pray for minor deities Vishwaksena, Anantha, Sudarshana & Garuda for the successful conduct of the festival. Nine Type of grains are planted in the soil. Sprouting worships ( Ankurarpana Puja) comes to an end with this. Thereafter, the head priest hoists the Garuda flag on the Dhvajastambham in a ritual known as Dhvajaarohanam.

               Every morning & evening the Gorgeously bejeweled Utsava Murtis of Venkatesha, Sridevi & Bhudevi are taken out in procession through the streets around the Temple and then bathed in Herbal water ( snapanam Thirumanjanam). The vehicles (Vahanas) which carry the Utsava Murthis every morning & evening for 10 days are Pedda Sesha, Chinna Sesha, Hamsa, Simha, Mutyala Pandiri, Kalpa Vruksha, Sarva Bhoopala, Punya koti, Garuda, Hanuman, Elephant, Surya Prabha, Chandra prabha, Ashwa, Ivory palanquin, & Tiruchi (Palanquin).

              On the fifth day , the deity is carried on his vehicle Garuda. The car festival, Ratha Utsavam takes place on the eighth day, when the Makarakanti Jewel and the Lakshmi haram worn by the main deity are used to adorn the Utsava Murti. On the ninth day the deity is bathed in sandalwood paste, Choornabhishekham which is then distributed to the devotees. The tenth day isChakrasnanam when Balaji, his consorts and Sudarshana Chakra is bathed in the Swami Pushkarini, Then Brahma, the Gods & rishis are given a warm send-off .