Tirumala Temple is one of the 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desas. The main deity of the temple is Sri Venkateswara Swamy.
It is said that in Tirumala, there are 433 festivals celebrated in a
year of 365 days in the form of Daily/Weekly Sevas, Utsavams and Festivals.
SrivariCollections presents you the article on Sri Venkateswara Swamy weekly Sevas which are being performed to the Main Deity or to Utsava Murthies(Sri Malayappa Swamy/Koluvu Srinivasa Murthy/Bhoga Srinivasa Muthy) in Tirumala Temple. The article describes the importance and significance of Weekly sevas(Varantara Sevalu) .
The Weekly Arjitha sevas are 1)Visesha Puja(Monday), 2)Ashtadhala Swarna Padma Pooja(Tuesday), 3)Sahasrakalasha Abhishekam(Wednesday), 4)Thirupavadai(Thursday) and 5)Abhishekam(Friday).
All these festivals/rituals are being performed by following the tenets prescribed in the Vaikhanasa agama texts.
SrivariCollections presents you the article on Sri Venkateswara Swamy weekly Sevas which are being performed to the Main Deity or to Utsava Murthies(Sri Malayappa Swamy/Koluvu Srinivasa Murthy/Bhoga Srinivasa Muthy) in Tirumala Temple. The article describes the importance and significance of Weekly sevas(Varantara Sevalu) .
The Weekly Arjitha sevas are 1)Visesha Puja(Monday), 2)Ashtadhala Swarna Padma Pooja(Tuesday), 3)Sahasrakalasha Abhishekam(Wednesday), 4)Thirupavadai(Thursday) and 5)Abhishekam(Friday).
All these festivals/rituals are being performed by following the tenets prescribed in the Vaikhanasa agama texts.
Weekly Sevas:
6:00am, Monday: Visesha Pooja
The Visesha Pooja is performed to Utsava Murthy on every monday at 6:00am. After the second archana and second Naivedyam, Sri Malayappa Swami and his consorts Goddess Sridevi and Bhudevi are brought outside from the main temple and placed in the Kalyana Mandapam(Mukha Mantapa) for the "Chatdurdasa Kalasa Visesha Puja" popularly known as Visesha Pooja.
During the seva, Homos are being performed and Snapanna Thirumanjanam will be performed to the Utsava Murthy Sri Malayappa Swamy and his consorts with all fourteen vessels(Kalasha's). Seven vessels out of fourteen vessels will have gingerly oil, Milk, Curd,
Ghee, Akshatas(Akshimthalu[in Telugu]/Yellow Rice), Darbha and
Panchagavya. The remaining seven vessels contain Sudhodaka(Pure Water).
The Visesha Pooja was started on April 8, 1991 and then after it became as Arjitha Seva.
6:00am Tuesday: Asthadala Padmaaradhana
The Asthadala Padma Aradhana is offered to the Main Deity of the Tirumala Temple. After performing second Archana(second bell) this seva is performed at the holy feet of the Lord with 108 Golden Lotus Flowers. Priests recite suitable prayers while performing this visesha pooja. The duration of the seva is 20minutes.
This seva was started on the Golden Jubli day of TTD in 1984. An unknown muslim devotee donated these 108 Golden Padma Flowers.
This is an Arjitha Seva. The devotees who have paid for this seva can sit in the Mandapam between Bangaru Vakili(Golden Doorway) and Kulashekara Padi.
6:00am Wednesday: Sahasra Kalashabhishekam
The Sahasra Kalasa Abhishekam seva is offered to Sri Bhoga Srinivasa Murthi and Sri Malayappa Swamy along with his consorts. This seva is performed to Utsava Murthies after the second bell in the morning outside the Bangaru Vakili.
Bhoga Srinivas Murthy is brought outside the Golden doorway and will be connected by means of thin rope with the Mula Virat in the sanctum. One end of the rope will be tied round the feet of the Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy and the other end will be placed near the Kathithasta of the Moola Vigraha(Mula Virat) thus symbolically established a relationship between the Main deity and the Bhoga Srinivas Murthy to achieve two purposes.
Firstly, it becomes clear that Bhoga Srinivasa is only representing the Moola Vigraha. Secondly it makes clear that the Pooja offered to Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy is meant and is euated to having offered to the main deity.
Sri Malayappa Swamy with his two consorts Goddess Bhudevi and Sridevi are also brought from the Sanctum and placed outside the Bangaru Vakili.
The idol of Viswaksena is also brought from the sanctum and placed outside the Bangaru Vakili.
One Thousand and Eight Silver Vessels filled with Abhisheka Thirtha along with eight more Parivara Vessels and One Gold vessel filled with water are placed in the mantapa in front of Bangaru Vakili. The Pancha Sukta and the Pancha Shanthi Mantras are recited. Thirumanjana Abhishekam is offered to Sri Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy, Sri Malayappa Swami and his consorts and Viswaksena with the water in the 1008 Kalasas and the other eight Parivara Kalasas.
At the conclusion of the Tirumanjanam, the water in the Golden Vessel alone will be carried by one Archaka to the accompaniment of the recitation of Vedas and Mangala Vayidya(మంగళ వాయిద్యాల మధ్య), round the Ananda Vimana Prakara, the Dwajasthamba and then taken to the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Then an Archana is offered to the main deity and the water from the Golden Vessel is sprinkled on the Feet of the main deity, thus symbolically including the Mula Virat(main deity) also in the Sahasra Kalasabhishekam. This archana is offered in private where a curtain will be drawn before the Moola Vigraha and only Archaka will be inside the temple.
Thursday: Thirupavadai and Poolangi Seva
Every Thursday, after the morning pooja, all the ornaments and flowers etc., adorning the Moola Vigraha will be removed. The deity will be adorned only in Dhoti and Uttareeyam. The Thirunaman Kaappu and Kasturi on the forehead of the main deity are also reduced in size. This results in the unique rare situation where one can have the NETRA DARSHAN of the main deity.
All other days the wide Namam with which the Lord's forehead is adorned almost covers half of his eyes, but on Thursday morning we can have the Full Darshan of the benign eyes of the main deity.
After the NETRA DARSHAN, Thiruppavadai Seva is performed. This seva is also an Arjitha
Seva which is performed in the Mantapam infront of the Bangaru Vakili. A large rectangular tub - like silver vessel is placed in the Mantapam and a huge quantity of tamarind rice is placed in that receptacle to be offered as naivedya to the Lord.
After the Tiruppavadai Seva, the temple observes some rituals like suddhi(cleaning of the temple) etc., and the Moola Vigraha is adorned with Velvet Gown from Crown to the Feet and then the Moola Murthy(main deity) is decorated with flower garlands. This service of the main deity being adorned exclusively with garlands is known as as Poolangi Seva.
The Poolangi Seva is mentioned in the Silappadikaram, the early Tamil Classic(756 A.D.) which we have a literary evidence to prove that this poolangi seva was in existence even in the Eighteen Century A.D.
3:00am Friday, Abhishekam for Mula Vigraha
Every Friday after Suprabhatha Seva, the regular Thomala and Archana Sevas are done in privacy and then Srivari Abhishekam is observed. This is an Arjitha Seva.
The Abhishekam starts with water brought from Aksa Ganga Theertham, then with Milk, then with Suddhodakam, Chandanam and other scented articles like powedered Pachcha Karpooram, Saffron paste, drops of civet oil, Chandanam and etc., which are brought earlier in the silver vessels and then again with Water. While performing the Abhishekam to the Moola Virat, Purshasukta, Vishnusukta, Srisukta, Bhusuktha, Neelasuktha and selected Pasurams from the Divya Pradbandham are all recited by the priests. Later, the Abhishekam is performed for the image of Goddess Lakshmi on his chest with Turmeric Powder.
The Arjitha Sevaparas, devotees paid for watching this Seva are all assembled inside the temple and each one is entrusted with one Silver Vessel and contain various scented articles like powedered Pachcha Karpooram, Saffron paste, drops of civet oil, Chandanam and etc., All the Arjitha Sevaparas carry these articles round the inner prakara of the temple accompained by Mangala Vayidyas(మంగళ వాయిద్యాల మధ్య). When they reach the Bangaru Vakili, the vessels and plates are collected by the Archakas and the contents will be used while performing Abhishekam to the Main Deity.
In the year 966A.D. a "Pallava Queen Saamaavai" gifted the present silver idol of Bhoga Sinivasa Murthy to the temple. This idol is exact miniature replica of the main vigraha. The year when she gifted, it was on Jyestha Bahula Tritheeya when Sravana star was in the ascendent in Akshya Year and it was on FRIDAY. While installing the Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy idol in the Sanctum, an Abhishekam was performed to the main deity also. Thus started the practice of doing the Abhishekam for the Moola Muthy on Every Friday.
At the conclusion of the Tirumanjanam, the water in the Golden Vessel alone will be carried by one Archaka to the accompaniment of the recitation of Vedas and Mangala Vayidya(మంగళ వాయిద్యాల మధ్య), round the Ananda Vimana Prakara, the Dwajasthamba and then taken to the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Then an Archana is offered to the main deity and the water from the Golden Vessel is sprinkled on the Feet of the main deity, thus symbolically including the Mula Virat(main deity) also in the Sahasra Kalasabhishekam. This archana is offered in private where a curtain will be drawn before the Moola Vigraha and only Archaka will be inside the temple.
Thursday: Thirupavadai and Poolangi Seva
Every Thursday, after the morning pooja, all the ornaments and flowers etc., adorning the Moola Vigraha will be removed. The deity will be adorned only in Dhoti and Uttareeyam. The Thirunaman Kaappu and Kasturi on the forehead of the main deity are also reduced in size. This results in the unique rare situation where one can have the NETRA DARSHAN of the main deity.
All other days the wide Namam with which the Lord's forehead is adorned almost covers half of his eyes, but on Thursday morning we can have the Full Darshan of the benign eyes of the main deity.
Seva which is performed in the Mantapam infront of the Bangaru Vakili. A large rectangular tub - like silver vessel is placed in the Mantapam and a huge quantity of tamarind rice is placed in that receptacle to be offered as naivedya to the Lord.
After the Tiruppavadai Seva, the temple observes some rituals like suddhi(cleaning of the temple) etc., and the Moola Vigraha is adorned with Velvet Gown from Crown to the Feet and then the Moola Murthy(main deity) is decorated with flower garlands. This service of the main deity being adorned exclusively with garlands is known as as Poolangi Seva.
The Poolangi Seva is mentioned in the Silappadikaram, the early Tamil Classic(756 A.D.) which we have a literary evidence to prove that this poolangi seva was in existence even in the Eighteen Century A.D.
Every Friday after Suprabhatha Seva, the regular Thomala and Archana Sevas are done in privacy and then Srivari Abhishekam is observed. This is an Arjitha Seva.
The Abhishekam starts with water brought from Aksa Ganga Theertham, then with Milk, then with Suddhodakam, Chandanam and other scented articles like powedered Pachcha Karpooram, Saffron paste, drops of civet oil, Chandanam and etc., which are brought earlier in the silver vessels and then again with Water. While performing the Abhishekam to the Moola Virat, Purshasukta, Vishnusukta, Srisukta, Bhusuktha, Neelasuktha and selected Pasurams from the Divya Pradbandham are all recited by the priests. Later, the Abhishekam is performed for the image of Goddess Lakshmi on his chest with Turmeric Powder.The Arjitha Sevaparas, devotees paid for watching this Seva are all assembled inside the temple and each one is entrusted with one Silver Vessel and contain various scented articles like powedered Pachcha Karpooram, Saffron paste, drops of civet oil, Chandanam and etc., All the Arjitha Sevaparas carry these articles round the inner prakara of the temple accompained by Mangala Vayidyas(మంగళ వాయిద్యాల మధ్య). When they reach the Bangaru Vakili, the vessels and plates are collected by the Archakas and the contents will be used while performing Abhishekam to the Main Deity.
In the year 966A.D. a "Pallava Queen Saamaavai" gifted the present silver idol of Bhoga Sinivasa Murthy to the temple. This idol is exact miniature replica of the main vigraha. The year when she gifted, it was on Jyestha Bahula Tritheeya when Sravana star was in the ascendent in Akshya Year and it was on FRIDAY. While installing the Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy idol in the Sanctum, an Abhishekam was performed to the main deity also. Thus started the practice of doing the Abhishekam for the Moola Muthy on Every Friday.