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| Tirupati temple with gold plated gopura, thehindu.com |
Above imade ; Being a rich and popular Hindu temple,for the 2024 Tirumala, the TTD officials drafted more than 3500 security personnel for bandobast duty along withe State Police department. This year the officials expect more than 350000 devotees during the nine-day Brahmotsavam festivities on the hill. to thwart threats from religious terrorists. ....................
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| Tirupati Garuda vahana, AP, maalaimalar.com |
The Tirumala Brahmotsavam is a centuries-old, annual 9-day festival celebrated at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Held in the sacred Tirumala hills of Andhra Pradesh, it attracts millions of devotees seeking the Lord’s divine blessings and grace. Brahmotsavam is a combination of two Sanskrit words—Brahma and utsavam (festival). It is said God Brahma was the first one to have conducted the first festival. Hence it gets much importance here on the Tirumala hill.
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| Tirupati deity, Hamsa (Swan) Vahana news.tirumala.org |
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| Mohini alankaram hehansindia.com |
Above image: Sri Malayappa as Mohini, the celestial damsel, as part of the annual Brahmotsavams..............
The 2024 Brahmotsavam began on October 4 and will conclude on October 12. Observed during the Ashwin month (paralleling with Navaratri) of the solar calendar and the Kanya month as per the lunar calendar, this festival is a spectacle of spiritual grandeur. It is named after the legend that the creator, Lord Brahma, conducted the first festival to honor Lord Venkateswara, making it highly auspicious for devotees.
Rituals and Commencement
The festival officially started with Ankurarpana (seed planting ritual) and the Dwajarohanam (temple flag hoisting) on October 4, using a yellow flag bearing Garuda’s image. These rituals mark the invocation of deities and signal the beginning of Brahmotsavam.
Daily Vahana Sevas: Showcasing Divine Splendor
During Brahmotsavam, the main deity (Malayappa Swami) is adorned and paraded on different vahanas (vehicles) each day, symbolizing various aspects of the Lord’s divine nature. Devotees line up in large numbers to witness these processions, chanting and offering prayers. The key events include:
October 4:
- Pedda Sesha Vahana at 9:00 PM – Lord Venkateswara is carried on a seven-hooded serpent, representing Adisesha.
October 5:
- Chinna Sesha Vahana at 8:00 AM.
- Snapana Tirumanjanam (Sacred Bath) from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
- Hamsa Vahana at 7:00 PM.
October 6:
- Simha Vahana at 8:00 AM.
- Mutyapu Pandiri Vahana (Pearl-decked canopy) at 7:00 PM.
October 8:
- Enchanting Mohini Avataram at 8:00 AM.
- Garuda Vahana from 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM – the most significant event of the festival.
October 9:
- Hanumantha Vahana in the morning.
- Swarna Ratham (Golden Chariot) at 4:00 PM.
- Gaja Vahana at 7:00 PM.
Chakrasnanam and Conclusion
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| Varahaswamy Temple and the tank. en.wikipedia |
The holy bath of the Sudarshana Chakra is symbolic of the cleansing of all sins sort of spiritual purification for those who witness it. It means the devotees are free from sins (of course it depends on the severity of sins committed by them).
A Divine Experience
The Tirumala Brahmotsavam is a divine spectacle of devotion and grandeur, celebrating the glory of Lord Venkateswara with deep spiritual significance, colorful processions, and intricate rituals, making it an experience of a lifetime for the devotees.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srivari_Brahmotsavam
https://www.tgnns.com/telangana/tirumala-ttd-brahmotsavam-2024-dates-in-october/2024/09/30/
https://www.navrangindia.in/2024/10/what-is-garuda-seva-what-does-it.html
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