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The main activities carried
out during Brahmotsavam:
Aalaya
Suddhi
Before the commencement of
Brahmotsavam, the temple of Lord Sri Venkateswara is
cleaned according to the guidelines given in the religious
texts. The temple premises and its surroundings are
decorated with flowers and mango leaves. This process
is called Aalaya Suddhi and Alankaram (decoration).
Mritsangrahanam
Mritsangrahanam (the process
of collecting earth) is carried out on the day prior
to the first day of Brahmotsavam. The temple officials
pray to deities like Vishvaksena, Anantha, Sudarshana
and Garuda. They also pray to Mother Earth and collect
a small quantity of earth, with which the Ankurarpanam
ritual is conducted, by which the earth is spread in
a room and nine kinds of cereals are sown in it.
Dwajarohanam
and Devatavanam
Dwajarohanam (hoisting the
flag or garudadhwaja) signals the start of the Brahmotsavam.
It is carried out at the Dwajasthambham, near the Nadimi
Padi Kavili inside the temple complex. The temple officials
hoist the flag (with a picture of Garuda on it) to the
chanting of Vedic mantras by the temple priests.
It is believed that Garuda goes
to Devalokam to invite Gods like Brahma, Indra, Yama,
Agni, Kubera and Vayudeva and sages like Vasistha and
Vishwamitra.
Vahana
Seva
The Lord is taken in a procession
around the streets of Tirumala on different vahanas
(vehicles). Each vahana has its own significance, and
conveys the Lord’s message in its own way.
Srivari
Koluvu
During Brahmotsavam, the
Lord holds court in the main temple, after being taken
around in a procession. The temple priests perform Naivedyam
during this time.
Snapanam
Snapanam (also called the
Utsavananthara Snapanam) is the process of bathing the
Lord with herbal water after the procession. It is believed
to relieve the strain the Lord has undergone during
the procession.
Choornabhishekam
Choornabhishekam involves
bathing the lord and his consorts after anointing them
with sandalwood powder. This is done on the morning
of the ninth day of the Brahmotsavam. The Lord is then
taken in a procession around the streets of Tirumala.
The temple priests distribute the sandalwood powder
used for the Lord to devotees. It is believed that the
sandalwood powder has the power of clearing obstacles
from one's path.
Chakrasnanam
The Chakrasnanam ritual is
akin to the bathing ritual after the performance of
a yagna. On the morning of the last day of Brahmotsavam,
the Lord, his consorts and Sri Sudarshanachakram are
bathed in the Swami Pushkarini.
Devotees can also bathe in the Swami
Pushkarini, along with Sri Sudarshanachakram. It is
considered to be a very sacred ritual, and devotees
participate in this ritual, irrespective of religion,
caste or creed.
Devatodwasanam
On the last day of Brahmotsavam,
the ritual of seeing off the rishis and Gods to Devalokam
is called Devatodwasanam. It is performed after the
daily archana. Lord Brahma is praised for organising
the utsavam, and He is honoured by the temple
priests and officials.
Dwajavarohanam
Dwajavarohanam or lowering
the flag (hoisted on the first day of Brahmotsavam)
is carried out on the evening of the last day of Brahmotsavam.
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