09-25-2006, 10:44 AM
From Deccan Chronicle, 24 Sept. 2006 about the Brahmaotsavam. Starting today.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sound gong for Brahmotsav
Festival By Sri Seetharam Gurudev
The annual Brahmotsav of Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala-Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh is a spectacular event which is dear to all Hindu devotees who make it a point to witness it at least once in a lifetime to seek the Lordâs blessings. Though rituals are a common affair at this holy place, the annual Brahmotsav carries the significant spiritual message of equality, love for mankind and prohibition of animal sacrifice in order to attain peace in the world. In fact, Bhavishotara Purana says it was Lord Brahma who first started the sacred ritual of praying to the Lord with devotion.
The Brahmotsav â beginning on September 25 â ends on the day when Sravana Nakshatram, the birth star of Lord Venkateswara, falls according to the Hindu calendar. On all the nine-days of the Brahmotsav, the Lord is decorated in dazzling jewellery, and taken on gold and silver vahanas and palanquins, round the four main streets, called madas of Tirumala, with lakhs of devotees queuing up to catch a glimpse of the deity. For the devotees, it might appear to be an extravagant affair, but the essence of the message of the Brahmotsav that comes forth is to be spiritually inclined with the ultimate goal of achieving peace. It is only during Brahmotsav that the Lord Himself âcomes outâ of the sanctum sanctorum in the form of âutsav deityâ to give darshan and His blessings to all.
The Brahmotsav constitutes different rituals performed by strictly following the laid-out norms. The day before the commencement of the ritual, Ankurarpana is done by bringing Vishwaksena, the chief of Lordâs armed force, to Vasanta Mandap in order to monitor the arrangements. The archakas put navadhanyas (nine types of food grains) in earthen pots for sprouts with which the ritual commences.
On the first day, Dwajarohanam, a flag with the picture of Lord Garuda, flying atop the Dwajastambham is held basically as an invitation sent out to all Devathas, Rakshasas and Gandarvas to attend the festival. Peddasesha Vahanam, Chinasesha Vahanam, Hamsa Vahanam, Simha Vahanam, Mutyala Pandiri, Kalpavruksham, Sarvabhupala Vahanam, Garuda Vahanam, Mohini Avataram, Hanumadhya Vahanam, Gaja Vahanam, Suryaprabha Vahanam, Chandra Prabha Vahanam and Aswa Vahanam are the chariots pressed into the service of the Lord for all the nine days.
Peddasehsa Vahanam and Chinnasesha Vahanam are chariots for the Lord on the first two days. Simha Vahanam, the procession on Lion, tells us to kill the animal instinct within us and to place the Lord on our head in order to lead a peaceful life. Puranas say Kalpavruksham, that was found during Ksheerasagara Madhanam has the power to fulfil all desires and pleasures. The Lord, by taking out a procession on Kalpavruksham, sends a message, that by praying to Him with utmost devotion, He will shower all His blessings on us, besides leading us in the path of moksha.
Though we all pray to Lord Venkateswara with same kind of devotion, Lord Garuda is His main devotee. The procession on Garuda Vahanam is a sight to watch and the procession on Lord Hanuman also proves that He provided Lord Hanuman a chance to serve the Lord once again during Brahmotsav. The Chakrasnanam, on the final day is auspicious as the Lord, in the form of Sudarshanachakra, gets a holy dip in the Pushkarini.
(Sri Seetharam Gurudev is the Mahapeethadipathi of Mumukshu Jana Mahapeetham, AP) <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sound gong for Brahmotsav
Festival By Sri Seetharam Gurudev
The annual Brahmotsav of Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala-Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh is a spectacular event which is dear to all Hindu devotees who make it a point to witness it at least once in a lifetime to seek the Lordâs blessings. Though rituals are a common affair at this holy place, the annual Brahmotsav carries the significant spiritual message of equality, love for mankind and prohibition of animal sacrifice in order to attain peace in the world. In fact, Bhavishotara Purana says it was Lord Brahma who first started the sacred ritual of praying to the Lord with devotion.
The Brahmotsav â beginning on September 25 â ends on the day when Sravana Nakshatram, the birth star of Lord Venkateswara, falls according to the Hindu calendar. On all the nine-days of the Brahmotsav, the Lord is decorated in dazzling jewellery, and taken on gold and silver vahanas and palanquins, round the four main streets, called madas of Tirumala, with lakhs of devotees queuing up to catch a glimpse of the deity. For the devotees, it might appear to be an extravagant affair, but the essence of the message of the Brahmotsav that comes forth is to be spiritually inclined with the ultimate goal of achieving peace. It is only during Brahmotsav that the Lord Himself âcomes outâ of the sanctum sanctorum in the form of âutsav deityâ to give darshan and His blessings to all.
The Brahmotsav constitutes different rituals performed by strictly following the laid-out norms. The day before the commencement of the ritual, Ankurarpana is done by bringing Vishwaksena, the chief of Lordâs armed force, to Vasanta Mandap in order to monitor the arrangements. The archakas put navadhanyas (nine types of food grains) in earthen pots for sprouts with which the ritual commences.
On the first day, Dwajarohanam, a flag with the picture of Lord Garuda, flying atop the Dwajastambham is held basically as an invitation sent out to all Devathas, Rakshasas and Gandarvas to attend the festival. Peddasesha Vahanam, Chinasesha Vahanam, Hamsa Vahanam, Simha Vahanam, Mutyala Pandiri, Kalpavruksham, Sarvabhupala Vahanam, Garuda Vahanam, Mohini Avataram, Hanumadhya Vahanam, Gaja Vahanam, Suryaprabha Vahanam, Chandra Prabha Vahanam and Aswa Vahanam are the chariots pressed into the service of the Lord for all the nine days.
Peddasehsa Vahanam and Chinnasesha Vahanam are chariots for the Lord on the first two days. Simha Vahanam, the procession on Lion, tells us to kill the animal instinct within us and to place the Lord on our head in order to lead a peaceful life. Puranas say Kalpavruksham, that was found during Ksheerasagara Madhanam has the power to fulfil all desires and pleasures. The Lord, by taking out a procession on Kalpavruksham, sends a message, that by praying to Him with utmost devotion, He will shower all His blessings on us, besides leading us in the path of moksha.
Though we all pray to Lord Venkateswara with same kind of devotion, Lord Garuda is His main devotee. The procession on Garuda Vahanam is a sight to watch and the procession on Lord Hanuman also proves that He provided Lord Hanuman a chance to serve the Lord once again during Brahmotsav. The Chakrasnanam, on the final day is auspicious as the Lord, in the form of Sudarshanachakra, gets a holy dip in the Pushkarini.
(Sri Seetharam Gurudev is the Mahapeethadipathi of Mumukshu Jana Mahapeetham, AP) <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->