Tirumala Brahmotsavam is an annual festival at Tirumala Lord Venkateswara Temple, which is celebrated for nine days in the months of September and October. This is a Hindu festival celebrated with zeal and grandeur.
History behind Brahmotsavam Festival
The Brahmotsavam festival is one of the most significant and auspicious festivals celebrated in Tirupati. There are several popular stories that give a hint of the basis of the celebration of Brahmotsavam. It is celebrated in the honour of Lord Brahma, the creator God, who first performed this festival to Sri Balaji at Tirupati. Brahma worshiped Sri Balaji on the banks of the holy Pushkarini in Tirupati as a way thank the Lord for protecting the mankind. Hence, this festival was given the name of “Brahmotsavam,” which means “Brahma’s Utsavam.”
Celebration of Brahmotsavam Festival
Brahmotsavam Festival is celebrated with grandeur and a huge swarm of devotees gather in this festival from all over the globe to witness this grand Festival. They participate in the rituals with great enthusiasm to receive blessings of Sri Venkateswara swami. The 9 days Festival is a superb experience for all tourists and devotees. The feeling of complete bliss and heavenly attachment is often termed as “Vaikunth anubhav”, which can be felt during this festival. The major activities that are held during this festival include:
Aalaya Suddhi: Before the beginning of Brahmotsavam, the temple of Lord Sri Venkateswara is cleaned and purified according to the procedures laid in the religious scriptures. The temple grounds and its surroundings are tinted with flowers and mango leaves. This process is called Aalaya Suddhi and Alankaram (decoration).
Mritsangrahanam: Mritsangrahanam (the process of collecting earth) is done a day prior to the first day of Brahmotsavam. The temple officials pray to deities in the temple namely, Vishvaksena, Anantha, Sudarshana and Garuda. They also pray to Mother Earth and accumulate a little amount of earth with which the Ankurarpanam ritual is conducted, the earth is spread in a room and nine kinds of cereals are sown over it.
Dwajarohanam and Devatavanam: Dwajarohanam (hoisting the flag or garudadhwaja) signifies the begining 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), followed by chanting of Vedic mantras by the temple priests. It is believed that Garuda goes to Devalokam to invite the deities, which include Brahma, Indra, Yama, Agni, Kubera and Vayudeva and sages such as Vasistha and Vishwamitra.
Vahana Seva: The Lord Balaji is taken out in a procession around the streets of Tirumala on different vahanas (vehicles). Each vahana has its own implication, and conveys the message of Lord Balaji 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, which is also called the Utsavananthara Snapanam is the process of bathing the Lord with herbal water after the procession. It is believed to mitigate the strain that the Lord has undergone during the procession.
Choornabhishekam: Choornabhishekam involves bathing the lord and his spouses after smearing them with sandalwood powder. This is done in the morning of the ninth day of the Brahmotsavam. The Lord is then taken out in a procession around the streets of Tirumala. The temple priests distribute the sandalwood powder used for the Lord to devotees as it is believed that the sandalwood powder has the power of clearing impediments from one's conduit.
Chakrasnanam: The Chakrasnanam is a ritual similar to the bathing ritual after the performance of a yagna. On the morning of the last day of Brahmotsavam, the Lord, his spouses 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 one of the most sacred rituals of this auspicious festival, and devotees participate in this ritual, irrespective of religion, caste or creed.
Devatodwasanam: On the last day of Brahmotsavam, the ritual of biding goodbye to the Sages and Gods to Devalokam is called Devatodwasanam. It is performed after the daily archana. Lord Brahma is honoured for organising the festival by the temple priests and officials.
Dwajavarohanam: Dwajavarohanam signifies lowering of the flag that is hoisted on the first day of Brahmotsavam. It is carried out on the evening of the last day of Brahmotsavam.
History behind Brahmotsavam Festival
The Brahmotsavam festival is one of the most significant and auspicious festivals celebrated in Tirupati. There are several popular stories that give a hint of the basis of the celebration of Brahmotsavam. It is celebrated in the honour of Lord Brahma, the creator God, who first performed this festival to Sri Balaji at Tirupati. Brahma worshiped Sri Balaji on the banks of the holy Pushkarini in Tirupati as a way thank the Lord for protecting the mankind. Hence, this festival was given the name of “Brahmotsavam,” which means “Brahma’s Utsavam.”
Celebration of Brahmotsavam Festival
Brahmotsavam Festival is celebrated with grandeur and a huge swarm of devotees gather in this festival from all over the globe to witness this grand Festival. They participate in the rituals with great enthusiasm to receive blessings of Sri Venkateswara swami. The 9 days Festival is a superb experience for all tourists and devotees. The feeling of complete bliss and heavenly attachment is often termed as “Vaikunth anubhav”, which can be felt during this festival. The major activities that are held during this festival include:
Aalaya Suddhi: Before the beginning of Brahmotsavam, the temple of Lord Sri Venkateswara is cleaned and purified according to the procedures laid in the religious scriptures. The temple grounds and its surroundings are tinted with flowers and mango leaves. This process is called Aalaya Suddhi and Alankaram (decoration).
Mritsangrahanam: Mritsangrahanam (the process of collecting earth) is done a day prior to the first day of Brahmotsavam. The temple officials pray to deities in the temple namely, Vishvaksena, Anantha, Sudarshana and Garuda. They also pray to Mother Earth and accumulate a little amount of earth with which the Ankurarpanam ritual is conducted, the earth is spread in a room and nine kinds of cereals are sown over it.
Dwajarohanam and Devatavanam: Dwajarohanam (hoisting the flag or garudadhwaja) signifies the begining 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), followed by chanting of Vedic mantras by the temple priests. It is believed that Garuda goes to Devalokam to invite the deities, which include Brahma, Indra, Yama, Agni, Kubera and Vayudeva and sages such as Vasistha and Vishwamitra.
Vahana Seva: The Lord Balaji is taken out in a procession around the streets of Tirumala on different vahanas (vehicles). Each vahana has its own implication, and conveys the message of Lord Balaji 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, which is also called the Utsavananthara Snapanam is the process of bathing the Lord with herbal water after the procession. It is believed to mitigate the strain that the Lord has undergone during the procession.
Choornabhishekam: Choornabhishekam involves bathing the lord and his spouses after smearing them with sandalwood powder. This is done in the morning of the ninth day of the Brahmotsavam. The Lord is then taken out in a procession around the streets of Tirumala. The temple priests distribute the sandalwood powder used for the Lord to devotees as it is believed that the sandalwood powder has the power of clearing impediments from one's conduit.
Chakrasnanam: The Chakrasnanam is a ritual similar to the bathing ritual after the performance of a yagna. On the morning of the last day of Brahmotsavam, the Lord, his spouses 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 one of the most sacred rituals of this auspicious festival, and devotees participate in this ritual, irrespective of religion, caste or creed.
Devatodwasanam: On the last day of Brahmotsavam, the ritual of biding goodbye to the Sages and Gods to Devalokam is called Devatodwasanam. It is performed after the daily archana. Lord Brahma is honoured for organising the festival by the temple priests and officials.
Dwajavarohanam: Dwajavarohanam signifies lowering of the flag that is hoisted on the first day of Brahmotsavam. It is carried out on the evening of the last day of Brahmotsavam.