Tirumala Venkatesha Abhishekam

THE ABODE OF LORD VENKATESWARA


Venkatadri samam sthanam brahmande nasti kinchana,
Venkatesa samo devo na bhuto na bhavishyati.

{There is no place in the entire universe that equals Venkatadri, and there is no God, neither in the past nor in the future who equals Venkatesha.}


Poorabhishekam on 13–10-2006 to Akilandakoti Brahmandanayaka, Adhimadyantarahitha,
Sree Venkateshwara Swamy at Tirumala






It gives me an immense pleasure tell you that we had a very good Abhisheka Darshana of the Lord on 13-10-2006 friday. We had been at Vaikuntam Q Complex at 2.30 am itself and we were allowed inside at around 3.00 am after checking the tickets. By this time Suprabatam Seva had begun and we could hear the recitation of Suprabatam. We were asked to assemble in front of the coin segregation area (North-West corner of the sanctum), and the names of the sevakartas of Vastram Seva, Udayasthamana Seva, and Poorabhishekam were called out respectively in date wise priority. For the Vastram Seva two were allowed for Udyasthamana Seva six persons were allowed and for Poorabhishekam one per ticket. Sevakartas were given silver vessel containing perfumed Kasturi Chandana to be taken in procession around the sanctum as a mark of honour and the same was handed over inside the sanctum.

There were 42 Vastram sevakartas and 8 Udayasthamana sevakartas so there were 132 devotees in front of us out of total 186. Though we were first in the Poorabhishekam (booked on 31-07-2001) we could sit near Bangaru Vakili. Devotees were made to sit from the Kulashekaralwar Padi (Threshold of Sanctum) to the Garudalwar Shrine in Thirumamani Mantapam. Ladies were made to sit to the left side of Lord and gents to the right.

At the time of Abhishekam the lights in the Sayana Mantapam, Ramar Madai, Snapana Mantapam and Tirumamani Mantapam were switched off so that the Abhishekam of Lord could be visible to the devotees near the Garuda Shrine.

This being the most sanctifying ritual in the Agamas, performed on Friday morning. Abhishekam was done first with milk, then with water, Sandal paste, Turmeric, Kasturi, Civet and Gambir or pachcha karpura, to the accompaniment of Vedic hymns, Purusha Sukta and mantras. Devotees have darsana of the Lord in all His splendour as the Mula Beram is divested of all ornaments and clothes except Alarmelmanga plaque. This is the most thrilling darsana of the Lord in his "nija swarupa' or 'holy nirvana'.

Abhishekam was then performed for the gold image of Srivatsa that hangs on His chest, to the chanting of Sri-Suktam. And at the end arthi was performed.

The Lord was then dressed in a pitambaram and darshanam was allowed to all the sevakartas. A packet of Kasturi Chandanam that was placed at the feet of Lord and Camphor crystals (pacha karpooram) applied as Namam to Lord was given as Abhisheka Prasadam to the sevakartas.<strong>