SEVAS IN TIRUMALA TIRUPATHI TEMPLE

                             SEVAS IN TIRUMALA TIRUPATHI TEMPLE

        MOST OF US KNOW THE SEVAS WHICH ARE DONE IN TIRUMALA BUT WE DON’T KNOW HOW THEY ARE DONE. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME DETAILS WHICH I CAME TO KNOW.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPRABATHA SEVA

         Suprabatha Seva is done in early morning hours. Prathyusha Poojas starts with this Suprabatha Seva only. It is the first Seva done to Lord Venkateswara Swamy. It starts at 3.00A.m. Before this time temple Priests, Jeeyam Garulu, Ekangulu, Yadava Vamsikulu (Saniddigolla), who got the blessings of Lord Srinivasa come near the temple. They will ring the Temple bell near the Nagara Mandapam. First Sannidigolla enters into the temple through the Maha Dwaram. Then Preists also enters the temple. The keys of the temple are kept near the Kshetra Palaka near the Dwajasthamba and they will take his permission to open the temple doors. People who sing Suprbatham and the successors of Annamacharya will be ready along with their instruments to sing Maylukolupu (waking up Lord Srinivasa). Sannidhigolla opens the doors of BagaruVakili and goes inside with a Dhiviti (stick with fire) and Preists starts singing Suprabatham. It is followed by Sri Venkateswara Shotram, Prapathi, Mangala Sasanam. At the same time successors of Annamacharya play Thambura (musical instrument) and wake up Lord Venkateswara Swamy. Priests will now open the doors of Garbalayam and take the blessings of Lord Srinivasa by touching his feet and wakes him up. Curtain is placed in the front of the Lord. Main preist will offer Prasadam and Thambulam to the Lord. They will give  Navaneetha Harathi (Arthi) to the Lord. After reading Mangala Sasanam they will again open the doors and do Karpura Harathi and allow the devotees inside the temple. At this time the Darshan given by the god to the devotees is called as VISWAROOPA DARSANAM.  

      Around 200 to 250 devotees are permitted to view this Seva every day. The cost of the ticket is around 200Rs and can be purchased a day early from Vijaya Bank counter or procured from the Arjitham Officer by sending a D.D before hand.

 

SUDDHI

      After Suprabhata Seva from 3.30 A.m to 3.45 A.m temple is cleaned. All the flower decorations done on the day before night are removed and dropped in the well which is called as Poola Bavi which is in the Sampangi Pradakshina . They do so see that no one else will again use them. This process is called as NIRMALYA SUDDHI. 
 

ARCHANA

         Archana is also done in the early morning hours. For this pooja Jeeyam Garu (Priest) brings bamboo basket keeping it on his head which is filled with flowers and Tulasi garlands from the separate room which is meant for storing flowers. Before Archana, Abishekam is done to BOOGA SRINIVASA with Cow Milk, Turmeric water and, Sandal paste by chanting PurushaSuktam. After that idol is kept in its original place and Samprokshana is done to Boga Srinivasa and it is connected to the main deity with a golden thread. It is believed that through this thread power from the main deity flows to the Booga Srinivasa Idol. Pooja is done to main Deity and then Alankaram is done. By using Camphor Namam symbol is made on the face of Lord Srinivasa. He is also decorated with Yagnopaveetham. Later Lord Venketeswara’s feet, which are made of gold are kept on a (peetam) and Abishekam is done to them.  

THOMALASEVA

THOMALA SEVA

         This Seva is also called as BHAGAVATHI ARADANA. As a part of this Seva Lord is decorated with flowers. In 6 days of a week this Seva is done after Suddhi. Only on Fridays after Abishekam, ThomalaSeva is done.

This Seva is done between 3.45-4.30 A.M everyday but on Fridays it is done between 7-8 A.M. Ticket price is 220Rs and can be purchased daily at the beginning of the Vijaya bank or purchased from the agent Arijitham by sending a draft request. 

 

 

KOLUVU

KOLUVU

         After ThomalaSeva Durbar is conducted in Thirumamani Mandapam to Koluvu Srinivasa for 15 minutes. Panchangam and Usthavas to be conducted on that day are read out and accounts of the before day including denominations are handed over to Baliberam (Koluvu Srinivasa). Later Prasadam made of Sesame (Nuvvulu) and Jaggery (Bellam) is offered to Koluvu Srinivasa.

 

 

SAHASRA NAMARCHANA

           SahasraNamarchana is done from early morning 4.45 to 5.30. All thousand nama’s of Lord Vishnu given in Brahmanda Puranam are recited while doing Archana. After the completion of this Seva, with the Tulasi and flowers on the feet of Lord Venkateswara Pooja is done to Sridevi and Bhudevi. At that time Lakshmi SahasraNamalu given in Varaha Puranam are recited. Next Nakshatra Harathi and Karpura (Camphor) Harathi are given.  

FIRST BELL, PRASADAM

         First SayanaMandapam is cleaned and doors of BangaruVakili are closed. Bells in Tirumamani Mandapam are rung. Only Priest stay inside and offer curd rice, lemon rice, pongali (items prepared by using rice), laddus, vadas appalu, dosas, polilu. 

ASTOTHARA SATHANAMARCHANA

        Pooja is done by chanting all the 108 Names in  Varaha Purana. After finishing this Lakshminama Archana is done to Sridevi and Bhudevi.

SECOND BELL, PRASADAM

           After Astothara Sathanama Archana second bell will ring. Prasadam will be offered and then Thambulam and Harathi are offered.

SEVA’S “IN or at THE NIGHT TIME”

           Thomala Seva Is Done Again. Harathi is given. Astothara Sathanama Archana and Lakshmi Nama Archana are done again.Third bell rings and then Prasadham is offered to the Lord and Sarva Darshanam is strated again.  
 

EKANTHA SEVA

EKANTHA SEVA

               At around night 1.30 Pavalimpu Seva is done it is also called as Ekantha Seva. The Ticket price is Rs120, and can be purchased daily at the beginning of Vijaya Bank counter. There are no reservations for this Seva. In this Seva Bhoga Srinivasa Murti is placed in a swing held by silver chains. They will offer milk, fruits, almonds (badam) as Nivadyam. It is believed that at night time Lord Brahma will come here to pray the Lord so, they will arrange sufficient water for Lord Brahma in a silver bowl. They will sing Annamayya Sankirthanas to lead the Lord to sleep. Ekantha Seva is done to Bhoga Srinivasa Murti for 11months but in Dhanurmasa (Dec 15 –Jan15) it is done to Lord Krishna. With this Poojas will come to an end. 

Temple is closed at 2’oclock. All the doors are closed at they are sealed.

ASTA PADAPADMAARADANA

THIRUPPAVADA

ABHISHEKAM ON FRIDAY

SAHASRA KALASABHISHEKAM

ALL THE PICTURES ARE TAKEN FROM THE BOOK WHICH IS PUBLISHED BY TTD AND SRI VENKATESWARA BHAKTI CHANNEL. THE NAME OF THE BOOK IS GOVINDAM PARAMANANDAM.

SEVEN HILLS OF TIRUMALA TIRUPATI

 

  As we all know that Lord Venkateswara is also know as Lord of Seven Hills. I would like to publish information about the history behind the Seven Hills and why are they called with the respective name.

  According to Puranas Seven heads of Adishesa are the Seven Hills of Tirumala. The Seven peaks are called as Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrishabhadri, Narayanadri, Venkatadri.

SESHADRI

           Most important peak among the Saptagiris is Seshadri. Seshadri is named after Adishesa, divine Serpent on whom Lord Vishnu rests. There is a story behind this hill. During Dwapara Yuga, Vayu (wind god) reached Vaikuntam to visit Lord Vishnu. Adisesha did not allow him inside as Lord Vishnu was taking rest with his consort Lakshmi Devi. Vayu was not ready to go back without visiting Lord Vishnu, and they started to argue with each other. Lord Vishnu himself came to them, but they still continued the argument, that one is better than the other. Finally Lord Vishnu said Adishesa should hold the Anadha Shikara, one of the peaks of Meru Mountain and Vayu should try to blow off Adishesa from Meru Mountain. Who ever wins they will be declared stronger than the other. So, Adishesa held Meru Mountain tightly by coiling around it and Vayu tried to move it. Vayu used all his power to blow away the mountain but he could not move it. After sometime out of curiosity, Adisesha wanted to see what Vayu is doing and it lifted its head. In a fraction of second Vayu moved Anadha Sikaram along with Adishesa and dropped it at banks of river Swarnamukhi. According to Bhavisya Puranam this hill is called as Seshadri or Seshachalam.

Popular belief is Tirumala Tirupati is on the head of Adishesa, Ahobilam is on the body and Srisailam is on its tail. 

NEELADRI

          First devotee who gave her hair to god is NeelaDevi. Lord Srinivasa named this hill by her name as Neeladri. When Lord Srinivasa was hit by a Shepard on his head, a small portion of his scalp becomes bald. There is no hair growth over that place and this was noticed by Gandharva princess, Neeladevi. She felt such a handsome face should not have any defect. Immediately she cuts a portion of her hair and implants it on his scalp with her powers. As hair is considered as the beautiful aspect of women, Lord Srinivasa notices her sacrifice and he said all the hair given to him by devotees in Tirupathi belongs to Neeladevi. Giving our hair to god is the symbol of leaving our ego. The word “Talanelalu” is also came from her name. Many devotees give their hair to Lord Balaji. The daily quantity of hair collected is over one ton. This hair is sold by the temple organization by auction.

GARUDADRI

         As we all know Garuthmantha (Vahana of Lord Vishnu) killed his cousins (Kadruvas children, snakes). After killing the snakes to wash away the sin, he started praying for Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu was pleased by his prayers and came before Garuthmantha. Garuthmantha asked Lord Vishnu to allow him to come back to Vaikuntam. Lord Vishnu said he will be coming as a Swayambu on the Seven Hills and asked him to stay there in the form of a hill. This hill is called by his name as Garudadri.

ANJANADRI

          Kesari, the king of Vanaras (monkeys), married Anjanadri. They were childless for many years. So Anjanadri went to a hill near Akasa Ganga and did penance for several years. Later Vayu (wind god) gave a fruit to Anjanadri. As a result of eating that fruit given by Vayu she gave birth to Lord Hanuman. As Anjanadri did penance on this hill it is called as Anjanadri.

VRUSHABADRI

          In Kruthayuga, near Thumbura Theertha in Tirumala there lived a demon named Vrushabhasura. He is a devotee of Lord Siva. He used to cut his head daily and offer it as prasadam to Lord Siva. Every time as soon as he cut his head he used to get a new head. Lord Siva was pleased by his prayers and came before him. Vrushabhasura asked Lord Siva to fight with him. Lord Siva accepted it and the war went on for many days. Finally Vrushabhasura was defeated. Before dying as a mark of his attaining salvation at that palce he asked Lord Siva to name that hill by his name. So this hill is called by his name as Vrushabadri.

NARAYANADRI

         Narayana Maharshi wanted to do Penance to see Lord Vishnu. He asked Lord Brahma to show a appropriate place where there won’t be any disturbenses for his Penance. Lord Brahma showed him a place where he did Penance for Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu was pleased by his prayers, appeared before Maharshi. Narayana Maharshi asked Lord Vishnu to give a boon so that the hill will be popular by his name. So this hill is called by his name  as Narayanadri.  

VENKATADRI

         According to Bhavisyathara Puranam this is the place where Garuda brought Lord Vishnu from Vaikuntam. “VEM” means “sin” “KATA”  means remove(harinchatam).This means all sins will be removed in presence of the god. So this hill is called as Venkatadri .