Brahmotsavam at Tirumala: The significance of Srivari’s special garlands

Tirumala: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is all set for annual Brahmotsavam from October 4 to 12.

On October 4 evening, chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu will present official pattu vastrams to the Lord Venkateswara statue on behalf of the State government and participate in the Pedda Sesha Vahanam Seva.

Special garlands for Lord Venkateswara

The presiding deity being decorated with special garlands every day is one of the most significant rituals of Brahmotsavam.

Among the several floral garlands adorned with the Mula Virat of Sri Venkateswara, eight of them are considered so special and the daily Pushpa Kainkaryams include a 100 feet long floral festooning to the main deity inside the sanctum sanctorum and the other deities.

The decorations to Srivaru take place twice daily, in the morning and the evening.

Over a dozen varieties of flowers, half-a-dozen types of aromatic leaves to the tune of 150 kg are used in the daily floral sevas while for Pulangi Seva on Thursday, nearly 250 kg of seasonal flowers are used to decorate the presiding deity.

Role of garlands in rituals

Garlands and flowers play a significant role and each one has a specific identity in the legends and lores in the temple of Sri Venkateswara. The beauty of these garlands was well depicted in one of the instances in the famous Tamil work by Sri Nammalwar in Tiruvai Mozhi.

Here is an overview of the significance of the various garlands:

Sikhamani: A single garland decorated from the crown to the shoulders is called Sikhamani. It is a large 8-feet garland

Saligrama: Two garlands each measuring four feet, each adorn touching the Saligrama Haram of the presiding deity and hence the name Saligrama Mala.

Kanthasari: The garland is decorated covering the neck of Srivaru and is two in number with each measuring 3.5 ft.

Vakshsthala Lakshmi: These are two garlands and will be adorned to Sridevi and Bhudevi who occupy the divine chest area of Srivaru on either side. Each garland measures 1.5 ft in length.

Shanku-Chakra Malas: For the divine weapons of Srivaru, each garland measuring one foot in length will be decorated and known as Shanku Mala and Chakra Mala.

Khatari Saram: This particular garland is adorned with the divine sword, Nandakam, of the main deity measuring 2 ft.

Tavalams: These are three garlands that cover the elbows and waist part of the Mula Virat and are hung to the length that they touch the holy feet.

Tiruvadi Malas: Tiruvadi is derived from Tamil and means the holy feet. These garlands are exclusively decorated to the sacred feet of Sri Venkateswara Swamy.

Pula Ara: It is the flower store room inside the Tirumala temple complex which stores the different types of garlands that are decorated to the presiding deity every day.

Besides decorating the main deity, floral garlands with one each are decked to the other deities including the procession deities of Sri Malayappa, Sridevi, Bhudevi, Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy, Koluvu Srinivasa Murthy and His two consorts, Ugrasrinivasa Murthy and His two consorts, Sri Sita Rama Lakshmana, Sri Rukmini Srikrishna Swamy, Sri Chakrattalwar, Angada, Sugriva, Anjaneya, Ananta, Vishwaksena, Garuda, Jaya-Vijaya, Bangaru Vakili Garudalwar, Sri Varadaraja Swamy, Sri Vakulamata, Sri Ramanujacharya (two garlands one to Utsava Murthy and another to the main deity in Sri Bhashyakarulavari Sannidhi), Sri Yoganarasimha Swamy, Potu Tayaru, Sri Vishwaksena, Sri Bedi Anjaneya, Sri Varaha Swamy (three garlands), Sri Koneigattu Anjaneya Swamy(only on Sundays).

7 lakh laddus in reserve

According to TTD, in view of the anticipated rush of devotees, many Arjita Sevas and special darshans have been cancelled during the annual fete. A buffer stock of about 7 lakh laddus will be kept ready along with additional security in coordination with the district police during Garuda Vahana Seva while ghat roads will be kept open for 24 hours on the Garuda Seva day under a constant vigil through the common command centre.