Tirumala: Anivara asthanam performed

Tirumala: Salakatla Anivara Asthanam was observed with religious fervour in the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara on Wednesday in Tirumala. This festival is one among the 450 important festivals that are being performed in Srivari Temple every year.

The uniqueness about this festival is that the previous year's accounts of the office are presented before the deity by the principal officers and are taken back to signify that the 'Lord' finds the officers fit enough to hold their respective offices. New books will also be issued for recording finances of the next fiscal.

In the temple terms, this entire process is called "Asthanam" which will be performed inside sanctum sanctorum near Bangaru Vakili in the presence of processional deities of Lord Malayappa Swamy and his two consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi.

In connection with this festival, TTD has cancelled all arjitha sevas like Sahasra Kalasabhishekam, Kalyanotsavam, Unjal seva, Brahmotsavam, Vasanthotsavam and Sahasra Deepalankara seva. The Asthanam temple court was performed at the Bangaru Vakili inside the sanctum sanctorum between 7 am and 9 am. The presiding deity of Sri Venkateswara Swamy is decorated with four new vastrams which were decked for Kireetam, Khadgam, Tomala and Uttariyam while the remaining two to the utsava murthies of Sri Malayappa Swamy and chief commander of the Lord Vishvaksena. These six silk vastrams are being presented by Tirumala Pedda Jiyangar Sri Periyakoil Kelviyappan Sadagopa

Ramanuja Jiyar along with Chinna Jiyangar Sri Narayana Ramanuja Chinna Jiyar as a part of the ritual, following the age-old religious practice in the famed shrine. Then the temple priests offered four types of Haratis including Tallapaka Annamaiah Harati, Tarigonda Vengamamba Harati, Mysore Maharaja Harati and Rupai Harati to Lord.

TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy, EO Anil Kumar Singhal, Special Officer AV Dharma Reddy, Temple Deputy EO Haridranath and others took part.

Earlier, the doors of Tirumala temple re-opened at 5 am on Wednesday, after being closed following completion of lunar eclipse, last evening at 7. After performing Suddhi, Punyahavachanam, Anivara Asthanam was performed after which darshan commenced from 11 am onwards and devotees were allowed for darshan of Lord Venkateswara.