Srisailam: Goddess blesses devotees in Maha Gowri Alankaram

Kurnool: Devotees in huge numbers thronged the Srisailam temple to offer prayers to the presiding deities Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy and Goddess Bhramarambika Devi to mark the Dasara Navaratri Utsavam. On the eight-day of nine days fete, Goddess Bhramarambika Devi appeared to devotees as Maha Gowri Alankaram on Thursday.

The authorities stated that as part of Nava Durga Alankaram, the utsava moorthi of Amma varu was decorated as Maha Gowri. Maha Gowri Alankaram is the eighth form of Nava Durga incarnation. The Maha Gowri form of Nava Durga is said to be the most pleasant form (Santha moorthi). In this form, the Devi will be dressed in white robes and having four bujas (chatur bujas). She will be holding trishulam on the right shoulder of upper side, Abhaya hastam on the lower shoulder, vara mudra on the left shoulder of upper side and damarukam on the lower side of the left shoulder. Maha Gowri to have Lord Shiva as her husband, has made blatant penance in the form of parvathi form. Due to blatant penance, the entire body of Parvathi has become black. Paramashiva who is much pleased with the blatant penance of Parvathi has sprinkled ganga jal. It is said that by sprinkling ganga jal, she began to sparkle by retaining goura varnam, so that she is being called as Maha Gowri. By offering prayers to the Devi, the people would be relieved from all sins and problems, it is stated. Later in the evening, Nandi Vahana Seva was organised to Swami Amma varlu. As part of Nandi Vahana Seva, the presiding deities were decorated in special manner and offer prayers after they are seated on the Nandi Vahana. Prior to Maha Gowri Alankaram and Nandi Vahana seva, Kumari Puja was performed. Earlier in the morning, Visesa Kunkumarchana, Navarachana, japanustas, parayanam, surya namaskaram, chandi homam, panchakshari, bhramari, balanustanam, chandi parayanam, chaturveda parayanam and kumari puja were performed.