Astabandhana Samarpanam will be held today

Tirumala: Astabandhana Samarpanam as part of Maha Samprokshanam will take place at Tirumala temple on Tuesday where in the Vedic pundits apply the special adhesive, Asta Bandhana made out of Eight (Asta) ingredients to affix (Bandhana) Mula Murthy (presiding deity) to the Padma Peetham (Pedestal where the deity is standing).

Ahead of the crucial Astabandhana Samparpana, the priests on Monday made the collection and assembling of the eight materials in the Yagasala duly following the religious rituals in two spells from 6 in the morning to 12 noon and again 7 to 10 in the night in the Yagasala while pundits rendered the verses eulogising the Devathas of the Dravyas (materials) seeking their blessing for the successful completion of Ashtabandhana at the temple.

The holy paste is an amalgamation of eight ingredients which have a scientific nature apart from its sanctity in religious rituals. The eight ingredients used to prepare Astabandhana paste include, Wood Lac, Resin, Red Orche, Bee Wax, Butter made of buffalo milk, Conch Shell Powder, Gall Nut and Cotton. This paste acts as an adhesive and its power lasts for long keeping the idols intact.

Sage Bhrigu penned in detail the importance of Astabandhanam in his great work "Bhrigu Prakeernadhikaram.” The cleaning of other areas inside the temple complex was also taken up on Monday. The priests assisted by temple staff cleaned the golden dome (Anand Nilayam) and other places inside the shrine.

Meanwhile on Monday, the Yagasala activities were performed as per the schedule. Tirumala JEO KS Sreenivasa Raju who was present at the temple interacted with the pilgrims about darshan and other facilities. The pilgrims expressed immense satisfaction over the arrangements made by the TTD.

Total pilgrims who had darshan on Monday till 6 pm was 16,115, while the hundi collection was Rs 1.15 crore more than what the TTD netted on Sunday. The TTD officials said that on Tuesday, day 4 of Samprokshanam the total darshan hours will be only 13 hours.

The darshan which would commence at 10 am will continue up to 6 pm (eight hours). And again darshan begins at 7 pm and lasts till 12 midnight (5 hours). Approximately 35,400 pilgrims will be provided darshan in the 13 hours, a temple official said.