Astabandhana Samarpana carried out at Tirumala

Tirumala: On the third day of the ongoing five-day fete of Ashtabandhana Balalaya Maha Samprokshanam fete (excluding Ankurarpanam day), Ashtabandhana Samarpana was observed on Tuesday.

The celestial fete was carried out between 5.30 am and 9 am in the temple. Astabandhana Choornam, the paste prepared out of eight ingredients was applied to Padma Peetham (pedestal) where the presiding deity (Moola Virat) is standing in the Garbhalayam and to Vishwaksena, Garudalwar, Bhashyakarulavaru, Yoga Narasimha, Varada Raja Swamy and Potu Tayaru idols in the sub-temples in the sprawling Tirumala Sri Venkateswara temple complex. Chief priest Venugopala Deekshitulu led the ceremony.

Ahead of the Samarpanam, the priests, early in the morning amidst chanting of mantras took up the pounding of the ingredients with a wooden hammer to turn into a paste and look like smooth pebble like balls which harden as they cool. This specially made mix of 8 (Ashta) ingredients was applied to perform the role of mortar binding the idol (Vigraham) to the pedestal (peetam) is performed once in 12 years in the shrines in South India.

TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal along with Tirumala JEO K S Sreenivasa Raju inspected the Suddhi (cleaning) works of Ananda Nilayam Vimanam and Dhwaja Sthambham on Tuesday taken up as part of the ongoing Ashtabandhana Balalaya Mahasamprokshanam in the shrine.

A new silver Makara Toranam (Threshold) worth Rs 1.75 lakh was decked to Vimana Venkateswara Swamy atop Ananda Nilayam (golden dome) after its cleaning.

Eleven new gold plated leaves were attached to Dhwajasthambha Sikharam worth Rs 1.50 lakh and a circular ring worth Rs 4 lakh was placed between Peetham and Sthambham, adding to its splendour and making it more dazzling. On August 15, there will be Ksheeradhivasam and Chaturdasa Kalasa Snapana Thirumanjanam to the presiding deity and Pariwara Devathas.

Maha Santhi Poornahuthi at 3 pm followed by Mahasanthi Tirumanajanam to the presiding deity and Pariwaradevaths will be conducted again as part of Mahasamprokshanm on Wednesday. Meanwhile, temple officials said that the darshan on Wednesday will be from 9 am to 3 pm and again from 10 pm to 12 midnight total 8 hours only. 

In view of the elaborate ceremonies being observed, the total darshan hours was curtailed to 8 hours enabling darshan to about 18,400 pilgrims only, temple sources said.