Varuna Yagam performed

Atmakur (Kurnool): Vedic scholar and the priest at the Sangameswara temple Telakapalli Raghurama Sarma on Thursday performed Varuna Yagam in the Payasapu Banda here on the eighth day of Antya Pushkaram to River Krishna.

It is the place where River Goddess Krishnaveni gave darshan to Sage Viswamitra. The rock, where consort of the Pandavas–Draupadi–had dried her saree, is called the Payasapu Banda.

At the holy place, Varuna, Aruna and Rudra homams and pushkara puja were celebrated. The objective of the rituals is to ward off drought, to ensure inflows into reservoirs, to appease the Rain Gods among other things. At the end of the yagam, arti was given to the seven rivers.