Maha Smprokshanam concludes on a grand note

Tirumala: The five-day religious fete which is observed once in every 12 years, Astabandhana Balalaya Maha Samprokshanam, concluded on a grand religious note at Tirumala with Maha Poornahuti on Thursday.

Ahead of Poornahuthi, the ritwiks performed a series of religious ceremonies in the Yagasala and also conducted Kalavaahanam. While during Kalaakarshana, the power of the Almighty was transformed from the presiding deity in to a Kalasha, to facilitate Ashtabandana Samarpana in the sanctum, in Kalaavahanam, the reverse process takes place.

The celestial powers were re-invoked in to the main deity from Kalashas. All the Utsava Murthies including Sri Malayappa Swamy with Sridevi and Bhudevi, Sita Lakshmana Sametha Sri Ramachandramurthy, Rukmini Sametha Sri Krishna Swamy, Sri Ugrasrinivasa Murthy with His two consorts, Sri Sudarshana Chakrattalwar, Sri Bhashyakarualavaru, were taken in a procession from Yagasala to the sanction where they were placed back in their respective places in sanctum sanctorum, amidst chanting of scriptures by the pandits.

After the completion of reinstalling the idols in the sanctum, Maha Samprokshanam was performed in the auspicious Tula Lagnam betwee10.16 am and 12 noon to Sri Ananda Nilayam Vimana Venkateswara Swamy.

Later, Thomala Seva, Koluvu, Panchanga Sravanam were performed in Bangaru Vakili followed by Sathumora, Sallimpu and Suddhi in Ekantam, completing the purification ceremonies in the shrine, marking the end of the six-day ritual started with Ankurarpanam on Saturday.

TTD trust board chairman P Sudhakar Yadav, executive officer Anil Kumar Singhal, trust board members were present. Later in the evening, the processional deity of Sri Malayappa Swamy was taken atop Garuda Vahanam on the occasion of Garuda Panchami on Thursday.

After Garudavahanam, the processional deities Sri Malayappa Swamy, flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi, were taken on a celestial ride on Pedda Sesha Vahanam to mark the special occasion of Mahasamprokshanam completion.

Meanwhile, TTD chairman Putta Sudhakar Yadav and EO Anil Kumar Singhal thanked the pilgrims across globe for co-operating and honouring the appeals of Devasthanams and making Maha Samprokshanam a grand success.

After the mega religious event, speaking to media persons outside the temple on Thursday, the chairman said eminent ritwiks from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka took part in this ritual and performed the Astabandhana Balalalya Mahasamprokshanam with utmost dedication as per the tenets of Agama shastra.

The EO said as per the advice of Agama Salaha Mandali, Tirumala Pedda Jiyangar, Tirumala Chinna Jiyangar Swamijis, the celestial fete was carried out in a successful manner under Chief Priest Venugopala Deekshitulu from August 11 to 16. In the last five days, over 1.35 lakh pilgrims had a hassle-free darshan of the Lord.

“From August 17 onwards, all the sevas and different formats of darshan will resume as usual,” he added. Chief Priest Venugopala Deekshitulu said Purnahuti was performed on the final day of Astabandhana Balalayam and Kalavahanam was performed to Mula Virat and other deities of sub-temples. Special Naivedyam was offered to all the deities and Maha Samprokshanam was concluded with Akshataropanam.