Dhanurmasam At Tirumala – Importance - Festivals - Pujas - Change In Daily Rituals Tirupati Balaji Temple In Dhanurmasa
Numerous rituals, pujas and festivals are observed in Dhanurmasa
at Tirumala – Tirupati Balaji Temple. Dhanurmasa (mid December to mid January) is
considered as highly auspicious for the devotees of Lord Vishnu. The beginning
of Dhanurmasam is marked by the transit of the Sun into ‘Dhanu’ rashi. This is
also called ‘Dhanus Sankramana’.
Reason For Importance Of Dhanurmasam In Tirupati
As per Hinduism, Devas (demigods) wake up early in the
morning during this month. They perform special prayers to Sri Mahavishnu
during the auspicious period of ‘Brahma Muhurta’, one and half hours before
sunrise.
Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita says - ‘Maasaanaam Maarga
Seershoham....’ I manifest more in Margashirsha masam among the different
months of the year.
Worshipping Lord Vishnu on a single day during Dhanurmasam is
equal to worshipping Vishnu with devotion for 1000 years. Special worship is
conducted in all ancient Vishnu shrines throughout South India and some parts
of North India. The holy festival ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’ is celebrated on an
Ekadasi during the bright half of Dhanurmasam.
Dhanurmasa Aradhana At Tirupati Balaji Temple
Special rituals are offered to Lord Srinivasa at Tirumala
Hill shrine. For the entire 30 days of Dhanurmasam, Lord Srinivasa is worshipped
as Lord Krishna.
During the commencement of Dhanurmasam, at the specified
time, Lord Venkateshwara is offered with special Thomala Seva without Seva
Kalam by Jeeyar Ghoshti (without reciting any pasurams from Divya Prabhandam
unlike normal days). This is also called as ‘Mooga Thomala (Silent Thomala)’.
This is because it is at this time, Lord Vishnu wakes up and this time is Brahma
Muhurtha for Devathas.
Important Changes in Daily Rituals In Dhanurmasam
The most prominent change in rituals are Suprabhata Seva,
which is the first ritual of the day, is performed by reciting verses from Sri
Andal’s ‘Thiruppavai’. While the Srivaishnava Adhyapakas lead by Pedda Jeeyar
swami, recites verses from Thiruppavai and Sri Thondaradipodi Alwar’s ‘Thirupallieluchi’,
the Vaikhanasa Archaka Swami performs all the rituals connected to pratyusha kaalam
to the Dhruva Beram.
After the above ritual, Dhanurmasa Aradhana, comprising of
Thomala Seva, Sahasranama Archana with Bilva leaves, Dhanurmasam Naivedyam,
Sathumora are performed. This is followed by regular sequence of worship known
as ‘Pratahkala Aradhana’, in which regular Thomala Seva, Koluvu, Sahasranama
Aradhana with Tulsi leaves, first bell, Bali and Sathumora are conducted.
During Sahasra Namarchana, Srivari Dhruva Beram is worshipped
with Tulsi leaves amidst recital of 1008 names, for all the 11 months in a
year except during the 30 days of Dhanurmasa. In this Margasira month, during Sahasranama
Archana as part of Dhanurmasa Aradhana, Srivaru is offered Archana with Bilva leaves.
The Lord of Vengadam hill is Lord Srinivasa and his consort is Goddess Lakshmi devi,
she is known as ‘Bilvavan Alaya’. And She is praised in Lakshmi chaturvimsati
Naamaavali – the 24 auspicious names of Goddess Lakshmi from Varaha Purana as “namo
bilvavanasth Ayaivish Nupatnyainamo namaha.”
Special Food Offerings In Dhanurmasam
During the Dhanurmasam Naivedyam, special food offerings like
Jaggery Dosa, Mudgannam (Katte Pongali), Sundal, Seera are offered every day to
Lord Srinivasa.
Special Ekanta Seva To Lord Krishna In Dhanurmasam
The last sequence of Vaikhanasa worship is called ‘Paryankasana’
(Ekanta Seva or Sayana Sana) and is the putting of representative icon to rest
for the night, before the temple doors are closed.
In the Tirupati, the Kautuka Bera, Sri Bhoga Srinivasa is
offered with this Kainkaryam. Vaikhanasa Agama provides that Kautuka Bera, Bali
Bera or any other bera may be used as a Sayana – Bera; an icon of Krishna may
also be used. In fact the silver image of Lord Krishna (which is kept in the
Sanctum on the left side of Dhruva Bera) is used for this service instead of the
(Kautuka Beram Bhoga) Srinivasa, for 30 days during Dhanurmasam in the hill
shrine. Before putting to Bed, Lord Krishna is offered sacred bath with lukewarm water and then dressed up with a vastram followed by offering of warm milk,
fried nuts, fruits and betel nuts. The icon of Bhoga Srinivasa was presented by
a pallava princess Samavai, in the year 614 AD. She also arranged for a 7 day
festival known as Tirukkodi Tirunal ending with the Tirudvadasi (Vaikunta Dwadasi)
day.
Adhyayana Utsavam In Dhanurmasam
The annual Adhyayana Utsavam celebrations are observed for 23
days during Dhanurmasam. ‘Adhyayana’ in Sanskrit literally means practice and
is synonymous with repetition, recitation of any subject matter. In the Tirumala
temple, the 4000 verses from the literary spiritual works (prabhandas) of 12 apostles
of Vaishnavism who lived between 700 AD and 980 AD in South India, are recited
for a period of 21 days, with the most auspicious day of Vaikunta Ekadasi,
falling exactly in the midst of that period.
The first ten days are referred as 'Pagal-Pathu' (10 day time
festival) and the second half as 'Ra Pathu' (10 nighttime festival). The first
day of Rapathu is Vaikunta Ekadasi. The eleventh day of each fortnight in Hindu
Almanac is called Ekadasi and the holiest of all ekadasis as per Sri Vaishnavite
tradition is the Vaikunta Ekadasi. Nammalwar, one of the 12 alwars, is believed
to have ascended to vaikuntam (the heavenly abode of Vishnu) on this day. The devotion
of the 9th-century poet, Nammalwar and his perceived ascent to heaven are remembered
with religious pomp during this Adhyayan Utsavams.
Srivari Utsava Murthy Sri Malayappa Swami along with his
consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi are kept in the Sanctum housed in Ranganayakula
Mandapam, till the completion of Tiru-adhyayana utsavam. The processional
deities of Sri Vishwaksena and Sri Ramanuja also take part in Adhyayana Utsavam celebrations.
As per the custom of Hill Shrine, only on two occasions, Lord Malayappa Swami is
kept in Ranganayakula Mandapam for daily worship. One is during Annual
Brahmotsavam, Dwajarohanam to Deepavali Asthanam, and the other occasion being,
Adhyayanotsavam.
Vaikunta Ekadasi In Dhanurmasam in Tirumala
During the Dhanurmasam, Vaikunta Ekadasi, is celebrated with
religious fervor. This is one among the four other important festivals of
Tirumala Hill shrine. Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam, a purificatory ritual which
involves cleaning of entire Tirumala temple including Sanctum Sanctorum, is
performed on a Tuesday, before the ensuing Vaikunta Ekadasi festival. The most
auspicious Vaikunta Dwaram or Uttara Dwaram (which surrounds the sanctum of
Srivaru) is opened for circumambulation. Devotees consider it highly meritorious
to go for a pradakshina around Mukkoti Pradakshina and it is also believed that
whoever have darshan of Lord and does pradakshina by passing through Vaikunta
Dwara on this day will reach Vishnu loka and get the blessings of Lord Vishnu.
It is opened in the wee hours of Vaikunta Ekadasi and closed on the second day,
Vaikunta Dwadasi evening, only 2 days in a year, devotees get this holy chance.
On this day, Lord Malayappa swami is taken for procession around four mada
streets, in Swarna Ratham.
Swami Pushkarini Mukkoti In Dhanurmasam
On the day after Vaikunta Ekadashi, i.e., Vaikunta Dwadasi after
pratahkala Aradhana, Lord Venkateswara’s weapon Sudarshana chakra is taken out
for procession around four mada streets, and is taken to Sri Varahaswami
temple. Sri Sudarsana is given sacred bath on the banks of Swami Pushkarini and
is taken for a holy dip in those celestial waters. This is performed commemorating
Swami Pushkarini Theertha Mukkoti.
Early in the morning on the twelfth day of the bright
fortnight of Dhanurmas all the holy teerthas, millions of them, congregate
there to get rid of themselves of their sins. So the devotees go to Swami Pushkarini
as they will get the punya of bathing in all teerthas. Further, whatever merit
is acquired by pilgrimage to Ganga and other sacred rivers and holy places such
as Kailasa or giving charity to brahmins, will be achieved by pilgrimage to visiting
only one Swami Pushkarini. Whoever offers charity to the needy and the poor on
the day attains merit to wash away sins of several births. One who bathes in
Swami Pushkarini chanting the following Mantra also achieves the above merit. “Dhanurmasesitepakshe
Dwadasyam Arunodaye Aayantisarva Teerthani Swami Pushkarini Jale”. And hence it
is considered highly meritorious to take a holy dip in Swami Pushkarini on this
auspicious day.
Goda Kalyanam On Last Day of Dhanurmasa
The holy month of Dhanurmasa conclude with Bhogi festival on
the 30th day and Goda Kalyanam ritual is performed in Tirupati Sri Govindaraja
Swamy Temple Andal Sannidhi. Also flower garlands from Sri Andal Sannidhi is
sent to Tirumala and is adorned on the Dhruva Beram of Srivaru, during
Madhyamika Aradhana.
At the end of Dhanurmasa Aradhana, Srivari Mulavirat is
adorned with flower garlands and there will be no separate adornment of flowers
in the regular Thomala Seva. Also two specially made parrots with leaves, one
from Srivilliputhur Andal Sannidhi is adorned on the left bosom of Srivaru,
another one provided by TTD garden department is also adorned on the left side
near Shankham. Also a diamond studded parrot is adorned on the right bosom of
Srivaru throughout Dhanurmasam.
Those who worship Lord Vishnu in this holy month of
Dhanurmasa, will be conferred with the choicest blessings of Lord Srinivasa and
by his eternal grace, devotees are blessed with health, wealth, peace and
prosperity in this world and attain Vishnu loka prapti at the end of their lives.
Source - Excerpts from an article published in December 2016 Sapthagiri Magazine by A Ramakrishna Deekshitulu.