Tirumala Annual Brahmotsavam

Tirumala Annual Brahmotsavam

Tirumala Brahmotsavam is an annual festival at Tirumala Lord Venkateswara Temple celebrated for nine days in the months of September and October. The celebration attracts pilgrims and tourists from all parts of India and across the world.

History:

The celebration of Brahmotsavam is a significant event in Tirumala, believed to have originated from a festival conducted   by the creator   God, Brahma, to honor Sri Balaji. According to popular stories, Brahma worshipped Sri Balaji on the banks of the holy Pushkarini in Tirupati as a gesture of gratitude for the Lord’s  protection  of  humanity,  leading to   the naming  of  the festival as “Brahmotsavam,” meaning “Brahma’s Utsavam.” In Tirumalai, Brahmotsavam takes place in the month of October.

Celebration:

The Brahmotsava spans nine days. Prior to the first day, the ritual of “Ankurarpana” is performed, symbolizing fertility, prosperity, and abundance, alongside a festival honoring Sri Vishvaksena, who leads Narayana’s retinue, removes obstacles, and safeguards worship. On the initial day, the primary event is the “Dhvajarohana,” which involves raising the Garuda flag at the Dhvajastambham, signifying the start of the Brahmotsava. It is believed that Garuda travels to Devalokam to invite the Devas to participate in the festivities. Throughout the festival, religious activities include daily homas and processions for the utsava murti using different vahanas (chariots) within the temple. The utsava vigrahas receive different alankarams every evening. The Janma Nakshatra of Sri Balaji, which is the concluding day, is celebrated grandly with Avabhritha Utsava, involving special abhishekams for the utsava murti. In Tirupati, the Sudarsana Chakra is bathed in the Pushkarini, and afterward, all the devotees take a bath. In Aurora, a priest carries the Sudarsana Chakra on his head and takes a sacred bath near the Dhvajastambham. Then, the Chakra is placed on a high platform for the devotees to walk under it and be blessed with the dripping water. The celebration culminates with “Dhvajavarohanam,” the lowering of the Garuda flag, during which the priests pay respects to Gods and Sages with chanting of Vedic mantras and see them off on their return to the Devaloka.

The Brahmotsavam festival offers a special chance for all followers to take part in the celebrations and utsavas, and to feel the “Vaikuntha Anubhava ” (heavenly enjoyment) and receive the blessings of Sri Venkateswara Swami. Each year, millions of devotees witness the processions and celebrations during the annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumalai. Each day of Brahmotsavam will be a delight for the devotees who gather there. The first day sees the hoisting of the Garudadhwaja (flag with the emblem of a black garuda) near the Srivari Alaya Dhwajasthambham. A grand procession of Lord Venkateswara on the Pedda Seshavahana goes around the four streets of the main temple for two hours until midnight. Ankurarpana and Senadhipati Utsavam are observed on the day before.

Observations during brahmotsavas: As incredibly as the swan which separates the water content from milk, the reigning deity of the seven hills, too, on Hamsavahan, relegates the paap and blesses the bhakta based on his punya. As the powerful snake transforms itself into a vehicle for the Lord during the Seshavahan and Chota Seshavahan in the Brahmotsavam celebrations, the essence of the Sharanagati Tatva explains the moral behind this Utsav. The initial prayers offered at the Dwajarohan Utsav and Garudotsav is to pray for an unscathed living with high ethical values. At the same time, Garuda, requested by the Lord himself to stay in the hills, guards the skies from anything untoward coming by.