Tamil Nadu » Tamil Nadu Festivals » Bhramotsavam
Bhramotsavam In most of the South
Indian temples Bhramotsavam is celebrated. This is a ten day
long festival with the procession of festival images on gaily decorated
mounts. Srinivasa Bhattar and Koti Sreekrishna of Cincinnati, present
the significance of Bhramotsavam in SriVaishnava temples, and describe
the daily events in the 9 day long Bhramotsavam at Tirupati.
The Brahmotsavam festival
is one of the most important and auspicious functions in Tirupati. Popular
stories trace the origin of this celebration to Brahma, the creator God,
who first conducted this festival to Sri Balaji at Tirupati. Brahma worshiped
Sri Balaji on the banks of the holy Pushkarini in Tirupati as a way to
give thanks for the Lord's protection of mankind. Hence, this utsava bears
his name as "Brahmotsavam," which means "Brahma's Utsavam." In Tirumala,
Brahmotsavam is celebrated in the month of October.
The Brahmotsava is performed
over a nine-day period. On the evening prior to the start of the first
day, the rite of "Ankurarpana" (sowing of the seeds to signify fertility,
prosperity and abundance) is performed along with a festival for Sri Vishvaksena
(the leader of Narayana's retinue who removes obstacles and protects worship).On
the first day, the main activity is the "Dhvajarohana," the hoisting of
the Garuda flag at the Dhvajastambham. This signifies the commencement
of the Brahmotsava. It is believed that Garuda goes to Devalokam and invites
the Devas to attend the function. During the nine days of the festival,
the religious activities include daily homas and processions for the utsava
murti on different vahanas, which are the chariots that
can be seen in the Temple. Every evening, the utsava vigrahas
are decorated with different alankarams. The concluding day is the Janma
Nakshatra (birth star) of Sri Balaji, which is celebrated in a grand way
with Avabhritha Utsava (special abhishekams for the utsava murti). In
Tirupati, the Sudarsana Chakra is bathed in the Pushkarini and all the
devotees bathe afterwards. In Aurora, a priest takes the Sudarsana Chakra
on his head and takes a holy bath near the Dhvajastambham.
Afterwards, the Chakra is placed on a high platform, so the devotees can
walk under it and be blessed with the water dripping down from Sudarsana.
The celebration officially concludes with "Dhvajavarohanam," the lowering
of the Garuda flag. The priests pay respects to Gods and Sages with the
chanting of Vedic mantras and see them off on their return to the Devaloka.
The Brahmotsavam celebration
provides a unique opportunity for all devotees to participate in the festivities
and utsavas and experience the "Vaikuntha Anubhava" (heavenly
enjoyment and feeling) and receive the blessings of Sri Venkateswara Swami.
Every year, millions of devotees witness the processions,celebrations
during the annual Brahmotsavams of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala. Every
day of Brahmotsavam will be a feast for the eyes of the devotees who gather
there. On the first day the Garudadhwaja (flag with the emblem of a black
garuda) is hoisted near the Srivari Alaya Dhwajasthambham. A festive procession
of Lord Venkateswara on the Pedda Seshavahana proceeds around the four
streets of the main temple for two hours until midnight.Ankurarpana and
Senadhipati Utsavam are celebrated on the day preceding the first day
of Brahmotsavam.
Some interesting observations during brahmotsavas
are: 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 as 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 moral values, while Garuda,
requested by the Lord himself to stay in the hills, guards the skies from
anything untoward coming by.