1. Vahanams at the utsavam
2. Presiding deity - Devarajaswamy
The word “Brahmotsavam” immediately brings Thirupathi to our mind. Infact it’s a ritual which is common to all the perumal temples.
Origin of Brahmotsavam
Origin of Brahmotsavam
(script courtesy - http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/apr99/0147.html )
Brahmotsavam means "Grand celebration" or a "celebration performed by Brahma".
Lord Indra once killed a Brahma-raakshasa (a Brahmin with demonic characters). In doing so, he incurred a great sin of killing a Brahmana- "Brahma hatya dosham(BHD)". To relieve Indra of this burden, Lord Brahma conducted a ceremony. In this ceremony, officiated by Brahma himself, Indra held Sriman Narayana ( Lord Vishnu) on his head during the special ritual bath "Avabritha Snaanam". This verily was the first Brahmotsavam.
Because of the immense cleansing power of Brahmotsavam, this utsavam is periodically performed in Temples to wash away all sins that may have been incurred in the community as a whole. It is said that the Lord Brahma himself rendered the first Brahmotsavam seva (service) to Lord Venkateshwara (Vishnu) of the Thirumalaishrine. Indeed, it is a common
belief that every Brahmotsavam is witnessedby Lord Brahma. In recognition of this, a well decorated empty chariot ispulled in front of the chariot carrying the deities at the processions heldduring the Brahmotsavam Brahma is believed to be seated in that chariot and oversee the celebration. Thus, Brahmotsavam is also referred to as "Brahmapratyakshotsavam" (celebration conducted right in front of Brahma). The earliest inscribed record of Brahmotsavam at the Thirumala Temple is 650 AD.
In kancheepuram it is conducted during the tamil month vaigasi which usually falls in the period May/June. The presiding deity is called Devarajaswamy – perundevi. The whole temple town wears festive look during the period. Its such a sight seeing the deity taken in a traditional Pallakku with huge umbrellas. Only thing which keeps on bothering even after the festival is the plight of the people who carry this. Its such a heavy pallakku with three priests standing on it with huge umbrellas. And more than two dozens of people on either side carry it in the scorching sun on their shoulders. Since this is “God” they cant even wear their slippers but only the socks. I somehow feels all the punniyam would only go to these people who carry the pallakku though the rituals are done by the priests. Not to leave behind the scores of Maamas who go before the procession chanting the vedams. I learnt later that the native people who have moved out of the town and landed in plum jobs make it their point to be present during this time just for attending this urchavams and to serve in the temple.
We got to watch only 3days event due to the warring schedule of P and aathukarar. Next time planning to attend whole Urchavam there. The thing is if you are present during the Kodi etham on the first day, you cannot leave the town for the next 9 days.
The mandagapadi which I wrote earlier in this post http://oreponnu.blogspot.com/2009/06/reminiscing-about-kancheepuram.html was on 29.05.10 this time . And if you keenly observe the Perumal’s face, you can find it is unfinished with few holes here and there. There is a story behind this. Its been passed on by word of mouth, so iam not sure of the authenticity. Since the statue was found in a dilapidated condition, the temple authorities tried to restore it . The sculptor after restoring the body started with the face and the moment he kept his chisel on the face, there was gushing of blood from the idol. As soon as he witnessed them he fell on to the floor breathless. The following night perumal came in the dream of the temple administrator and asked him to leave the idol as such. While I googled for the source of this story I was unable to locate. If you could find anything on this kindly pass on to me.
The above picture is the scanned copy of the invitation (courtesy of invitation-Kumaran Silks, T.Nagar, Chennai)
The temple’s website -http://www.kanchivaradarajartemple.com/home.html (could have been better)
Brahmotsavam means "Grand celebration" or a "celebration performed by Brahma".
Lord Indra once killed a Brahma-raakshasa (a Brahmin with demonic characters). In doing so, he incurred a great sin of killing a Brahmana- "Brahma hatya dosham(BHD)". To relieve Indra of this burden, Lord Brahma conducted a ceremony. In this ceremony, officiated by Brahma himself, Indra held Sriman Narayana ( Lord Vishnu) on his head during the special ritual bath "Avabritha Snaanam". This verily was the first Brahmotsavam.
Because of the immense cleansing power of Brahmotsavam, this utsavam is periodically performed in Temples to wash away all sins that may have been incurred in the community as a whole. It is said that the Lord Brahma himself rendered the first Brahmotsavam seva (service) to Lord Venkateshwara (Vishnu) of the Thirumalaishrine. Indeed, it is a common
belief that every Brahmotsavam is witnessedby Lord Brahma. In recognition of this, a well decorated empty chariot ispulled in front of the chariot carrying the deities at the processions heldduring the Brahmotsavam Brahma is believed to be seated in that chariot and oversee the celebration. Thus, Brahmotsavam is also referred to as "Brahmapratyakshotsavam" (celebration conducted right in front of Brahma). The earliest inscribed record of Brahmotsavam at the Thirumala Temple is 650 AD.
In kancheepuram it is conducted during the tamil month vaigasi which usually falls in the period May/June. The presiding deity is called Devarajaswamy – perundevi. The whole temple town wears festive look during the period. Its such a sight seeing the deity taken in a traditional Pallakku with huge umbrellas. Only thing which keeps on bothering even after the festival is the plight of the people who carry this. Its such a heavy pallakku with three priests standing on it with huge umbrellas. And more than two dozens of people on either side carry it in the scorching sun on their shoulders. Since this is “God” they cant even wear their slippers but only the socks. I somehow feels all the punniyam would only go to these people who carry the pallakku though the rituals are done by the priests. Not to leave behind the scores of Maamas who go before the procession chanting the vedams. I learnt later that the native people who have moved out of the town and landed in plum jobs make it their point to be present during this time just for attending this urchavams and to serve in the temple.
We got to watch only 3days event due to the warring schedule of P and aathukarar. Next time planning to attend whole Urchavam there. The thing is if you are present during the Kodi etham on the first day, you cannot leave the town for the next 9 days.
The mandagapadi which I wrote earlier in this post http://oreponnu.blogspot.com/2009/06/reminiscing-about-kancheepuram.html was on 29.05.10 this time . And if you keenly observe the Perumal’s face, you can find it is unfinished with few holes here and there. There is a story behind this. Its been passed on by word of mouth, so iam not sure of the authenticity. Since the statue was found in a dilapidated condition, the temple authorities tried to restore it . The sculptor after restoring the body started with the face and the moment he kept his chisel on the face, there was gushing of blood from the idol. As soon as he witnessed them he fell on to the floor breathless. The following night perumal came in the dream of the temple administrator and asked him to leave the idol as such. While I googled for the source of this story I was unable to locate. If you could find anything on this kindly pass on to me.
The above picture is the scanned copy of the invitation (courtesy of invitation-Kumaran Silks, T.Nagar, Chennai)
The temple’s website -http://www.kanchivaradarajartemple.com/home.html (could have been better)