When Sri Kalyana Venkateswara rode the Sun and the Moon as part of the annual Brahmotsavams at Srinivasa Mangapuram, Lord Shiva rode the Nandi (bull) at the fete currently on at Sri Kapileswaraswamy temple.
The seventh day of the annual fest saw the deity of Kalyana Venkateswara taken out on ‘Surya Prabha Vahanam’ in the morning. Depicting the ‘Gajendra Moksha’ episode, the processional deity was tastefully decorated as Maha Vishnu rescuing an elephant from a crocodile, which had its teeth dug into the feet of the tusker.
While the Sun was represented by a golden halo behind the deity, the ‘Chandra Prabha Vahanam’ taken out in the evening showed the Lord riding the Moon, shown as a silvery halo.
At the TTD’s Sri Kapileswara Swamy temple, the deity of Lord Shiva was taken out in a colourful procession on his favourite celestial carrier ‘Nandi Vahanam’ on the fifth day of the annual fete.
Monthly ‘Gaja’ ride
The procession began at the temple, went around Kapila Theertham Road, ISKCON temple, NGOs colony and Alipiri bypass road to culminate at the temple again. ‘Snapana Tirumanjanam’ (celestial bath) was performed for Sri Somaskanda Murthy and Goddess Sri Kamakshi with milk, curd, honey, fruit juices and sandal paste.
The deity was taken on ‘Tiruchi Vahanam’ in the evening.
The TTD has decided to give an elephant ride to Goddess Sri Padmavathi Ammavaru every month. The ‘Gaja Vahana Seva’ on the four streets encircling the temple will be performed every month when Uttarashada, the birth star of the Goddess, is in vogue.
The first event will be held on March 8 (Friday). It is a coincidence that the significant event falls on a Friday, which is considered the favourite day of the Goddess.
