First of its kind

Ritual Theerthavari utsavam for the deities from Tirumala took place at Srirangam, Tiruchi, recently.

The idols of Sri Srinivasa Perumal, Sri Bhoodevi and Sri Sridevi from the Tirupati temple brought to Srirangam and special yagam being performed in Tiruchi on Sunday. PHOTO: M. Srinath

Devotees in and around Tiruchi had a rare opportunity this past week, when the idols from Tirumala Tirupati temple were brought to Srirangam, and theerthavari, with the water from River Cauvery, was performed for deities such as Srinivasa Perumal, Bhoodevi and Sridevi of Tirumala temple.

Considered the first of its kind, the theerthavari was performed under the ‘Sri Venkata Prasannam Bhooloka Vaikunta Saptha Prahara Pradakshana Vaibhavam' organised through the ‘Dasa Sahitya project’ of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

Special abishekam

Prior to the theerthavari, a special abhishekam with milk and curd was performed to the idols in the morning at 8 a.m. There were two groups - one consisting of women who danced and sang the praise of Lord Srinivasa Perumal while others performed the ‘kolattam.’

The idols decorated with thulasi garlands were kept at an elevation.

The theerthavari utsavam was performed in Srirangam in the wake of the ‘malai madham’ of this year’s Aavani, which witnessed two Noon Moon Days (Amavasya).

“While one set of idols is used for theerthavari at Tirumala, the other set has been brought to Cauvery in the wake of the ‘malai madham,’” says Poorna Pushkala, president of Saptha Prakara Committee, which coordinated the vaibhavam.

Spread over three days, the vaibhavam was marked by special homam and pushpa archanai.

The devotees also marched through the sapthaprakara (seven prakarams) at Srirangam, in the last leg of the vaibhavam.