Religious fervour marked the Veerabrahmendra Swami aradhana mahostavam held at the temple to commemorate the day on which the Swami entered into ‘Jeevasamadhi’.
Veerabrahmendra Swamy is an iconic social reformer who lived almost 400 years ago and is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, according to the Hindu mythology.
Born at Kandimallayapalle in Kadapa district into a family of Viswabrahmins, the Swamy was believed to have powers to predict the future in his famous writing ‘Kalagnanam’.
The ‘Aaradhana mahotsavam’ is held to commemorate the day he went to ‘Jeevasamadhi’, a technique performed by 12th century early Bhakti saints such as yogis and siddhars, which they believed would result into complete union of physical body composed of matter with the divine.
Every year, Veerabrahmendra Swami aaradhana is observed across Andhra Pradesh. Each Brahmam gari temple offers food to thousands of devotees.
Donations pour and most of the donors insist on offering lunch to as many as devotees possible.
“Veerabrahmendra Swami is a social reformer, feminist, secular icon, anti-caste crusader and socialist who advocated these modern philosophies even before these were theorised,” N.S.V Sarath Chandra, a devotee said.
He appealed to the government to support the mahotsavam so that the social reformer got his due.
