Sri Venkateswara Swami Brahmotsavam or Srivari Brahmotsavam is the most significant annual festival celebrated at the Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala-Tirupati and at numerous Venkateswara temples throughout the world. The word Brahmotsavam is a combination of two Sanskrit words — Brahma and Utsavam (festival). It is widely believed that Lord Brahma reportedly conducted the first festival. Brahma also means “grand” or “large”. According to the legend of Tirumala, Brahma descends to earth to conduct the festival. Sri Venkteswara Sahasranamastotra refers to Brahma performing the festival, signified by a small, empty wooden chariot (Brahmaratham) which moves ahead of the processions of the Venkateswara processional deity Malayappa. The first reference to festivals in the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple was in 966 CE, when the Pallava queen Samavai endowed land and ordered its revenue to celebrate festivals in the temple.

Procession & Dwaja Rohanam
Dwajarohanam is the flag-hoisting ceremony that is held on the first day by hoisting a flag (dhwajapatam) with a picture of Garuda (Mount of Vishnu) on the top of the Dwajasthambam of the Temple. The flag will be hoisted amid Vedic chanting. It is believed to be a symbolic significance of formal invitation to all the deities to attend the Brahmotsavam festival. Before flag-hoisting, the processional deities of the Temple, Malayappa by his consorts Sridevi, Bhudevi, will be taken in a procession along with Dwajapatam and Parivara devathas such as Anantha, Chakra, Garuda and Vishvaksena.

Sesha Vahana Seva
On the third evening, the Lord is taken out in a procession around the temple on Sesha (Serpent God) as His vehicle. Adi Sesha is the seat on which Lord Sriman Narayana rests in his abode Sri Vaikunta

Garuda Vahana Seva
On the sixth evening, the Lord is taken out in a procession around the temple specially decorated with his main devotee and main vehicle Garuda – the king of birds as His vehicle. It is believed and said that it is highly meritorious and mukhya pradhanam to have darshan of the Lord seated on Garuda, the vahana of Lord Vishnu.

Surya Prabha Vahanam

On the seventh day the lord of the Seven Hills Venkateswara alone mounted on the Surya Prabha Vahana of seven horses, wearing a diamond gauntlet goes in procession in the city streets of Tirumala while the rays of the sun spread in the morning announcing that he is Narayana in the midst of Sun’s sphere [Surya Mandala], “Jyotisham Raviramsuman”.

Hanumath Vahana Seva
On the seventh evening, the Lord is taken around the temple in a procession on Lord Hanuman as His vehicle. Lord Hanunam is the personification of the most devoted and self less service to the Lord is His avatar as Sri Rama in Treta yuga.

Gaja Vahana Seva
On the eight evening, the Lord is taken on a procession around the temple in Gaja (Elephant) or Airavatha as His vehicle. We find in Srimad Bhagavatham (Gajendra Moksham), the Lord instantly coming to the rescue of Gajendra and get his relieved from the clutches of a crocodile.

The Hindu Temple of St.Louis Education and Cultural Center vision is to enhance the religious experience for all in our diverse congregational community. The temple will enhance and expand programs in education, youth & adult activities and services to the community. Our Education & Cultural Center is a volunteer-driven, community-supported, non-profit organization under Hindu Temple of St.Louis. Our primary objective is to promotes and practices the ideals of Hindu religion through worship and education. The Temple strives for spiritual richness and human excellence through assimilation of the values emphasized in Hindu scriptures and applying them in our daily lives, while recognizing and respecting other religions and belief systems in their due context. Multi-Purpose Education and Cultural Center, which will have state of the art auditorium (seating capacity 600), 10 classrooms, kitchen, library and meeting rooms with additional 238 parking spaces.