May 24th Pooja Sponsorships:
- Gomata Pooja:
Lakshmirya Lokapaalaanaam Dhenurupena Samsthita।Ghritam Vahati Yagyarthe Mama Papam Vyapohatu॥
Devotees will have an opportunity to offer Puja to Gomata all 5 days during Brahmotsavam. This is a great opportunity and The Hindu Temple of St. louis invites all devotees to participate and get blessings of Gomata. Gomata Pooja sponsorship: $51
- Deeksha – Deeksha is given to devotees by priests to perform a particular Pooja. For Brahmotsavam the devotees will receive deeksha and take an oath(Sankalpam) to participate in all the rituals without any distractions. It is also a promise to follow all the guidelines involved.
Sponsorship for just receiving the Deeksha – $116
May 25th Pooja Sponsorships:
- Suprabhatam & Tomala Seva: $251
- Dhwajapataka Pratishtha Santana Prapthi: $251
- Rathotsava Harathi, Archana, Pushpam & Coconut: $116
- Sesha Vahana Seva: $251
May 26th Pooja Sponsorships:
- Hanumantha Vaahana Seva: $251
- Rathotsava Harathi, Archana, Pushpam & Coconut (Hanuma): $116
- Garuda Vaahana Seva: $251
- Rathotsava Harathi, Archana, Pushpam & Coconut (Garuda): $116
May 27th Pooja Sponsorships:
- Soorya Prabha Vaahana Seva: $251
- Rathotsava Harathi, Archana, Pushpam & Coconut (Surya): $116
- Kalyanamalas: $200
- Kalyanam Participation: $516
- Kalyana Kartha: $2116
- Kalyana Vaibhogam (Kalyanam Representation of Bride or Bridegroom): $5116
- Gaja Vaahana Seva: $251
- Rathotsava Harathi, Archana, Pushpam & Coconut (Gaja): $116
May 28th Pooja Sponsorships:
- Snapana Tirumanjanam (Abhishekam), Chakra Snanam: $116
- Dwadasa Aaradhanam: $251
- Sri Pushpabhishekam: $116
Brahmotsavam Pooja Sponsorships
- Description
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Om Namo Venkatesaya,
One of the major Kaalotsavams in Srivaishnava Temples is Brahmotsavam.
Period of the year in which the Brahmotsavam is conducted varies from temple to temple. Some examples of when it is performed are:
1. Pratishthapana (Kumbhabhishekam) day of the Temple
2. Pratishtapana day of Sri Shataari
3. Thirunakshatram- Birthstar/Birthday of the Temple Deity
4. Conducted as Sraddotsavam or Kaamyotsavam as desired (sponsored) by devotees.
Thus, there can be more than one Brahmotsavam in a given year. In the Tirumala Temple, it is conducted once in Aswayuja/Kanya Maasam. It starts on first day of Navaratri and concludes on Vijayadasami which also happens to be the Tirunakshatram (Sravanam star) of Sri Venkateswara, the Deity of the Temple. This is the most prominent Brahmotsavam (also called Manava Brahmotsavam).
Brahmotsavams in Tirumala are also conducted at three other times of the year, namely: Kaisika Ekadasi (also known as, Raakshasa Brahmotsavam), Mukkoti Dwadasi (also known as, Daiva Brahmotsavam) and Rathasaptami (also known as, Aarsha Brahmotsavam). Besides, these 4 Brahmotsavams in a year, it is also conducted as a sraddotsavam as desired by devotees. At the Srirangam Temple, Brahmotsavam concludes on the Tiirunakshatram of Sri Ranganayaki Thaayar, the consort of Sri Ranganatharswami.
IV. ORIGIN OF BRAHMOTSAVAM:
Brahmotsavam means “Grand celebration” or a “celebration performed by Brahma”. Lord Indra once killed a Brahma-raakshasa. In doing so, he incurred a great sin of killing a Brahmana- Brahma hatya dosham. To relieve Indra of this burden, Lord Brahma conducted a ceremony. In this ceremony, officiated by Brahma himself, Indra held Sriman Narayana on his head during the special ritual bath “Avabhrutha 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. Indeed, it is a common belief that every Brahmotsavam is witnessed by Lord Brahma. In recognition of this, a well decorated empty chariot is pulled in front of the chariot carrying the deities at the processions held during 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). References to Brahmotsavam can be found in Varaaha Puraanam (ch.18) and Bhavishyottara Puraanam (ch. 24).
V. KEY ELEMENTS OF BRAHMOTSAVAM:
Brahmotsavam celebration lasts for 9 days. Brahmotsavam is not just a Temple ritual, but it is a grand festival for the whole town. It begins with Ankuraropanam and concludes with Avabhrutha Snanam (Ritual bath or Theertha vaari). On each day, the Utsava Moorties will be nicely decorated and taken in procession, once in the morning and once in the evening on different Vaahanams. In the night, there will also be Oonjal seva (Deities seated on the swing). The intricate step by step details vary from Temple to Temple.
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 second 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
Hanumath Vahana Seva
On the third day morning, 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 in His avatar as Sri Rama in Treta yuga.
Garuda Vahana Seva
On the third 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 fourth day morning, 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”.
Gaja Vahana Seva
On the fourth day 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.