The mega event that is Brahmothsavams at Statue of Equality which was going on since past 11 days has come to a fruitful conclusion today with Maha Purnahuthi. We got a chance to enjoy the festivities and have varied divine experiences – starting from morning meditation in a serene atmosphere, to watching 18 Garuda sevas at one place, getting a chance to perform puja collectively with all other devotees, etc. Here is the detailed report of the concluding day of this event.
Pra:thah smaraneeyam is a set of few slokas (like Haryashtakam, Panchayudha Stotram, etc.) which is chanted by entire staff and students at JIVA campus.
HH Ahobila Jeeyar Swamiji led the process of doing meditation with instructions and prayers at the beginning of session.
HH Ahobila Jeeyar Swamiji led the process of doing meditation with instructions and prayers at the beginning of session.
We use this mechanism of daily meditation to refresh and recharge our mind and body so that we lead our life as a service to God. HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji hoped that the devotees will make this morning japam as their regular daily practice even beyond today. If we find ourselves unable to concentrate on God with our eyes closed during meditation, we can open our eyes, keep looking at the archa murthi and continue doing japam.
Morning Aradhana was performed including chanting of Thiru Pallandu, Thiruppalliyezhuchchi and Thiruppavai. Veda, Purana, Itihasa, Stotra vinnapams were doing before Lord. Mangalasasanam to Perumal was done by HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji.
Swamiji gave a brief outline of today’s schedule and spoke about the importance of today’s events.
Sevakalam concluded with Nithya Purnahuthi.
Swamiji graced Theertha-goshti to all the devotees who assembled at yaga sala.
After completion of Nithya Purnahuthi and Madhyahnika aradhana, the devotees moved on to Divya Saketam temple, where Lord Rama was blessing with Uthsavaantha-snapanam.
Devotees taking part in morning Aradhana
Neerajanam
Veda-vinnapam (Taittareeya Shaakha)
Bhagavachchaastram (Sri Pancharatra Agamam) vinnapam by Sriman Yugandharacharya swami
Purnahuthi material ready to start sala pradakshina
Nithya Purnahuthi
Veda vinnapam during Maadhyahnika aradhana (Maitraayani Shaakha)
Towards the end of any Brahmothsavams, it is customary to perform Dwadasa-aradhana and Sri Pushpa Yagam.
During the year long services to Lord in the temple, there could be some inadvertent errors creeping in. To atone for such errors, dwadasa aradhana is performed. As there are 12 months in one year, each round of aradhana corresponds to nullifying errors of one month.
Archaka swamis created a design (called ‘chakra-abja-mandalam’) with flowers. HH Ahobila Jeeyar Swamiji was explaining the steps involved in this process and their significance as this Sri Pusha Yagam was going on.
For each round of aradhana – archakas recite Vedas, stotras, nama sankirtanam (bhajan), Divya Prabandhams, etc. to Lord. The flowers are collected from different parts of mandalam and offered to Lord.
HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji gave a summary of this edition of Brahmothsavams and wished that we will be able to enjoy services to Lord in many more ways in future editions.
There were many key contributors who made this event very successful. Few of them were invited on the stage. Swamiji introduced them, listed their contributions and felicitated as a token of appreciation for their services:
Swamiji offered all the flowers to Perumals and completed the Sri Pushpa Yagam.
Devotees moved on to the yaga sala to participate in Maha Purnahuthi.
On the first day of this event, we had a program where various devathas were invited to be present at the venue. That program was done with vedic rituals and welcoming each devatha with a prescribed raga and tala. This Devatha Udwaasana program reverses that process. Here, vedic rituals are used to send off the devathas respectfully request them to visit us again in future.
Jeeyar Swamiji explained about the significance of these rituals prior to Maha Purnahuthi
After Maha purnahuthi, yagna prasadam / purodasam was distributed among the devotees.
Offering Purnahuthi material to God through Fire
Fire being withdrawn by offering of curds
The seeds that were sown 10 days ago in yaga sala during Ankurarpanam, have grown into nice sprouts. They are being offered to Lord here.
…while some devotees just enjoyed watching the others perform aradhana.
Kalasa teertham from the yaga sala was first sprinkled (Prokshana) on Lord Rama and Parivaram.
Swamiji and the archaka swamis took the kalasa teertham respectfully over the top of heads to do the Prokshana for all 108 Perumals in their Divya desam temples.
After completing Prokshana to all Perumals, Swamiji returned to the dais area and sprinkled that teertham on all the devotees that were waiting patiently.
It felt as if Swami Ramanuja himself is showering the love and affection on all devotees – irrespective of caste, creed, education, power, etc. It was an appropriate conclusion to the festivities at Statue of Equality.
It was a divine coincidence that the day’s program ended at 9:09 PM – emphasizing the connection of number 9 with various aspects in Statue of Equality.
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