These floral decorations for Sri Venkateswara take place twice, both in the morning and in the evening. Over a dozen varieties of flowers, half a dozen types of aromatic leaves to the tune of 100 kilos are used in the daily floral sevas, while for Pulangi Seva on Thursday, double the number of seasonal flowers are used to decorate the presiding deity.
The floral garlands play a significant role, and each one has a specific identity in the legends and lore of the temple of Sri Venkateswara. The beauty of these garlands was well depicted in one of the instances in the famous Tamil work by Sri Nammalwar in “Tiruvaimozhi”. A peep into the significance of these various garlands:
Sikhamani: A single garland decorated from the crown onto both the shoulders is called ‘Shikhamani’. It is a large eight feet garland
Saligrama: Two garlands each measuring four feet, each adorned touching the Saligrama Haram of the presiding deity and hence the name Saligrama Mala.
Kanthasari: It is decorated, covering the neck part of Srivaru and is two in number, with each measuring 3.5feet.
Vakshsthala Lakshmi: These are two garlands and will be adorned to Sridevi and Bhudevi, which occupy the divine chest area of Srivaru on either side. Each garland measures 1.5ft in length.
Shanku-Chakra malas: For the divine weapons of Srivaru, each garland measuring one foot in length will be decorated and known as Shanku Mala and Chakra Mala.
Khatari Saram: This particular garland is adorned to the divine Sword – Nandakam of the main deity, measuring two feet in length.
Tavalams: These are three garlands that cover both the elbows and waist part of the Mula Virat and hang to the length that they touch the holy feet
Tiruvadi Malas: Tiruvadi is derived from Tamil and means the holy feet. These garlands are exclusively decorated for the sacred feet of Sri Venkateswara Swamy.
Meanwhile, “Pula Ara” is the flower store room located inside the Tirumala temple that houses these different types of garlands that are decorated for the presiding deity every day.
Hence, the various flower garlands occupy a prominent place, enriching their lives in the divine Seva.
