TIRUMALA, JULY 14, 2024: Salakatla Anivara Asthanam festival will be celebrated on July 16 at Tirumala Srivari Temple.
Usually this festival is held on Karkataka Sankranti every year during the Dakshinayana punayasa according to Souramanam. But according to the calendar of Tamils who follow Sauramana, the name Anivara Asthanam is held on the last day of Animasam. Earlier, the annual calculations of TTD’s income and expenses, reserves etc. would start from this Sunday Asthanam Parvada, which was the day when the Mahants took over the administration of the Devasthanam. After the formation of the Board of Trustees of TTD, the annual budget was changed to the months of March-April.
On the day of this festival at 7 am in the Ghanta Mandapam in front of Banguravakili, Malayappaswamy with two Devas in the Sarvabhupala Vahana will worship the Koluva facing Garutmanth. On the other pedestal, Sri Vishwaksena, the head of the Lord’s army, prays towards the south. Along with these idols, special pujas and offerings are made to Moolavirattu in Anandanilayam.
Garment Offering of Jeeyangars:
Tirumala SriSriSri Pedda Jeiyar Swamy is paraded in a big silver plate with six big silk clothes on his head and accompanied by mangal instruments. Four of these are decorated with Moolamurti. The remaining two garments are decorated one for Malayappaswamy and the other for Vishvaksena. The chief priests of Srivari temple tie a “parivattam” (small silk cloth) on their head with Srivari’s foot cloth and receive rice dakshina from Swamivari and bless Swami with ‘Nityaishwaryobhava’. After that, the priests will tie the ‘lacchana’ on the right hand of Tirumala Sri Sri Sri Pedda Jeiyar Swami, Sri Sri Sri Chinna Jeiyar Swami, and on behalf of the TTD Executive Officer, in the right hand. After performing Harati, Chandanam, Tambulam, Tirtha and Shatari rituals, the bunch of ear buds is placed at the feet of Shrivari.
Procession on a flower palanquin:
On the occasion of Anivara Asthanam, Sridevi and Bhudevi together with Srimalayappaswamy will parade through the ancient streets of Tirumala on the most splendidly decorated flower palanquin to entertain the devotees.
Cancellation of Earned Services:
TTD has canceled Ashtadal Padapadmaradhana, Kalyanotsavam, Oonjalseva, Arjitha Brahmotsavam and Sahasradipalankara services on July 16 due to Anivara Asthana.
