TIRUMALA, 16 JULY 2024: The annual traditional temple budget fete, Anivara Asthanam, was held with utmost religious fervour in the hill shrine of Sri Venkateswara in Tirumala on Wednesday.
The ritual marks the commencement of the annual accounts of the Srivari temple on the last day of the Tamil month Ani. This ritual was held at Bangaru Vakili wherein the processional deities of Sri Malayappa Swamy, along with Sridevi and Bhudevi accompanied by Sri Vishwaksenula Varu were seated in Garudalwar Sannidhi. The formalities of the fete were carried out in the presence of Tirumala pontiffs Sri Sri Sri Pedda Jeeyar Swami, Sri Sri Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami and TTD Chairman BR Naidu, EO J. Syamala Rao and others.
The Utsava idols were mounted on Sarva Bhupala Vahanam, and later, the special pujas were performed to the Mula Virat and utsava idols and Prasada Nivedana was offered.
Thereafter, the senior Tirumala pontiff carried six pattu vastrams in a silver plate on his head, entered the Srivari temple amidst mangala vaidyams, followed by his deputy and the chairman and EO, wherein four pattu silks were decorated to the Mula Virat, while one to Sri Malayappa and another one to Sri Viswaksena utsava idols.
As part of a festive tradition, the temple chief archaka wore the “Parivattam” (Head Vastram) and recited the blessing “Nitya Aishvaryobhava”. Later, archakas handed over “Lacchanna” – a key bunch of the temple to both the senior and junior Tirumala pontiffs and TTD EO. The Anivavara Asthanam fete concluded when the temple key bunch was placed at Srivari’s feet after offering “Rupayi” Harati, Chandanam, Tamboolam, Thirtham and Prasadams.
Speaking on the occasion, the TTD EO said that in the past, the custodians of Srivari temple, Mahants, kept accounts of income, expenses, and reserves on an annual basis and used to account for the budget on this day of Anivara Astanam. Only after the TTD board was set up, the annual accounting shift to the March-April format.
Pradhana Archakas Venugopala Deekshitulu, Govindraja Deekshitulu, Mukhya Archaka Kiran Swamy, JEOs Goutami, Veerabrahmam, CVSO Narasimha Kishore, SE 2 Jagadeeshwar Reddy, Additional HO Sunil Reddy, temple DyEO Lokanatham and other officials were present.
