Dear BhakthAs:
Annual Pavithrothsavams are purificatory rituals
recommended by Aagamas
to expiate the commissions and the omissions
associated with daily
worship (Aaraadhanam) of the Lord at His
consecrated temples. Lapses in
the performance of the Aaraadhanam are recognized
and a detailed
ceremony consisting of homam in
front of the Uthsava Moorthy
at a specailly constructed yaaga saala. The
decoration of all the Moorthys
of the temple with specially prepared necklaces made of dyed cotton thread
is carried out and the day concludes with a
pornahoothi. This is an elaborate
uthsavam , which can be conducted from 3-10 days
depending on
the temple tradition. The time for the performance
of the Pavithrothsavam is
different from temple to temple. At Thirumala , it
is scheduled in August; at
Thiruvazhunthur dhivya desam,, it is performed in
the Tamil month of Iyppasi
(October-November). At the Pomona Sri Ranganathar
temple , the plans are
to celebrate it during October for 3 days.Special
pavithra maalais have been
brought over from Srirangam and will be used
for decoration of all the deities
in the eight sannidhis.
Before we discuss the annual Pavithrothsam, it is
relevant to point out that
another purificatory ceremony performed inside the
sanctum sanctorium
(garbha graham) knownas "Koil Azhwaar
Thirumanjanam" (KAT) is quite different
from the annual pavithrothsavam. The KAT is performed four times an year at
the sanctum sanctorium of Thirumala Srinivasan's
temple. Pavithrothsavam is
performed only once a year in all temples . On the
day of KAT at Thirumala ,
the Uthsava moorhtys and the akanda
dheepam are removed from the sanctum
sanctorium and
placed in the ante-chamber . The sanctum is cleaned thoroughly
and a paste consisting of Kumkumam (vermillion), Camphor and other special
ingredients are applied to the inner walls . After a short period of time , this
paste is
wiped clean anda light abhishEkam is performed
for the Moolavar and Bhoga Srinivasan.
Naivedhyam is offered and distributed. This is a
physical cleaning act .
Pavithrothsavam is a well prescribed ritual , where
the archakar prays for
forgivenss for all lapses--conscious or otherwise--
in the daily worship
of the Lord .
On the evening before Pavithrothsavam, a prayer to
the Lord (Bhagavath praarthanai)
is offered ;this is followed
by (1) Acharya-Yajamaana sankalpam (
vow to perform
the Pavithrothsavam) (2) Vaasudeva Punyahavachanam( cleansing act before any ritual
at the temple with
appropriate veda manthras and sprinklingof the
areas of uthsavam
with consecrated water )(3) Mrudh sankrahanam ( Collection of earth )
(4) ankuraarpanam ( germination of seeds in special vessels in the earth
housed
in special vessels ) and (5) Vaasthu Saanthi ( prayers to Vaasthu Purushan
of the temple for auspiciousness)
On the morning of the second day, a ritualknown as
theertha sangrahanam is
performed and is followed by Acharya-Bhagavan raksha bhandham(tying of
raksha
on the wrists of the Lord and Acharyaas) .
The special priests versed in aagama rituals
enter the yaaga saalai ( pravesam ) and the dhwaara
poojai is performed.Next Kumbha,
Mandala, Bhimbha poojaas are conducted.
Consecration of the Agni for the homams
(agni prathishtai) follows. All the specially
constructed pavithra maalais are consecrated
and adorn all the Uthsava and Moola bherams. Pradhaana homam and PoorNaahuthi
followed by laghu Saarrumurai concludes the morning's ceremonies.
On the evening of the second day , Yaaga Saalai
pravesam, Dhwaara Poojai
are perfomed first and is followed by
Chathur-sthaana archanai , Kumbha-Mandala-
Bhimbha-Agni poojaas . Nithya homam and
Poornaahuthi conclude the day's rituals.
On the morning and the evening of the third day,
the sequence of procedures of
the second day is followed. The speciaI events for
the third day evening are:
the abhishekam (Thirumanjanam) for the Lord with 81
kalasams as at Srirangam.
A very special homam with deep ritualistic
significance known as " Shodasa Tatthva
Nyaasa Homam" is performed . Saanthi homamand
Saarrumurai are the final
rituals for the third day.
On the morning of the fourth day , the ceremonies
of PavithrOthsavam come to
a conclusion in the following sequence: Yaaga
saalai pravesam , dhwaara pooja,
chathur sthaana archanai, nithya homam , Mahaa
Poornaahoothi, Mahaa dhwaara devathai
yathaa sthaanam, Kumbha yathaa sthaanam , Kumbha
yaathraa dhaanam . The consecrated
waters from the three day long ceremonies are
sprinkled over all corners of the temple.
A big Saarrumurai and Mangala Aaratthi arethen
performed . The Pavithra maalais are removed
and distributed to devotees , who took part in
the ghoshti and prasaadham is offered
to the Lord and distributed to all
.
The PavithrOthsavam is concluded this way and the
path is laid out for another
year of worship at the temple to recieve the
blessings of the dhivya dampathis.
adiyEn benefitted a great deal form discussions
with Sri Varadha Bhattar of
Oppiliappan Sannidhi in preparation of this posting
, who is presently serving
as the archakar at Sri Ranganatha Temple at Pomona , NY. My sincere
thanks are to him.
Daasan, Oppiliappan KOil Varadachari Sadagopan
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