Dear Devotees :
I am pleased to forward Dr.Venakat Kanumalla's
invitation for your particIpation
in the PavithrOthsavam celebrations starting
tomorrow and concluding on Saturday ,
Sep 17 . PoorNAhUthi will be on Saturday , Sep 17 .
Please recieve PoorNAhUthi
PrasAdhams and be blessed with the Sevai of all
Moolavars adorning Silver Kavachams .
Dhavjasthambham project is underway . Please come
and celebrate .
V.Sadagopan
----- Original Message -----
From: venkat
kanumalla
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 10:26 AM
Subject: Pavitrotsavam Invitation: Dear Devotees,
You are all invited to attend the Pavitrotsavam from 9-14-2005 to
9-17-2005 and be blessed by the Divya-Dampatis. Please visit
Temple Website at www.ranganatha.org for
a detailed Invitation.
Thanks to Dr.Sadagopan for permitting me to edit and use his article
on Pavitrotsavam to suit our Temple's special needs ( which is pasted
below for your kind information ).
Srimat Azhagiyasingar Thiruvadigale Saranam.
adiyen,
Venkat Kanumalla
of Sri Ranganatha Temple, Pomona, NY.
Annual
Pavitrotsavams 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 Utsava Moorty at a
specailly constructed yaaga saala. The decoration of all the Moortys 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 utsavam ,
which can be conducted from 3-10 days depending on the temple tradition. The
time for the performance of the Pavitrotsavam 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
September-2005 for 4 days. Special
pavitra 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 Pavitrotsam , it is relevant to point out that another
purificatory ceremony performed inside the sanctum sanctorium (garbha graham)
known as "Koil Azhwaar Tirumanjanam" (KAT) is quite different from the annual
pavitrotsavam. The KAT is performed four times an year at the sanctum sanctorium
of Tirumala Srinivasa's temple. Pavitrotsavam is performed only once a year in
all temples . On the day of KAT at Thirumala , the Uthsava moorhtys and the
akhanda 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 and a
light abhishEkam is performed for the Moolavar and Bhoga Srinivasa. Naivedhyam
is offered and distributed. This is a physical cleaning act .
Pavitrotsavam
is a well prescribed ritual , where the archaka prays for forgiveness for all
lapses--conscious or otherwise-- in the daily worship of the Lord .
On
the evening before Pavitrotsavam, a prayer to the Lord (Bhagavath prArthana) is
offered ;this is followed by (1) Acharya-Yajamaana sankalpam ( vow to perform
the Pavitrotsavam), (2) Vaasudeva
PunyahavAchanam( cleansing act before any ritual at the temple with appropriate
veda mantras and sprinkling of the areas of utsavam with consecrated water ),
(3) Mrudh sangrahaNam ( Collection of earth ), (4) ankurAarpaNam ( germination
of seeds in special vessels in the earth housed in special vessels ) and (5)
VAstu ShAnti ( prayers to VAstu Purusha of the temple for auspiciousness)
On
the morning of the second day, a ritual known as theertha sangrahaNam is
performed and is followed by Acharya-Bhagavan raksha bandham (tying of raksha on
the wrists of the Lord and AcharyAs) . The special priests versed in aagama
rituals enter the yaaga saala ( pravesam ) and the dwAra pooja is
performed. Next Kumbha, Mandala,
Bimba poojaas are conducted. Consecration of the Agni for the homams (agni
pratishtha) follows. All the specially constructed pavitra maalas are
consecrated and adorn all the Utsava and Moola-berams. PradhAna homam and
PoorNaahuti followed by laghu Saatrumurai concludes the morning's ceremonies.
On
the evening of the second day , Yaaga Saala pravesam, Dwaara Pooja are perfomed
first and is followed by Chatu:-sthaana archana , Kumbha-Mandala-Bimba &
Agni poojaas . Nitya homam and Poornaahuti 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 special events for the third day evening are: the
abhishekam (Tirumanjanam) for the Lord with 81 kalasams as at Srirangam. A very
special homam with deep ritualistic significance known as " Shodasa Tatva Nyaasa
Homam" is performed . ShAnti homam and Saatrumurai are the final rituals for the
third day. On
the morning of the fourth day , the ceremonies of PavitrOtsavam come to a
conclusion in the following sequence: Yaaga saala pravesam , dwaara pooja,
chatu:- sthAnArchana, nitya homam , Mahaa PoornAhuti, MahA dwAra devata yathA-
sthAnam, Kumbha yathA sthAnam , Kumbha yAtrA dAnam . The consecrated waters from
the three day long ceremonies are sprinkled over all corners of the temple. A
big Saatrumurai and Mangala Aarati are then performed. The Pavitra mAlas are
removed and distributed to devotees , who took part in the goshthi and prasAdam
is offered to the Lord and distributed to all . The
PavitrOtsavam 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 Dampatis.
The
Kinds of Utsavams at the VishNu Aalayams (Temples)
: In
the consecrated temples of the Lord SrIman NArAyaNa , there are three kinds of
Utsavams: NityOtsavam , NaimittikOtsavam and KAmyOtsavam.
NityOtsavam
: Every
month there are Pancha Parva Utsavams that are recognized as NityOtsavams. These
five NityOtsavams during each month are: (1)PerumAl's Tirunakshatram (Revati for
SrI RanganAtha , SwAti for Lord Sri
Lakshmi-Nrusimha, Punarvasu for Lord Sri Rama, Rohini for Lord Sri
Krishna, SravaNam for Lord Sri SrinivAsa, Uttara-Phalguni for Sri Maha-Lakshmi
and Poorva-Phalguni for Sri Andal ) , (2, 3) Two EkAdasis ( Sukla and KrishNa
Paksha EkAdasis) , (4) First day of the Tamil Month ( Maasa PiRappu) , (5)
AmAvasya ( New Moon Day). NaimittikOtsavam:
This
is a samprOkshaNa (Consecration ) Utsavam , when any one of these misfortunes
happen: (1) The
dhurbhiksham ( inauspiciousness) caused to the community by Asubha graham
combinations, (2) Gati
BhEdhams of the Moon and the Sun, (3) the
falling down of Gopuram , MaNtapams and temple
structures, (4) Epidemics
and horrible diseases ( The Visha Jwaram at Thirupputtkuzhi Dhivya Desam during
Swamy Desikan's Times) , (5) the
fracture of the consecrated images ( ThiruveLLUr Moolavar's hand , which was
corrected by one of the Azhagiya Singars, The shift in Peetam of ANDAL Utsava
Vigraham at SrI PerumbhUthUr et al) and (6)
Failure of rains in the land. These are the NaimittikOthsavams.
KAmyOtsavam: This
Utsavam is to seek any one of the Four PurushArThams (Dharma , Artha , Kaama and
Moksham) from the Lord thru prayers and observance of dedicated festivals (
Golden RaTha Utsavam at Oppiliappan Sannidhi). PavitrOtsavam:
This
is a specail annual Utsavam for the purposes of the banishment of all blemishes
, lapses in the Year's aarAdhanams by ArchakAs and to restore SAnidhyam for the
Lord . This is hence a Sarva DhOsha NivAraNa utsavam. It
is carried out during the time period between SrAvaNa month and KArthika month and is for the
preethi of VishNu and for chEtana's Moksham . Sukla Paksham in these months are
preferred for the observance of this Sarva dhOsha NivAraNa Utsavam . Prathama , Thrutheeya, Panchami ,
Dasami, EkAdasi, DhvAdasi ,
ThrayOdasi , PourNami thithis are to be selected for the start of this
Utsavam. At Sri Ranganatha Temple,
it usually starts on Shukla Ekadasi day and concludes on Poornima
day. Regarding
Nakshatrams , Asvani, RohiNi, Mrughaseersham , Punarvasu, Pushyami , ChithrA ,
SravaNa , Revathi nakshatrams are preferred. From Sukla Paksha Prathami to
PourNami , the performance of Pavitrotsavam on any one of the Nakshatrams are
recommended . It is Uttamam (most auspicious) to initiate this utsavam on such
days. This
Pavitrotsavam can have a duration of 4 or 7 or 9 days . At minimum , it must be
performed for 4 days .On the day of completion of this Utsavam, TeerthavAri (
like avabhrutha SnAnam at the end of conclusion of a Yaj~nam) in the temple tank
or the river is to be done. Why
the word Pavitram is linked to this Utsavam? Pavitram
means Suddham and auspiciousness . Silk threads are used to create the necklaces
for the Lord. There are 5 different colored threads . In the middle of the
threads , there are knots (granthis) . Prathishta (Consecration) is done to
these colored silk necklaces (garlands) thru invocation of the power of the
divya aabharaNams and Jewelery of the Lord ( SrI Vastram /PeetAmbaram ,
Kireetam/Crown , Kousthubham , Vana Maala , Sudarsanam et al). PrANa pratishtha
is next performed to make them fit for the Lord to wear these Pavitra Maalas. As
an integral part of the Pavitrotsavam , the traditional observances such as -
Bhagavat PrArThana, Sankalpam , PuNyAhavAchanam , Mrudh-SangarahaNam , Vaastu
ShAnti karmAs should be done. The special Yaaga Saalai should be constructed .
DhvAra PoojA is performed for the Yaaga SaalA and PerumAL should be requested to
take His place in the Yaaga SaalA through Chatu:-SthAnArchanam for performing
worship during the Utsavam days. The
chatu:-SthAanArchanam: Kumbham,
MaNDalam , Bimbam and Agni are the four SthAnams (Focus sites) for the archana
(worship) of the Lord . Kumbham:
In
the YaagasAla Vedhika , nine Kumbhams ( Copper / Silver Kalasams adorned with
threads) are established to invoke VaasudEva , SankarshNa , Pradhyumna ,
Aniruddha , Purusha , Sathya , Anantha , Achyutha and Sudarsana for
AarAdhanam. In the Kumbham , sacred
waters from Ganga, Cauvery et al are requested to be present and these teertha
Svaroopa DevatAs are invoked for dhana dhAnya abhivrutthi.
MaNdalam:
MaNdalam
is BhagavAn's Chakra Aayudham that is drawn as Yantram (Bimbam) and Lord
Sudarsana is invoked there . ( In the MaNdalam , Sudarsana MahA Purusha has
Sudarsana JwAla, Nemi , Aram , Naabhi and aksham ). There are also six adhvAs in
the MaNdalam (Shadadhva NyAsam) : (1) TathvAdhvA (JeevAdhi Tattvams),
(2)BhuvanAdhvA ( the 14 universes ? Atala, Vitala, sutala, TalAtala, RasAtala,
MahAtala, PatAla, Bhu, Bhuvar, Suvar, Mahar, Jana, Tapah, and Brahma or
Satya ), (3) VarNAdhvA
(BheejAkAksharams of Mantrams) ,(4) KalAdhvA (64 Kalas) , (5) MantrAdhvA ( Moola
Mantram , Moorty Mantram , Phala mantram , Nrusimha Mantram) and (6) PadhAdhvA (
KesavAdhi upavyUha Moortys ) . In
the petals and also in the angles (kONams like AgnEyam ), SrIvatsam, Sankham,
ChandAdhi DevAs (dwAra PAkakAs ) , VishvaksEna , VynatEya (Garuda) are to
be invoked and worshipped.
This
MaNDala AarAdhana rules (Vithi) are found especially in PAncharAtra Aagamam.
When Sudarsana is invoked in MaNDalam directly , He removes all fears (Bheethi)
and confers auspiciousness. He burns away all blemishes. MandalArAdhanam is done
to grace the BhaktAs and make dhushtAs powerless. BimbArAdhanam: PerumAl
is brought to Yaaga SaalA and invoked for worship there. The misfortunes in the
land and that of the rulers are removed through this Chathu:-sThAna
AarAdhanam. Agni
AarAdhanam: The
YAgAgni Kundams are constructed in the Yaaga Saala as instructed by the Aagmams.
BhagavAn is invoked there in the middle of Agni in the Kundam. Homam is
performed with PradhAna Mantrams. For consecration of the Agni used in the Yaaga
Saala , GarbhAdhAna and Jaathakarma ceremonies have to be done for the Agni , In
AagamAs , Agni Pratishtha is classified under three Cctegories: BaalAgni,
VruddhAgni and YouvanAgni. For SamprOkshaNam , Dheekshai and other ShAnti KarmAs
, BaalAgni is used. For Utsavams such as Pavitrotsavam , BrahmOtsavam, etc..,
VruddhAgni is to be used.
BaalAgni is created by rubbing a special kind of wood (araNi-sticks)
against a holder and Agni is churned out (maThanam). VruddhAgni is the Agni present
with AgnihOtris or it is brought from the Madapalli (Kitchen of the Lord).
Agni
has seven tongues (Sapta JihvA) : KaaLI, KarALI, SumanA , lOhita, DhUmrA ,
Sphulingini and Visvaroopa. Each of them have a specific location in the Agni
Kundam . KaaLI is in the middle , KarALi is in Poorva dhik and the others are in
the AagnEya dhik, VaaruNa dhik, West , North , Vaayu dhik , and North East
(IsAnyam) . For dhOsha Nivrutthi , Only offerings through Agni or water has to
be made to other DevathAs that ultimately reaches their antaryAmi , SrIman
NArAyaNa. VedAs declare that the
Lord is in the form of Agni ( Yaj~nO vai VishNu:). Even the Yaj~nam is VishNu
Mayam. In
Yaj~na Kundam , PerumAL is invoked and homam is performed with Moola Mantram,
PanchOpanishad Mantrams , Pancha VaaruNika mantrams . At the end PoorNahUti is
done for the day. These homas are done twice, thrice , five times or 7 times during
the day and on the last day ShOdasa Tattva NyAsa Homa and ShAnti hOma are
performed to conclude the PavitrOtsavam. ShOdasa
Tattva NyAsa Homam: The
first Tattva Homam involves PrANAdhi Dasa Vaayu NyAsam , PrANa PratishtA Homa ,
Moola Mantra Homa , Aayudha NyAsa Homa and BhUshaNa NyAsa Homa (all the Aayudhas
and AabharaNas represent different MahA Tattvams). The
16 (ShOdasa) NyAsas are : 1)
PraNava
NyAsam, (2) VyAhruti NyAsam, (3) Akshara NyAsam, 4) Nakshatra NyAsam, (5) Gruha
NyAsam, (6) Kaala NyAsam, (7) BrAhmaNAdi VarNa NyAsam, (8) ThOya NyAsam, (9)
Nigama NyAsam, (10) DevatA NyAsam, (11) VairAjan NyAsam, (12) Krathu NyAsam,
(13) GuNa NyAsam, (14) Moorty NyAsam, (15) Sakthi NyAsam and (16) Shad GuNa
NyAsam. Each
of these homams are done and the residue (samphAdyam ) from the Agni Kundam is
collected and applied to the Lord's limbs from the sacred feet upto Siras
(head). ShAnti
Homam: Chathur
VyAhruti Mantra ( BhU SvAhA , Bhuva: SvahA, Suva: svAhA, & BhUrbuhva:suva:
SvAhA ) homam are performed 108 times with honey , milk , Curd and ghee .The
SampAdyam from this ShAnti Homam is applied from the sacred feet, Stomach, Face
and the Siras of the Lord. Thereafter, Jaggery, Honey , Ghee are used to the
accompaniment of VishNU Gaayatri (108 times) and oblations are offered; at the
end the SampAdyam from this Homam is applied to all the limbs of the Lord.
PoorNAhUti
follows PrAyaschitta Homam,
which is done with PanchOpanishad
mantrams. The Sakthi from the Kundam is transferred to the Kumbham and the
Kundam is returned to yathA sThAnam . DhvAra Devathas are sent back to their
homes (yathA sTAnam) with reverential prayers. Then, the Sakti in the ManDalam
is transferred to Kumbham . It is followed by Kumbha YaatrA dAnam and the
Kumbham is taken in procession to Moolavar sannidhi with all upachArams. Kumbha
Sakthi is now transferred to Moolavar (Dhruva bEram) . All saanidhis are sprinkled (prOkshaNam)
with the water from Kumbham . TheerthavAri is carried out and ChakratthAzhwAr is
immersed in the waters by the archakAs . At the Moolavar Sannidhi , JithanTE
sthOthram is recited and is followed by the grand SaatRumuRai with Vedam, Upanishads, IthihAsams and
Dhivya Prabhandhams . PrasAdam is presented . Theertham , SatAri, Ghoshti
ViniyOgam of Bhagavad PrasAdham concludes this annual Pavitrotsavam Festival at
VishNu Temples. ArchakA's
Mnthra Balam keeps the Sannidhyam of the consecrated Images of the Lord at the
Temples. ArchakA has to serve the Lord without anticipating any gains
(Aathmartha AarAdhanam) . Such an AarAdhanam will grant soubhAgyams to the
devotees. When the Archaka is not performing such aarAdhanam , he is called an
amantraka archakan and the Lord runs away from him like a human being
confronting a Cobra and the animals of the forest , when they see a lion.
Archaka and the devotees have to recognize the consecrated ArchA images of the
Lord as SaakshAt BhagavAn and not as some image made of stone, metal or wood.
Those who consider that way will surely suffer in narakam. The
Archaka , who uses the prescribed AarAdhana Mantrams daily causes the
Saannidhyam of the Lord to grow in the Consecrated Bimbams of Him. When Archaka is blessed to perform such
AarAdhanam without expecting any returns , he reaches VishNu Padham at the end
of his life on this earth. This is
what PaancharAthra Aagamam texts state.The Mantra Veeryam (potency) of the
archaka results in Saanidhyam (presence) of the Lord at His sannidhis and
Pavitrotsavam banishes any dimmuition in the Lord's presence in His consecrated
images at the VishNu Aalayams due to lapses in AarAdhanams according to the
prescribed aagamic rules .
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