‘Varuna yagam’ begins at Tirumala

Tirumala: Following the direction of Endowments Minister Manikyala Rao, TTD began the special ritual ‘Kareeri Isthi, Parajanya Santi and Varuna Yagam’ to appease the rain God, here, on Saturday.

The five-day ritual began at Paruveta Mandapam, near Gogarbham dam, amid chanting of vedic hymns by 21 scholars from across the country. It will be performed daily between 8.30 am and 12 pm. The ritual began with ‘sankalpam’ on Saturday and will conclude with ‘avabrida snanam’ on June 25. Briefing the media later TTD Executive Officer M G Gopal said ‘sankalpam’ has been in vogue since vedic period when sages used to perform with utmost devotion.

He pointed out that its uniqueness was that every item used will be in ‘Krishna varna’ (black colour), including the dress of those performing yaga. The rice cooked in bamboo, the horse and every material will be in black, as the homa invokes black clouds to shower rain.

Vedapatasala students and other officials were present. Srisailam: ‘Varuna Sahasra Ghatibhisekam’ was performed in the Mallikarjuna Swamy temple here on Saturday by priests and vedic pundits to usher in rain, leading to a good crop.

The temple archakas performed a special pooja by arranging 1,008 vessels containing water of Krishna river. They brought the water to the temple in a procession, amid chanting of vedic hymns and playing of traditional music.