Would be priests demonstrate talent

‘Practical’ Brahmotsavam

Tirupati: The annual `practical Brahmotsavam’ in the TTD run SV Veda Vignana Peetam (SVVVP) at Dharmagiri on Tirumala hills is proving to be a launching pad for students of Vaikhanasa Agama, who would be later become priests. The Vedic school made it a practice to conduct the practical Brahmotsavam, every year, by the final year students of the 8 year Vaikhanasa Agama, in the beginning of the academic year to provide an opportunity to the would be priests andAgama pandits to demonstrate their knowledge they acquired by pursuing the course in the TTD run SVVVP.

This year, the event was held from July 25 to 31 during which the Vaikhanasa Agama students brilliantly performed various Utsvams, conducted as part of the practical Brakhmotsavam while their juniors as well as others from different branches of study including Vaikhanasa Smartham lent their support to make the weeklong Utsavam a success. .

The event took off with Ankurarpanam on July 25 followed by Dwajarohanam and Seshavahanam on 26, Garudaseva 28, Kalyanotsavam and Suryaprabha Vahanm on 29, Rathotsavam and Chakrasnam and Dwajaavrohanm on July 30 and Dwadasa Aradhana and Pushpayagam, marking the smooth completion of the Utavam on July 31.

Interestingly, in the Utsavam, the performers were able to accomplish every ritual completely, without any hurry-burry manner, scrupulously following Vaikhanasa Agma diktats, under the watchful eyes of their preceptors (gurus) giving a touch of perfectness to the Utsavams. A Vaikhanasa Agama student donned the role of Kankana Bhattar who lead the Utsavam including the Vahanasevas and another act as `Sannidhi Bhattar’ to perform the rituals that were performed in the makeshift temple in the SVVP Prarthana Mandiram.

Further, daily rituals also were conducted in the temple by students, right from Suprabatham, a pre-dawn ritual being performed immediately after opening of the temple, to Ekantha seva to the diety being performed daily just before the closing of the shrine. Nalluri Adithya, a final year student of Vaikhanasa Agama course student who acted as Kankana Bhattar in the practical Utsavam said `it was s thrilling and memorable experience as it was first time that I am leading an Utsavam.

I am a bit nervous as my gurus were keen on following my conduct. I did well to their satisfaction. Krishna Sai who donned the role of Sannidhi Bhattar too echoed the same view. It is pertinent to note that the entire paraphernalia i.e. various vahanams, decorations etc. were provided by the students while the TTD Tirumala temple authorities lent their support by deputing the Melam (traditional music band) staff to perform, accompanying the Vahanam procession and also during other rituals held in the Sannidhi (shrine), floral decorations and broadcasting for the Brahmotsavam.

Talking to The Hans, the principal of the SVVVP Kuppa Siva Subramanay Avadhani said with this practical, students get an opportunity to perfect their knowledge. SVVVP Vaikhanasa Agama HoD Ranga Charyulu said, as the weeklong Utsavam covers the three major aspects of the temple ritual Archana and Archana Prayaschitham, Utsavam and Utsava Prayaschitham and Pratishta and Pratishta Prayschitham, the conduct of the practical Utsavam immensely helps them in the future.

It boosts their confidence to perform the temple rituals with ease duly following the Agama in letter and spirit, he explained. He further said that, the entire expenses for making the Vahanams using card boards, cloths and other accessories were borne by the students from the pocket money sent by their parents.