On the inaugural day of the Navaratri Brahmotsavams, Lord Malayappaswamy along with his consorts was taken on a vahanam procession on the four mada streets in grand and colorful manner this morning. The presiding deity of Tirumala was glorified and resplendent in fine silks, decorated with flowers and diamond jewels and the devotees sitting in the galleries were enthralled with by the sight of the vahanam on Bangaru Tiruchi. Large number of cultural troupes with their colorful presentation of dances, kolatam, bhajans and drum beating enthralled the devotes who were spell bound by the divine spectacle of Lord Malayappaswamy in the procession.
On the maiden day of the Navaratri Brahmotsavams, Lord Malayappaswamy rode on the seven hooded seven hooded serpent Pedda Sesha Vahanam on the first day of the nine day Srivari Brahmotsavams on Wednesday night. Accompanied by His Consorts, the lord enthralled the pilgrims who had milled on the galleries of four mada street in the form of Vaikunta Narayana as he sat majestically on the Pedda Sesha Vahanam. When the Vahanam was brought out of the Vahana Mandapam, the entire pious and devotee crowd of Tirumala reverberated with chants of Govinda Namams. The mighty serpent plays a vital role in Hindu Mythology as it is on this mammoth snake that Lord Vishnu reclines while sleeping in the milky sea. Usually peddasesha vahanam is being regarded as Adisesha the 1000-hooded snake (Here in this vahanam this snake has seven hoods and is believed to represent the seven hills of lord venkateswara). He is the first born of the serpents. The Adisesha dons different accessories for Lord Venkateswara as residing place (seven hills), bed, umbrella (giving shelter with his hoods), as ornament and any more. According to legend, mused by his service Lord has conferred another honor upon him to bear the earth upon his head and support her great weight with stability.
The following are the photos taken during the Utsavam:
Courtesy: Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam
