Dhanurmasam - DhanusSankramana

The Lord of the Vengadam hills, Sri Srinivasa is most benevolent towards his devotees and he always loves to bless them with their chosen wishes along with wealth and moksha. Lord Srinivasa’s appearance at Tirumala is due to the one and only reason to shower all His choicest blessings on mankind. There are many rituals that are periodically conducted during several auspicious occasions throughout the year at Tirumala Hill Shrine. The rituals that are celebrated during the sacred month of Dhanurmasa (Dec/Jan) is considered most auspicious among the other rituals of the year. ‘Dhanurmasa’ is considered as highly auspicious for the devotees of Lord Vishnu. The beginning of Dhanurmasa is marked by the transit of the Sun into ‘Dhanur’ rasi. This is also called ‘DhanusSankramana’. 

According to Sanatana Dharma, Devas wake-up early in the morning during this month. They perform special prayers to Sri Mahavishnu during the auspicious period of ‘BramhiMuhurtha’ , which is one and half hours before sunrise. Srikrishna in Bhagavad – Gita says ‘MasanamMaargaSeershoham....’ – ‘I manifest more in Margashirsha masam among the different months of the year’. Worshipping Lord Vishnu on a single day during Dhanurmasa is equal to worshipping Vishnu with devotion for 1000 years. Special worship is conducted in all ancient Vishnu shrines throughout South India and some parts of North India. The holy festival ‘Vaikuntaekadasi’ is also celebrated on an Ekadasi during the bright half of Dhanurmasam.

Tiruppalliyezhuchhi – Awakening ritual The daily rituals of the temple begin with sacred ‘tiruppalliyezhuchhi’, instead of the regular Suprabhatam. This is a compilation of sacred verses praising Lord Vishnu sung by the Sri Vaishnavaite saint Sri TondaradipodiAlwar ‘tirumalai ariyadar tirumalaiariyadavar’ is an adage.

One who does not know the prabandham ‘tirumalai’ does not know ‘tirumai’, Srimannarayana. Maalai means garland-of-flowers and also a type of prabandham, which has manypoems on a single theme.Tirumalai is one of the 2 prabandhams composed by one of the 12 Alwars, Sri Thondaradippodi Alwar, also called as ‘bhaktangirenu’. His otherprabandham is ‘tiruppalliyezhuchchi’. These prabandhams are part of the 24 prabandhams which make the divine collection ‘nalayiradivyaprabhandam’ - The ten beautiful Tiruppalliyezhuchchi pasurams are recited everyday to awaken our Lord. Tiruppalliyezhuchchi is applicable only to Srimannarayana.

Dhanurmasa Aradhana 

These beautiful songs are sung by the Arulicheyal Ghoshti lead by Sri PeddaJiyangar of Tirumala temple for 30 days during Dhanurmasa. At the conclusion of these verses, the Dhanurmasa Kainkaryams begin with the singing of verses from Sri Goda Devi’s Tiruppavai.The PeddaJeeyar along with Ekangi, SannidhiGolla, Tholappachar will bring a basket full of flowers from Yamunottarai to the Sannidhi. Amidst the recital of these verses, the Vaikhanasa Archaka takes Sankalpam for Dhanurmasa Aradhana – …. dhanurmase Suklapakshe, … asmingramesthithanam brahman Adisarva varnanam, sarvesham bhaktajananamcha, vyadhichoradurbhiksha anavrush Tirajabadadhi sarvaupadrava santyartham, rajarash tragramayajam anaacharya archaka pachaka paricharakadi abhivruthyartham,… meaning, during this auspicious time, May all who belong to the four classes in the country, and all devotees of Lord Vishnu, be protected from several calamities like Diseases, Thieves, Famine, Drought, Cruelity of King and there shall ever be positive progress bestowed on the king, country, village, Founder of the temple, Acharya, Archaka, Paricharaka…After taking the Sankalpam for Dhanurmasa ThomalaSeva, the Archaka now begins offering ritualistic services in a sequence called ‘upacharas’ viz.,

1. Asana (getting the deity seated on a place of honour)
2. svagata (words and gestures of welcome, and orienting the deity towards ourselves – vigrahasyAbhimukhikaranam)
3. anumana (begging the deity to condescend and accept the worship to be offered – archan arthamprasIdaitiy Achanam)
4. padya (water for washing the lotus feet – pada-prakshalanaya)
5. arghya (water for washing the hands)
6. Achamana (water for ceremonial sipping, being given on the right hand of the deity by means of pranidhi)
7. Pushpa (flowers being offered at the feet, on the shoulders, and on the conch and discus)
8. Gandha (sandalpaste being applied to parts of the body above navel)
9. dhupa (incense wafting in the four directions)
10. dipa (light with clarified butter),
11. snana (giving a ceremonial bath or Abhisheka (only during morning worship) in the morning or sprinkling water on the deity – abhyukshana (in afternoon and evening)
12. plota (drying the icon with a clean cloth)
13. Vastra (draping the icon with fresh garments of silk or cotton)
14. uttarIya (providing an upper garment)
15. Abharana (decorating the icon with ornaments)
16. upavita (bestowing the sacrificial cord of cotton or gold)
17. havis (food offering, baked and seasoned)
18. paniIya (offering water for drinking, while eating food )
19. Achamana (to signify the completion of the food offering)
20. mukhavasa (fragrant substances to clean the mouth)
21. Bali (food offering for the attendant deities)
22. pranama (prostrations)
23. pushpanjali (offering of flowers or Tulasi at the completion of the ritual of worship)
24. Stuti (prayers in eulogy)

The same upachara may be offered twice or thrice depending on the usage and custom of the shrine. Here at Tirumala each upachara is offered thrice which is a long standing custom from times immemorial. The above upacharas are classified under different categories and are called as ‘shatkaiarchana’ (Worshipping six times a day), which is followed in the temple as prescribed in Vaikhanasa Bhrigu Samhitha Prakeernadhikara.

Shatkalam vatrikalamvadvikalakam Ekakalamvapujanamdevdevasya || meaning - Lord Vishnu must be worshipped one time, two, three or at the maximum, six times a day in a temple. Also we read in Bhagavadarchanam of Prakeernadhikara Pratyusha Schaprabhata Schamadhyahna Schaaparahnaka: | Sayankaioni SidhaSchapujakala Stushatsmruta: ||

The times of worshipping Lord Vishnu according to Sage Bhrighu are Pratyusha – before sunrise, Pratahkala – at sunrise, when the sun hit horizon, Madhyahna – at noon, when the sun at top of sky, Aparahna – late afternoon when sun start to descend, Sayankala – evening before total sunset and Ardharatri (Nisidhikalam) – during midnight. But the worship which is offered during Dhanurmasa is an extra addition to the regular 6 times worship a day.

Parrot Alankaram (Adornment) 

After offering all the upacharas during Dhanurmasa ThomalaSeva, Mantrapushpam is offered to Lord Srinivasa with the Tulasi placed at the lotus feet given by a descendant of Tirumala Nambi called Tholappachar. Now the Mulavirat is offered with NakshatraHarati followed by KarpooraHarati, which concludes, Dhanurmasa ThomalaSeva.Srivari Mulavirat (Main Deity) is adorned with flower garlands and there will be no separate adornment of flowers in the regular ThomalaSeva. Also two specially made parrots with leaves, one from Srivilliputtur Andal Sannidhi is adorned on the left bosom of Srivaru, another one provided by TTD garden department is also adorned on the left side near Shankham. Also a diamond studded parrot is adorned on the right bosom of Srivaru throughout Dhanurmasam. The adornment of Parrot on Srivari Mulavirat bosom has a special significance and meaning.

In Sri GodaDevi’s ‘NachiarTirumozhi’ (5th Decad, 5th verse), Andal refers fondly to Her parrot as ‘Paalamudhoottieduthaenkolakkili’ - a parrot that’s fed on milk. In Her verse, Andal speaks of three birds - the swan, the cuckoo and the parrot. In the sloka, ‘Koojantam Rama Rameti,’ Valmiki is referred to as a cuckoo — Valmiki kokilam. Sukabrahma Rishi narrated the story of Lord Krishna. Suka also means parrot in Sanskrit. So Andal, by singing about the cuckoo and the parrot, may be said to be referring to the narrators of the stories of Rama and Krishna, respectively. The reference to the swan is Andal’s way of referring to the Acharyas, who are invariably compared to swans because of their discerning capacity.”ilamkili” by ANDAL, instead of to “ilamkuyil”. We all know that kuyil is known for its melodious voice, and normally no one refers to kili for its sweet voice. If anything, the parrot has a hoarse voice. But the parrot is known for obediently repeating whatever it hears, and does not go on its own and echo its own thoughts. Our sampradayam is that we obey whatever our acharya-s teach us, and not just say whatever occurs in our heads. It isconsidered murkhatvam (stupidity, foolishness) to go on our own and blabberour thoughts, instead of following our elders’ words and echoing this toothers. Parrot, and not kuyil, is known for its faithfully repeating whatit hears, and this is why ANDAL chose the parrot for sweetness! This is what ANDAL herself does, namely, she faithfully follows the path shown toher by perialwar. The subsequent Acarya-s follow the path of ANDAL – this is our sampradayam.

Bilva Archana 

The next ritual is Sahasranama Archana. Sri Venkatesa SahasraNamavali – 1008 names of Lord Srinivasa is recited from BrahmandaPurana of Sri VenkatachalaMahatyam. During this Archana, the lotus feet of Sri Venkateswara is worshipped by offering Bilva leaves amidst recital of Archana. This is peculiar to the 30 days of Dhanrumasam and also only during the Sahasranama Archana of Dhanurmasa Kainkaryams. During Sahasranamarchana, Srivari Dhruva Beram is worshipped with Tulasi leaves amidst recital of 1008 names, for all the 11 months in a year except during the 30 days of Dhanurmasa. In this Margasira month, during Sahasranama Archana as part of DhanurmasaAradhana, Srivaru is offered Archana with Bilva leaves. The Lord of Vengadam hill is Lord Srinivasa and his consort is Goddess Lakshmi devi, she is known as ‘Bilvavanalaya’. And She is praised in Lakshmi chaturvimsati Naamaavali – the 24 auspicious names of Goddess Lakshmi from VarahaPurana as Namobilvavanasthayai Vishnupatnyainamonamaha || Once Indra and other Devas last Swargaloka to Asuras. They then worshipped Lakshmi with 24 names. She was happy with their worship and conferred swargaloka, and also said. Temamanenastotre nastutvasthanamavapnuyu: | Akhandai: bilvapatrairmamarcha yantinarabhuvi || (Varahapurana).

Those who worship me with the auspicious bilva leaves, they will be conferred their lost place along with immense wealth by my grace. And hence in Tirumala, it is rightfully followed by worshipping Lord Venkateswara, who is holding Goddess Lakshmi on his right bosom, with bilva leaves. Also Vaikhanasa Bhrighu Samhita states that - Nandyavartam cha padmam cha tulasIvishnuparnika | Bilvam cha karavIram cha padmamkumudam evacha | AshTavaipunya pushpanigrahyanituyath akramam || The eight types of auspicious flowers that are suggested by Vaikhanasa Bhrighu Samhita used in worshipping Lord Vishnu are – Nandivardhanam (Jasmine), Padmam (Lotus), Tulasi (Basil), Vishnu parnika (Orania), Bilvam (leaves of wood apple), Ganneru (oleander), Kumudam (Red lotus), Bilva (Belpatra), and Metta Tamara. And hence in Tirumala, its an age old custom to use Bilvapatram during Dhanurmasa, along with other types of flowers.

Naivedyam 

During the Dhanurmasa Naivedyam, special food offerings like JaggeryDosa, Mudgannam (KattePongali), Sundal, Seera are offered every day to Lord Srinivasa.

Ekantaseva to Lord Krishna Swami 

The last sequence of Vaikhanasa worship is called ‘paryankasana’ (Ekantaseva or Sayanaasana) and is the putting of representative icon to rest for the night, before the temple doors are closed. In the hill shrine, the KautukaBera, Sri Bhoga Srinivasa is offered with this Kainkaryam. Vaikhanasa Agama provides that KautukaBera, Bali Bera or any other bera may be used as a Sayana – Bera; an icon of Krishna may also be used, KaUtukambali beramvanyaloukikamevava | Athavakrushnarupamvasayanaya Kalpate ||

Infact, the silver image of Lord Krishna (which is kept in the Sanctum on the left side of Dhruva Bera) is used for this service instead of the Kautukabera Bhoga Srinivasa, for 30 days during Dhanurmasa in the hill shrine. Before putting to Bed, Lord Krishna is offered sacred bath with luke warm water and then dressed up with a vastram followed by offering of warm milk, Fried Nuts, Fruits and Betel nuts. The icon of Bhoga Srinivasa was presented by a pallava princess Samavai, in the year 614 AD. She also arranged for a 7 day festival known as TirukkodiTirunal ending with the Tirudvadasi(VaikuntaDwadasi) day. Likewise, during each day of Dhanurmasam, these rituals are conducted with much devotion and dedication, and hence worshipping Srivaru during this auspicious Dhanurmasa shall confer great merits to the devotees. Those who worship Lord Vishnu in this holy month of Dhanurmasa, will be conferred with the choicest blessings of Lord Srinivasa and by his eternal grace, devotees are blessed with health, wealth, peace and prosperity in this world and attain Vishnu lokaprapti at the end of their lives.

Andal Neerattotsavam

Godadevi desired to marry Lord Srikrishna as her husband and performed ‘Dhanurmasa Vratam’ with devotion. In memory of that event ‘Andal Neerattotsavam’ is being performed for seven days before the Bhogi festival in Dhanurmasam. On this day, Godadevi in Sri Govindarajaswami temple, Tirupati starts in a procession on a Palanquin through mada streets reaches Neeratta mandapam at Ramachandra Teertham. There Neerattam or Abhishekam, Nivedanam, Saattumora and Asthanam will be conducted as per customs. They remain there till evening. Later the deity is being adorned with flowers and carried back in a palanquin to Sri Govindarajaswami temple. The Neerattotsavam is being performed for seven days continuously. On the eighth day i.e. on the Bhogi day, Andal along with Sri Krishna Swami, ascends the Bhogi palanquin in the evening moves round through mada streets and reaches sannidhi. This day Godadevi marries Lord Srikrishna and Utsavams are being celebrated grandly. The next day ‘Godaparinayotsavam’ is being celebrated on Kanuma festival day. This tradition is being followed till today.