The Significance of Brahmotsava at Tirupati

Padma Purana says:

Long ago, once in the month of Bhadrapada, that is Kanya Masa, on a Monday, which was Shravana Nakshatra, and the Nitya Yoga was Siddha Yoga, at a very auspicious moment, in Jambu Dweepa, in Bhaarata, to the south of Ganga, to the west of Pushkarini, upon being requested by the Devas, the Parama Purusha, Parmatma, Sri Hari incarnated as Srinivasa.

He came down from Vaikuntha along with Shree Devi and Bhumi Devi and started enjoying himself on the banks of Pushkarini.

Brahma and the other Devas started searching for Bhagawan. They reached Tirumala. When they saw him there, they were happy. Brahma was especially very happy to see Bhagawan taking this avatara to help his devotees on earth attain moksha. Brahma said, 'I want to celebrate this great moment with a complete Utsava. It is a moment of celebration for everyone, and we should all celebrate.' Brahma invited Bhagawan to this Utsava, which came to be known as Brahmotsava.

So, this is how Brahma started Brahmotsava. As Brahma started it, the Dhwajarohana is on Chitra Nakshatra, Rathotsava on Uttarashada, and Chakrasnana is on Shravana Nakshatra.

Even today, Brahma conducts Brahmotsava. A separate ratha called Brahma Ratha, the chariot of Brahma, is there for him, and he leads the festival. However, on the day of Rathotsava, there is no Brahma Ratha because Brahma himself becomes the Sarathi of Lord Venkateshwara.

The auspicious number nine stands for Brahma, and being the festival conducted by Brahma, it also lasts for nine days. From Dhwajarohana to Dhwajavarohana, it is nine days. This is the annual Brahmotsava. There are three more Brahmotsavas celebrated during the year:

1. Arsha Brahmotsava – celebrated on Ratha Saptami.
2. Rakshasa Brahmotsava – celebrated on Kaisika Dwadashi.
3. Daivika Brahmotsava – celebrated on Mukkoti Ekadasi.

In the first Brahmotsava, not only Devas but all the Rishis, all the celestials, and all of Bhagawan’s devotees from all the worlds participated. Brahma asked Vishwakarma to build facilities for everyone in and around Tirumala. The arrangements were so perfect that even the Lord himself congratulated Brahma.

The whole seven hills were decorated. Bhagawan adorned special divine ornaments offered by Kubera. The Lord was offered delicacies like Gudanna, Mudganna, Madhuranna, Dadhyanna, Tilapoopa, Mashapoopa, and Modaka. Many dishes were specially prepared, and they all tasted like Amruta.

Lord Srinivasa, Shree Devi, and Bhu Devi used to take rounds of the streets of Tirumala every day:

• One day on a horse as elegant as Uchhaisravas.
• One day on an elephant as huge as Airavata.
• On another day on Adi Shesha.
• On another day on Garuda.

In front of this procession, the Gandharvas sang, and the Apsaras danced. The wealthy devotees offered food to all the devotees who had gathered. The scholars were honored. Everybody thanked Brahma for organizing this festival.

The Lord blessed that anyone who takes part in Brahmotsava will easily be able to cross the Samsara Sagara. One should do charity, especially during Brahmotsava, offering food and clothes to the devotees and taking care of their needs. Such people will have an abundance of everything in life.

Sri Venkateshwara asked Brahma, 'Ask for a boon.'

Brahma said, 'Please be kind and stay in Tirumala forever to bless your devotees and protect them. Allow a festival like this to be conducted every year.'

Bhagawan granted this wish and agreed to stay on Venkatadri till the end of the Kalpa, that is, the present Kalpa, Shweta Varaha Kalpa.

Where does Bhagawan reside? In the heart of the devotee. And in the temple, in the sanctum sanctorum, which is the heart of the temple. So, the whole temple is treated like a devotee and is called Koyil Alwar.

Preceding the Brahmotsava, there is a ceremonial cleansing of the whole temple called Koyil Alwar Tirumanjanam. Bhagawan’s commander, Vishwaksena, takes rounds of Tirumala and its streets to oversee the arrangements. The Ankurarpana for the festival is done on Hasta Nakshatra. On Chitra Nakshatra, Dhwajarohana takes place. The Lord takes out his procession on various Vahanas during the festival.

1. Pedda Shesha Vahana – The seven-hooded Adi Shesha is his carrier here. Adi Shesha is an amsha of Bhagawan himself. While in the milky ocean, he remains under Lord Sri Hari as his bed and spreads his thousand hoods out to protect him from heat, cold, and rain.

2. Chinna Shesha Vahana – Adi Shesha with five hoods, representing their inseparable bond.

3. Hamsa Vahana – The swan (Hamsa) symbolizes wisdom and discrimination, showing that Sri Hari himself is the lord of all Viveka Buddhi.

4. Simha Vahana – Represents Bhagawan as the protector, reminding us of his Narasimha avatara.

5. Mutyapu Pandiri Vahana – The pearl-decorated Vahana represents Bhagawan’s divine coolness that removes the miseries of Samsara.

6. Kalpavriksha Vahana – Reminds us that Bhagawan himself is the wish-fulfilling Kalpavriksha.

7. Sarvabhupala Vahana – Depicts him as the king of kings, with all rulers submitting at his feet.

8. Mohini Vahana – The feminine form of Bhagawan, reminding us of his Mohini avatara.

9. Garuda Vahana – The most significant Vahana, where Bhagawan wears all the special ornaments. Darshan of Garuda Vahana is considered as auspicious as darshan inside the temple.

10. Hanumad Vahana – Symbolizes Lord Rama’s eternal devotee, Hanuman.

11. Gaja Vahana – Reminds us of Gajendra Moksha, where Bhagawan saved the elephant from a crocodile, symbolizing surrender.

12. Surya Prabha Vahana – Depicts Bhagawan as Surya Narayana, the light of all luminaries.

13. Chandra Prabha Vahana – Represents Bhagawan as the controller of all minds.

14. Rathotsava – The grand chariot procession where devotees pull the chariot, ensuring no rebirth.

15. Aswa Vahana – Represents Bhagawan as Kalki, the destroyer of evil.

16. Chakra Snana – The Sudarshana Chakra is given a holy dip, symbolizing that devotees who participate earn the punya of the yajna.

Finally, the flag descends, and the Devas, starting from Brahma, are bid farewell. This is the great Brahmotsava, started and officiated even today by Brahma himself. Anyone who takes part in Brahmotsava can rest assured that they are on the way to the ultimate goal, Vaikuntha.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi