NAMO NARAYANA
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- sri:
- srimate ramanujaya
namah:
- sri padmavati
sametha sri srinivasa parabrahmane namah:
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- Spiritual Significance
of the Vahanas
- by
- M.S. Ramesh
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- ( from The
Hindu Online , Friday, September 10, 1999 )
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- Sri Venkateswara
with Ubhaya Nachiyars on Sesha Vahanam @
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- This festival got it
name as Lord Brahma was the first to organise the Utsava for
Lord Venkateswara. Yet others believe that as Sriman Narayana
is Parabrahmam, the Utsava celebrated for that Parabrahmam is
known as Brahmotsava.
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- One of the aspects that
lends colour to the festival is the different Vahanas in which
the Utsava Vigraha is taken round the four Temple Streets at
Tirumala during this nine-day period. There is religious significance
attached to each of the Vahanas.
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- On the morning of the
first day, the deity is taken around, seated on the Golden Thiruchchi.
Malayappaswami seated in the Thiruchchi signifies the Lakshmipativa
aspect and therefore augurs all round prosperity (Sarvamanagala).
In the evening the Lord is taken in the Pedda Sesha Vaahana (big
Sesha Vaahana). Sesha is the symbol of Gnana Bhakthi, and Vairagya.
Adisesha is one of the Nitya Suris, who is ever ready to render
different Kainkaryas to the Lord. That is why Poygai Alvar said
that when the Lord stands, Adisesha is a pair of sandals, when
He walks, he is the umbrella. It is believed that the devotees
who have the darshan will be blessed with the opportunity to
render service to the Lord.
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- The Chinna Sesha Vahana
(the small Sesha Vahana) is used on the second morning. This
signifies the Sesha-Seshee relationship between the Jiva and
the Paramatma which is one of the fundamental concepts of Visishtadvaita
philosophy.In the evening, the Lord is taken round in a Hamsa
Vaahana. Usually, the sages and Jnanis are referred to as Paramahamsas
as they also have the capacity to separate Jnana from Ajnana,
dispelling our ignorance, leading us to the Jnana Marga for attaining
Moksha. It is therefore believed that those who have darshan
of the Lord seated on the Hamsa Vaahana will become enlightened
souls.
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- The third day, in the
morning, the deity goes round on a Simha Vahana. The lion represents
valour. The moment we see the Lord on the Simha Vahana, our mind
thinks of the Lord as Narasimha when He rushed to the rescue
of Prahlada and destroyed Hiranyakasipu. It is believed that
those who have that darshan will be assured that the Lord will
get rid of the obstacles and dangers that may be faced by His
devotees. In the evening, the deity is taken in a pearl palanquin.
This Vahana signifies the Suddha Sattva and Svayamprakasa qualities
of Lord Srinivasa. The Suddha Sattva is the quality of Sattva
without Rajas and Tamas. As Lord Srinivasa is the Lord of Vaikuntha,
the white palanquin denotes this Suddha Sattva quality of the
Lord. Similarly, the Svayamprakasatva quality signifies that
the Lord is not dependent on other for His glory. As such, all
those who have a darshan of the Lord will be reminded of the
blemishless Bhakta Vaatsalya Guna and will be blessed with stability
of mind, purity of thought while strengthening devotion towards
the Lord.
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- On the fourth day, the
Lord is taken in a procession in Kalpa Vriksha. The Kalpa Vriksha
is the legendary tree which is capable of fulfilling all the
desires and wishes. So, if one catches a glimpses of the Lord,
one may rest assured that He will fulfil one's wishes with His
Saulabhya guna. It is this aspect of Lord Srinivasa which is
reflected in one of the songs of Annamayya when he says, that
the Lord residing in the Hills on the banks of Svami Pushkarini
Teertha is one who is very generous in fulfilling the request
of His devotees. (" Kondalalo Nelakonna Koneti rayuduvadu,
Kondalantha varamu guppedivaadu" ). In the evening, it is the turn of the Sarvabhupala
Vahana. This vahana signifies that the Lord is the Master of
Lila Vibhuti as will as Nitya Vibhuti. It also signifies that
He is the sovereign ruler and Protector of the Universe who is
responsible for creation, protection, sustenance and dissolution
of the Universe. Thus, those who have darshan of the Lord will
be blessed with fearless and unshakeable faith in His Saviourship.
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- On the fifth morning,
the Lord is decorated as Mohini, the Divine Damsel and seated
in a palanquin, He is taken round. The story of Mohini is well
known. When the Milky Ocean was churned, Amrita rose out of it
and the Devas and the Asuras wanted to taste it. But the Lord
realised that if the Asuras were to taste the Amrita, it would
be blessing them with longevity and immortality! The Lord therefore
took on the form of Mohini and bewitched the demons. This mysterious
power shown by God in influencing the minds of the demons is
referred to as Maya. The palanquin with the Lord in Mohini Alamkaram
therefore signifies ``Vaishnava Maaa''. This quality of the Lord
diverting the attention of the demons by creating an infatuation
towards His bewitching form saved the day for the Devas. It is
therefore believed that all those who have a darshan will become
free from the ``Maya'' of the Lord, i.e Prakriti-bandha.
- By worshipping Lakshmipathi
on that day, they will attain Moksha and escape the cycle of
birth, death and re-birth.In the evening, the deity is taken
round in a Garuda Vahana. Garuda is the Divine vehicle of the
Lord and is a Nityasuri. He is the embodiment of the Vedas. He
is also seen as the banner on the Flag of the Lord (i.e. Dhvaja).
Except when the Lord rushed to rescue Gajendra, the King Elephant,
on all other occasions, when He saved His devotees, He rode on
the back of Garuda only. As such, all those who have a darshan
of the Lord seated on the Garuda can rest assured that Lakshmipathi
save those in distress.
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- On the morning of the
sixth day, the Lord is seated on Hanumath Vahana. It is believed
that anyone who had this darshan will become keenly interested
in rendering Kainkaryas to the Lord like Anjaneya himself and
will thereby make their lives fruitful (through Daasya).In the
evening, the Gaja Vaahana is used. The elephant is a symbol of
strength and sharp intellect. It has been the practice in our
country that when Pundits, artists or poets are to be honoured,
the elephant forms an important part of such celebrations. Did
not the Pandyan King seat Perialvar on an elephant and take him
on his Vijaya Yatra when he established in the Court of the Pandyan
King that Narayana is the Supreme Lord? What is more, all those
who have witnessed this Gaja Vahana will be reminded also of
the Gajendra of the Bhagavata episode where the Lord rescued
the elephant from the jaws of the crocodile. In brief all those
who have a darshan of the Lord seated on the Gaja Vahana can
rest assured that whatever be the difficulty that faces them,
the moment they think of the Lord, He will save them.
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- Sri Venkateswara
with Ubhaya Nachiyars prepared for Thirumnajanam*
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- On the morning of the
seventh day, the Lord is seated on the Surya Prabha Vahana. Vaikuntha,
where the Lord resides, is usually described as the central point
of Surya Mandala. It is believed that all those who see the Surya
Prabha procession will be blessed with enlightenment, and they
will be initiated into Bhakthi Marga. In the evening, Chandraprabha
Vahana is used. The Moon God is believed to ensure a healthy
life. What is more, Sun and Moon are the two eyes of the Lord.
The eye representing the Moon with its cool compassion-filled
glance, confers peace of mind and removes the heat of the Samsaric
existence. Thus, those who have a darshan of the Lord seated
on the Chandraprabha can rest assured that the ills of transmigratory
existence will be removed and they will be blessed with good
health and experience the Aananda of Moksha.
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- On the morning of the
eighth day, the Lord is seated in a Ratha. The Rathotsava has
got a tremendous significance. There is a strong belief that
whoever has a darshan of the Lord Venkatesavara seated in the
Ratha or helps in pulling the chariot is assured of Moksha. That
is why it is said: ``Rathastham Kesavam Dristva punar Janmana
Vidyate.'' Besides Rathotsava is a symbolic repre- sentation
of a great Upanishad Rahasya. As per an Upanishad Mantra, Jeevatma
is the rider, body is the chariot, Buddhi (Knowledge) is the
Charioteer and mind the reins. An enlightened charioteer should
have perfect control over the senses and guide the chariot away
from this sorrowful world and lead it towards the ultimate destination:
Moksha. The Rathotsava therefore symbolically represents this
Upanishad Mantra.
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- In the evening, the
Lord is seated on a horse. It is well known that in the olden
days, the kings used to have cavalry as an important part of
their armed forces. What is more it is believed that at the end
of Kali Yuga, when the Lord manifests in His Tenth Avatara as
Kalki to re-establish Dharma, He will ride on a horse. It is
therefore believed that all those who get that darshan will be
able to spend their time in worshipping the Divine Feet of the
Lord and obtain Iha and Para Loka Sukhas.
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- On the ninth day, in
the morning, the deity is taken round the four streets seated
in a palanquin. Later, the Choornabisheka, Avabhruta and Chakrasnana
rituals take place near the Swami Pushkarini Teertha. In the
evening, the Lord is taken round again in the Golden Palanquin
(Bangaru Thiruchchi), when, Dhvaja Avarohana takes place, thus
bringing the curtain down on the nine-day celebration of Brahmotsavam.
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- The different Vahanas
used for the Deity during the Brahmotsava, highlight the different
Kalyanagunas of Lord Venkateswara.
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- @ Photo Credit : http://www.andhratoday.com
- * Image courtesy of The Webmaster
, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
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