Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala – Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam

Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala – Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam

Koil Alwar means 'Holy Shrine'. Alwar means “Devotee”. Tirumanjanam means “Cleaning with aromatic ingredients”. Koil Tirumanjanam is purification ceremony of sanctum Sanctorum and temple premises by devotees. During the ceremony all the deities and other articles are removed from sanctum sanctorum and cleansed while the “Mula Virat” is covered with a water- proof covering. The entire Garbha Griham, including floors, ceilings and walls, sub-shrines inside the sanctum, puja articles are cleaned with water and Tirumanjanam which is a composition of camphor, sandal paste, saffron, turmeric Kicchili Gadda (a root vegetable) etc. is smeared, which acts as a disinfectant. The covering of the main deity is then removed and the deities, deepam and other articles are replaced inside. Special pujas and Neivedhyam are then offered to the presiding deity. This ceremony is performed strictly as per the agamas and is conducted four times year viz. before Ugadi, Anivara Asthanam, Vaikunta Ekadasi and Annual Brahmotsavams.