Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala – Sahasra Kalasabhishekam

Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala –  Sahasra Kalasabhishekam

This is another unique and exquisite Seva offered to Lord Venkateswara. It is performed every Wednesday Morning starting 6:00 a.m. This special puja is observed before the second bell is over in the morning i.e., after Satumurai, Bhoga Srinivasa is brought outside the Bangaru Vakili. The idol is placed facing east. The idol will have sambandha daaramu (Telugu word) i.e., a thin rope will be tied connecting it with the Mula Vigraha in the sanctum. This rope will be tied round the feet of Bhoga Srinivasa at this end and the other end will be placed near the Kati Hasta of the Mula Vigraha, thus symbolically involving the Mulabera with the pooja and making it obvious that Bhoga Srinivasa is only representing the Mulavar.

Then the Utsava Vigraha (Malayappa Swami) is also brought and placed outside the Bangaru Vakili facing south. It is as if the trio is presiding over the special puja to be commenced. 1008 silver vessels filled with Akasaganga Theertham are kept along with 8 more parivara Kalasas and one gold vessel filled with water. The devotees who have paid for the Seva are seated in the Mandapam around 1008 Kalasas and sankalpa is done. Then the puja starts with the recitation of Panchasuktas and Pancha-Shanti-Mantras. As these mantras are recited, the archakas perform Snapana Tirumanjanam to the idols viz, Bhoga Srinivasa, Malayappa swami and his two consorts and Vishwaka Sena with water in the 1008 Kalasas and the eight Pavithra Kalasas.

Finally the golden vessel with water will be carried by one Archaka to the accompaniment of recitation of Vedas and Mangala Vadyam in a Pradakshina manner round the Ananda vimana prakaram (outer courtyard) (inner prakaram), round the dhwajastambha and then taken to Moolasthana (sanctum). Then at the Mulavar sannidhi Ekantam - Ashotothram - archana is offered to the main deity. This archana is not open to public but is done behind the curtain drawn at the sanctum. The archakas sprinkle (proksana) the water from the golden vessel (Swarna kalasa) on the feet of the deity then symbolically including the Mula Vigraha also in the Sahasrakalasa Abhishekam.

The vigrahas near the Bangaru Vakili will be taken back to the sanctum. The second bell rings. Then in the presence of temple officers, Akshataropana ritual will take place in the sanctum i.e., Akshata (holy yellow rice) will be offered at the feet of the main deity. Then the Archaka sprinkles some of those grains on his head and then the rest is kept for offering to the temple executives and devotees who take part in the Seva. By that time, the curtains will be drawn and the Arjitha sponsors have a darshan of the Mulavar. They will be given vastrabahumana, sathari and Teertha. One ticket for the Sahasra Kalasabishekam allows 6 people to participate with one couple allowed for Sankalpam. Prasadam will be 7 Big Laddus, 1/4 kilo each of Sweet Pongal, Pulithora, 7 dosas and 7 vadas.