Chennai: A Maha Pushpayagam (shower of flowers on deities) was performed on Monday evening at the TTD’s Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple and Information Centre here on Monday evening, with a prayer to the Lord for speedy recovery of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
This ceremony is usually performed after the annual Brahmotsavam on the asterism of Sravanam, which also happens to be the birth star of Lord Venkateswara, during Krittika (October -November), in Tirupati.
On this day, after the daily pujas, Sri Malayappa Swamy along with Sridevi and Bhudevi are seated on a special golden platform in Sampangi Mandapam. After offering Tirumanjanam to the Utsava Murtis worship is done to them with tones of flowers. Later, procession is taken out in the evening.
This festival is performed to save the earth from natural calamities and to appease the Lord to save mankind, flora and fauna. “A special permission was obtained from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) to conduct this Maha Pushpayagam for the speedy recovery of our Chief Minister. Normally, this event is conducted by the TTD itself,” says Dr. Suneel, founder of Ungalukagha Charitable Trust and AIADMK functionary. Priests from Tirupati who had come to Chennai two days ago, conducted this Maha Pushpayagam.
About 10 tonnes of 32 varieties of flowers brought from Ooty, Kodaikanal, Madurai, Tiruchy and neighbouring states were offered at the feet of Lord Venkateswara. During the yagam, the priests showered flowers on the God’s chest and feet.
AIADMK presidium chairman Madhusoothanan, TTD board member J. Sekar and TTD temple president Srikrishna were among those who participated.
