Special Prayers Held at Srisailam for Good Rains
Varuna prayers are being conducted in several prominent temples across the state with the hope of receiving good rains and ensuring agricultural prosperity, a temple priest said
KURNOOL: The Srisailam Devasthanam conducted the Sahasra Ghata Abhishekam to Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy on Monday, with devotees praying for timely rains in Andhra Pradesh.
The rituals began at 5 am with Vedic scholars reciting hymns and performing rituals. Devasthanam chairman Pothugunta Ramesh Naidu, executive officer M. Srinivasa Rao, temple priests and Vedic scholars first visited Pathalaganga and offered prayers on the banks of the Krishna river.
Holy water from the Krishna river was collected in decorated pots and brought to the temple in a procession accompanied by traditional musical instruments and chanting of Vedic mantras. The procession circumambulated the temple before entering the main premises.
The priests performed ritual bathing ceremonies to Pathaleswara Swamy, Nandeeswara Swamy, village deity Ankalamma and Kshetrapalaka Bayalu Veerabhadra Swamy. Special rituals were later performed for the ceremonial pots arranged in the temple premises.
The Sahasra Ghata Abhishekam was subsequently performed to Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy with the sacred water. Devotees who witnessed the rituals prayed for timely rains and relief from dry conditions.
Temple priests said the special prayers were organised to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva for rainfall as drought-like conditions continued to affect several parts of Rayalaseema and other regions of the state.
“Varuna prayers are being conducted in several prominent temples across the state with the hope of receiving good rains and ensuring agricultural prosperity,” a temple priest said.
