Tirumala Dhruva Bera

Tirumala Dhruva Bera is the name given to the deity of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Andhra Pradesh. Dhruva Bera is the official terminology used for the main deity of a temple with the exact translation being The Immovable image and as the name suggests, the deity is stationary and other deities are used for pujas, sevas that requires the deity's presence outside the garbha griham (sanctum sanctorum). Other terms used for Dhruva Bera include Moolavar or Moola Virat (Main Deity), Achala (Constant).

Tirumala Dhruva Bera is considered to be Swayambhu - self-manifested and not created by human. According to Sri Venkatachala Mahatyam, Lord Venkateswara came to reside in this sacred spot to provide blessings to devotees in the Kali Yuga. The deity does not conform to the agamas (rules) for making a deity, thus furthering the belief that the temple's deity is Swayambhu.

Deity description

The holy idol stands approximately ten feet tall[1] and stands on a platform of about 18 inches. The platform follows a simple lotus design, and the details of the inscription on the platform are unknown to anyone except the temple's archakas (priests). The platform is usually covered in tulsi leaves except on Thursday afternoon and during the Friday abhishekam.[2]

The face of the deity displays exquisite features, with the nose neither flat nor overly prominent. The eyes are prominent and have the outline of 'tirunamam' though it is not projected out of the deity. The eyes are partially covered with the tirunamam made of pachakarpuram (raw camphor), and the black line in the middle of the tirunamam is made of Kasturi (wild turmeric) powder and musk paste. The size, shape and details of the namam are governed by strict rules laid by the Vaikhanasa Agama book. The deity has a self-manifested crown up to the forehead and jatajuta (real curly hair) resting on the shoulder. The chest is estimated to be between 36 and 40 inches in width, and the waist would be between 24 and 27 inches, though there has never been a formal measurement of these statistics. Since the upper body is bare, features of the chest are prominently seen, with the main feature being the image of a sitting Goddess Lakshmi (Vishnu's wife) carved on the right side of the chest. This image of Lakshmi is called Vyuha Lakshmi (Lakshmi of the body) and is near the Srivatsa mark. The deity has 4 arms. The upper arms are positioned to hold his weapons. The Sudarshana Chakra is placed on the upper right arm, while the Panchajanya - Vishnu's conch is placed on the upper left arm. The lower right arm is in the Varada Hasta (blessing) pose - palm facing outward towards the onlooker to signal the blessing nature of the lord. The lower left arm is in the Katyavalambita pose - palm facing the lord with the thumb nearly parallel to the waist. The deity is seen with a dhoti worn waist downwards. Both knees are slightly bent forward to indicate that the Lord is willing to come to the devotee's rescue. The shoulder of the lord has marks resembling scars made by constant wearing of bow and pack of arrows, though the deity is not in the Tribhanga pose (unlike Tirumala Rama idol)[2]

Ornaments

Tirumala Dhruva Bera has many ornaments as seen on the deity. The largest ornament is the holy diamond crown, studded with a huge ruby or emerald stone. The yagnopavitam (sacred thread made of three gold wires) is seen on the bare chest of the lord running from the left shoulder to the right waist. Four sets of necklaces are seen on the deity. The removable symbol of Lakshmi is placed on the right chest while the removable Padmavati symbol is on the left chest. The Chakra, Conch shell and Blessing hand are usually covered in gem-studded gold ornaments. The deity also has a two-inch katibandham (gold waist belt) running over the dhoti. The arms have snake-shaped armlets, and the legs have ornaments near the ankle. The lord also has huge ear studs shaped like fishes. The lord has a coin necklace and a special garland made of 108 gold-encrusted shaligram stones.[2] The holy feet are also plated with gold and rubies.

Seva to deity

Daily seva

The lord gets complete attention during most of the rituals conducted in the garbha griha. Afterwards, the Lord is woken up during the Suprabhatam Seva. Shuddhi (cleansing) is performed by removing flowers from the previous day and apportioning holy water brought from the Akasha Ganga tank for the day's prayer. During the Thomala Seva, the gold kavacham (armour) of the feet is removed and abhishekam is done daily to it. Bhoga Srinivasa, the silver Kautuka beram of the temple receives full abhishekam every day in place of the Main idol. Sahasranamarchana - recital of 1,000 names of Lord Srinivasa is performed to the main deity after the completion of Tomala seva. Naivedyam (food offerings) are made thrice during the day and are preceded by recital from various scriptures.[3] Following the first naivedyam (also called First Bell), verses from the Prabandham is read. Before the mid-day and second naivedyam (also called Second Bell), Ashthottaranama (108 names of the Lord) is read and this is a private service.[4]The rituals of Tomala Seva, Archana and Naivedyam is conducted in the evening after Malayappa swami returns from Sahasra Deepalankarana Seva (lighting of 1000 lamps) and is called Night Kainkaryams.[5] Naivedyam is offered to other deities only after apportionment of the same to the main deity. The Bhoga Srinivasa idol is then ritually placed on a swing and lullled to sleep by the songs of Annamacharya.

Weekly sevas

Apart from these daily sevas, Ashtadala Pada Padmaaradhana Seva is conducted every Tuesday after the second bell. During the ceremony, the priests reads each of the 108 names of the Lord while offering a gold lotus to the feet of the lord after the recital of the name. On completion of archana for the lord's consorts Lakshmi, Bhumi and Padmavati, two kinds of arati is shown to the Lord.[6] On Thursdays, the main idol's ornaments are temporarily removed and the shape of the namam is decreased. This is to make the holy eyes and feet visible to the devotees. Tiruppavada Seva is performed to the main idol in the Tirumaamani mantapam inside the sanctum sanctorum. During the seva, large quantities of pulihora (tamarind rice) heaped in trapezoidal or pyramidal shape along with sweetmeats like payasam, laddus, jilebis, appam deposited on the edges is offered to the Lord with appropriate mantras.[7] On Fridays, Abhishekam is performed on the main idol accompanied by the chanting of pancha suktas (five suktas (texts that please the deity) - Purusha Suktam, Sri Suktam, Narayana Suktam, Bhoo Suktam and Nila Suktam) and prabandhams.[8] The idol abhishekam consists of water, milk and turmeric-sandalwood paste. The paste is applied to the Vyuha Lakshmi carving, which is then given to any lucky devotee. The Vyuha Lakshmi imprint is said to bring auspiciousness, material and spiritual wealth.

References

  1. ^ Sri Venkateswara, the lord of the seven hills, Tirupati, Page 17, P.Sitapati, 1968. TTD. 1968. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Ramesan, Dr. N. (1981). The Tirumala Temple. Tirumala: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
  3. ^ "First Bell". TTD. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
  4. ^ "Second Bell". TTD. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
  5. ^ "Night Kainkaryams". TTD. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
  6. ^ "Ashtadala Pada Padmaaradhana Seva". TTD. Archived from the original on 15 May 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
  7. ^ "Tiruppavada Seva". TTD. Archived from the original on 15 May 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
  8. ^ "Abhishekam". TTD. Archived from the original on 15 May 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
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