Aswa Vahanam procession taken place at Tirumala

Tirumala, Oct 2 (UNI) Thousands of devotees witnessed the resplendent Lord of Tiruvenkatam on Aswa Vahanam (horse vehicle) at Tirumala this evening, the penultimate day of the 9-day annual Brahmotsavam.

In Hindu mythology the horse is associated with Kalki, the tenth avatara of Lord Vishnu. Symbolically, the horse mounted deity would replace the old order with a new one.

The asva vahana epitomized leaping and vaulting. Hence one who would enjoy the glowing presence of the Lord on asva vahana would feel the leap of faith and exults over.

Former Prime Minister H D Deva Gowda, AP High Court Judge Justice Somayajulu, TTD master plan advisor P V R K Prasad, TTD Trust Board Chairman B Karunakar Reddy, MP Rayapati Sambhasiva Rao and many TTD board members participated in the procession around four mada streets.

Earlier in the morning, the century-old wooden ratha or chariot, colourfully decorated, was pulled by hundreds of devotees through the four mada streets around the temple and a large number of devotees offered worship.

Kolattam and Bhajans by devotees formed part of the procession, which had six caparisoned elephants in the forefront.

However, the nine-day Sri vari Brahotsavam would be concluded with Chakrasnanam tomorrow morning.

On this day, the utsava murti would go round the temple in a gaily decorated pallaki. After Churnabhishekam the lord with his consorts would again go on a procession to Sri varaha swami temple, on the west bank of Swami Pushkarini. Then the Chakrattalvar would get a bath in the sacred waters of Swami Pushkarini, known as Avabhritam or Chakrasnanam.

Later Malayappaswami and his consorts, Sridevi and Bhudevi, would return to the temple.

On the night of the ninth day the utsava murtis would go on a procession around the temple in a pallaki. The procession would return to the Dhwajasthabham in the temple.

Puja and naivedya would be offered to the Garuda as on the first day in the presence of the Lord and then Garuda dhwajam would be brought down.

The annual Brahmotsavam would be concluded with the dhvaja avarohana function.

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