KAISIKA DWADASI IN TIRUMALA

“UGRA SRINIVASA MURTHY” GRACES PILGRIMS ON KAISIKA DWADASI IN TIRUMALA

The annual Kaisika Dwadasi Asthanam and Chakrateertha Mukkoti will be performed in Tirumala on Oct 4.The idol is bought in procession at wee hours only on Kaisika Dvadasi (also known as Mukkoti Dvadasi) while the idol is worshipped inside the temple

Just as the name Tiru Dvadasi was given to Kurma Dvadasi by Sri Vaishnavas so also prabodhotsava or Uttana Dvadasi was called Kaisika Dvadasi. The Ekadasi associated with it is called Bodhana or Prabodhini Ekadasi. On the Uttana Davdasi day preparation is said to be made for waking Vishnu, who went to sleep on Ashada Sukla Ekadasi (Vishnu Sayana Ekadasi) and turned on his side on Bhadrapada Sukla Ekadasi (Vishnu Parivartana Ekadasi). On the Uttana Dvadasi day the chaturmasya Vrita commences. Among Sri Vaishnavas, this dvadasi is known as Kaisika dvadasi.

As per the ancient scriptures, this festival is named after the Kaisika Puranam which is mentioned in 48th Chapter of Sri Varaha Puranam. In the Varaha Puranam, Lord Vishnu tells the story to Mahalakshmi about how he adores being worshiped through dance and music. The story inspires Goddess to take the from of Goda Devi.

A great devotee of Lord Sri Nambaduvan(also known as Satyamurthi) being confronted by a Brahma Rakshasa on his way to Nambi temple. This Rakshasa used to be a Brahmin by the name of Soma-Sharma. He committed some grave mistakes during a Yagam and was cursed to become a Brahma Rakshasa.

On Kaisika Ekadasi day, when Nambaduvan was traveling to the temple, the Rakshasa stops him to become his prey. After great persuasion, Nambaduvan tells the Rakshasa that he would return to be eaten by him after completing his annual offering of music to Nambi Perumal. The Rakshasa allows him to proceed to the temple. After singing songs in Kaisika Ragam, all night in front of the Lord, Nambaduvan comes back to Rakshasa to fulfill his promise.

At that time, Lord Vishnu himself, in the guise of an old man, stops him and asks him to take another route, warning him of a dangerous Rakshasa who eats all in his path. Nambaduvan refuses to break his promise and proceeds to meet his death. The Rakshana was surprised to see him coming back there. Later the truthfulness of Nambaduvan impresses Lord who offers him salvation and shapa vimukti to Rakshasa.

In connection with the festival, the idol of Lord Ugra Srinivasa flanked by his two divine consorts Sri Devi and Bhu Devi mounted atop the golden Tiruchi were taken around the four mada streets encircling the holy shrine in a grand procession even before the break of dawn as is the age-old tradition.
The significance of this festival is that it only on this day in the entire year that the idol of Ugra Srinivasa Murthy is brought out from the sanctum sanctorum of the hill temple. Later, the priests organized Dwadasi Asthanam to the deities inside the temple.

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