Efficacy of Purattasi Garuda sevai

Efficacy of Purattasi Garuda sevai

The Tamil month of Purattasi is one of the most enjoyable ones, and one which is dear to Venkatatachalapathy or Srinivasan. A number of temples celebrate the month in a grand manner, especially at Triplicane where the deity is also known as Venkata Krishnan, at Gunaseelam near Tiruchy and Tanthondrimalai in Karur.

Of all the days in Purattasi, Saturdays are considered highly auspicious and devotees observe a day’s fast. A number of them give up eating meat during this month and shift to a vegetarian diet. They visit the temples of Srinivasan on Fridays and Saturdays. The offering of maavilakku on a Saturday is considered very auspicious.

With the knowledge that Purattasi is a special month for Him, lakhs of people converge on the seven hills of Tirupati, especially on Saturdays. However, unprecedented crowds are seen on the day of Brahmotsava Garuda vahanam.

While the Brahmotsavam is held on a grand scale, the Garuda sevai is twice blessed.

Although He has many mounts such as elephant, simha, etc., Garuda is the favourite of Vishnu and in many incarnations, Garuda has never been far from Him. Devotees think of Garuda as the guardian angel during their travels on earth. In Tirupati, Garuda is both the mount and the flag, hoisted for the celebrations. The preparation of the Garuda flag for Purattasi is an exceptional one. It is prepared by a family which has been rendering this service going back to the last 25 generations. The family members involved in preparing the Garuda flag observe austerities before and during the course of the job. The family is given a special, plain white vastram. They purify it in water, then add salt and lemon to the water and purify the cloth by soaking it in this mix, until the vastram takes on a light yellow colour.

After this, they sketch the image of Garuda, by using a special mix, as commercial paints are a complete no-no. Instead, they make a paint from the sap of a rubber plant, red earth and coal powder. After proper tempering, the makers paint the image of Garuda, one of whose hands reach skywards—this is His invitation to all devotees, including the devas, to gather at Tirupati at least on Garuda sevai day. The flag is painted with the arti, dupa and bell, apart from other puja accessories.

Once the flag is hoisted, it is an indication that the Brahmotsavam celebrations have begun. This year, the Garuda sevai falls tomorrow. It is a night event and the entire place is lit up and comes alive with the chant of Govina, Govinda by devotees.

Adi Sankara has said that if one chants the name Govinda, three times, their sins would be washed away. The umbrella for the Garuda sevai is traditionally prepared in Chennai, while the garland for the Lord is specially made in Srivilliputhur.

Until both these reach Tirupati, the Garuda sevai will not commence. On this occasion, the Lakshmi haram and magkara kandi, which normally adorn the moolvar (deity in the sanctum sanctorum), are placed on the utsavar (the deity who ventures out to give darshan to devotees). It is only on the Garuda sevai day that these ornaments are sported by the utsava murthy, and devotees are twice blessed, since the ornaments have adorned both the deities. Those who witness this event are said to derive untold benefits.

On Garuda sevai, the utsavar is so considerate of His devotees, that when He is taken on a procession around all the four Mada streets, He halts in every corner for at least half an hour. While devotees are seated in a gallery, He turns in all four directions every ten minutes, thereby ensuring that everyone gets a chance to see His alangaram and derive direct blessings. The ceremony will start at 7.30 pm and continues until midnight.

In many households, on Saturdays, the maavailakku is offered to God. Prepared by men and women after morning ablutions, they embark on preparing maavilakku, which is nothing but an edible template of a hillock, prepared with rice flour, jaggery, etc,. After filling the centre of the mound with ghee, a cotton wick is inserted and lit. It is the common belief that in the month of Purattasi, Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala Tirupati beckons all to His hills. However, for those who are unable to make the journey, He appears in the wick of the maavilakku prepared by the devout in their homes.