Srisailam temple set for Mahasivaratri Utsavams

KURNOOL: The 11-day Mahasivaratri Utsavams will start from February 17 and end on February 27 with traditional fervour at the Srisailam temple. Temple authorities have made all arrangements and are ready to start the 11-day-long festival in a grand manner, executive officer N. Barat Gupta said. The celebrations start with Ankurarpana, Ganapathi puja on Friday (February 17) and end with the Dhwajavarohana in which the Dhwaja Patakam (flag) is removed from the Dhwajasthambham, the EO said.

Nearly 10 lakh pilgrims are expected to visit the temple during the Brahmotsavams and during utsavam days there is no sparsa (touching) darshan and Arjita Sevas, the EO said. The Mahasivaratri Utsavams are being celebrated as Brahmothsavams in the month of Magham (the 11th month of lunar calendar) which falls usually in the month of February /March. This is a festival of 11 days with Navahaknika Deeksha.

The Mahasivaratri day (29th day of Magham) is the most important day of the festival. The important events of the celebrations are Ankurarpana, Dhwajarohana,Vahana Sevas to God and Goddess, Lingodhbhavakala, Maharudrabhishekam to God, Pagalankarana, Kalyanothsavam, Radhothsavam and Dhwajavarohana. Brahmothsavams begins with Ankurarpana, a religious ritual on the occasion of festival followed by the Dhwajavarohana during which Dhwaja Patam marked with Nandi symbol is hoisted on the Dhwajasthambha of the temple.

It is said that the Dhwajarohana is the significant event of the starting of Brahmothsavams for inviting all gods and goddesses. The Vahana Sevas are another important event of the celebrations in which the procession of the god and goddess will take place on various vahanas (divine vehicles) like Seshavahanam, Mayuravahanam, Nandivahanam and Aswavahanam.

On the Mahasivarathri day, at midnight during Lingodbhavakalam (the scared time in which God Siva manifests in the form of huge flaming Linga) Abhishekam will be performed to God Mallikarjuna Swamy in a religious manner. The Pagalankarana is a unique custom finds only in Srisailam temple and is the most significant event of the festival. In this a person belonging to weavers community (Devanga) tie a lengthy new white cloth called as Paga (Turban) starting from the Sikhara of the Swayvari Vimana Gopuram passing around the Nandi idols placed on the Mukhamandapam of the temple. The interesting feature of this event is that the Devanga will decorate the Paga with naked body in total darkness and all the lights at that time are put off in the temple. The cloth used in the Pagalankarana is hand woven by weavers throughout the year.

Nearly 30 Pagas are offered by various weavers individually as a vow and all the Pagas will be decorated simultaneously by a single weaver. Afterwards, Pagalankarana Kalyanothsavam of Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bhramaramba Devi will be performed. The Radhothsavam (Car festival) will commence the next day of Mahasivaratri in the evening.