Triple delight to devotees as Goddess Padmavathi takes ride on three Vahanas

TIRUPATI: Religious fervour continued eminently on the sixth day of the ongoing Karthika Brahmotsavams at Tiruchanoor near as the processional deity of Goddess Padmavathi Devi Ammavaru was taken in a procession on three different vahanas around the temple’s mada streets on Friday.

The devotees had a triple delight when they witnessed the goddess taking a ride on the Sarva Bhoopala Vahanam in the morning and later on the Garuda Vahanam at night.

In between, the goddess was taken in a procession on the golden chariot around the four mada streets.

The grand Sarva Bhoopala vahana seva was observed in the morning wherein the goddess fascinated the devotees in the guise of Venna Krishna.

After a series of rituals at the temple, the grand procession of Swarna Ratham (golden chariot) took place in the evening. The grand gold chariot marched ahead swiftly along the four mada streets with the devotees, especially the women, pulling the chariot with utmost devotion and enthusiasm.

Goddess Padmavathi blessed her devotees on the mighty Garuda Vahanam, adoring the precious Lakshmi Kasula Haram and golden ‘Padukalu’ – the golden feet cover of Lord Venkateswara Swamy, on Friday night.

Belief has it that Garuda Mantram will remove the difficulties of the devotees, hence the darshan of the goddess on Garuda vahana seva provides moksha without rebirth.

Earlier in the day, the Srivari Swarna Padalu, which usually adorns the holy feet of Lord Malayappa, was brought from the Tirumala temple in a procession to the Pasupu Mandapam in Tiruchanoor. The divine feet-covers were rendered a special puja and later this was adorned on Goddess Padmavathi Devi during the Garuda vahana seva.

Legend has it that Lord Garuda, an ardent servant of Lord Venkateswara appealed to the lord for his divine presence while the goddess was in the celestial procession on the Garuda vahanam.

In turn, the lord accepted and sent his divine golden feet as His symbolic presence to accompany the procession. Since then, the golden feet of the lord used to accompany Goddess Padmavathi during her procession on Garuda Vahanam.