The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘Laksha Bilwarchana’ at Kapileswara temple

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Tuesday, Mar 25, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘Laksha Bilwarchana’ at Kapileswara temple

Staff Reporter

Ritual begins at day-break

TTD Board to hold ritual in month of ‘Karthika’ annually
Ten priests chant 1,000 hymns to reach one lakh mark

. -Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar

Holy leaf shower: Priests performing puja with Bilwa leaves at Sri Kapileswara temple in Tirupati on Monday

TIRUPATI: ‘Laksha Bilwarchana’ was performed at the ancient Sri Kapileswara Swamy temple here on Monday. Hymns from the scriptures were chanted one lakh times during the ritual that started at dawn and culminated beyond noon.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Trust Board had decided in its recent meeting to conduct the ritual henceforth in the confluence of the ‘Arudra nakshatram ’ in the month of ‘Karthika’ every year to commemorate the manifestation of lord Siva.

The decision was formally implemented by conducting the holy ritual for the first time on Monday, although in a different month.

‘Somaskanda’, the processional deity of lord Kapileswara, was richly decorated with rare ornaments befitting the colourful occasion and seated along with consorts Ganga and Parvati.

Recitation

Ten priests chanted the 1,000 hymns ten times each, thus reaching the one lakh figure within seven hours. ‘Bilwa’ leaves, considered to be auspicious and special for lord Siva, were offered throughout the ritual, thus making a huge mound in front of the deities.

Around 350 devotees took part in the ‘seva’ by paying Rs.100 each. Deputy Executive Officer A.Vasudevan and other officials supervised the conduct of the ritual.

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