ABHIDEYAKA ABHISHEKAM (JYESTABHISHEKAM) (07:00
AM JUNE)
(COST
RS 400/- PER PERSON, PRASADAM : 2 LADDUS, 1 VADA, 1
UTTARIYAM
OR 1 BLOUSE PIECE)
This festival is
performed in the holy month of Jyestha as per Hindu Almanac and
the fete is completed
coinciding the star of Jyestha in the constellation. This
festival is also
called “Abhidhyeyaka Abhishekam”.
“Abhidhyeyakam” means
protective shield or armour (that which cannot be
destructed). To fight
against the evil, the Lord emerged with this protective armour
in this Kaliyuga.
Since the special abhishekam (celestial bath) is conducted to this
special “Armour of
God” this festival is also called Abhidhyeyaka Abhishekam.
As this festival
takes place in the month of Jyestha it is also known as “
Jyesthabhishekam ”.
As per the temple
legendary, this special Abhishekam is usually performed every
year to protect the
Utsava deities of Lord Malayappa swami and His
consorts Sridevi and
Bhudevi from damage that might occur while conducting
processions and
Tirumanjanam (holy baths) all through the year during different
festive occasions.
Meanwhile the
festival lasts for three days. Each day after the second bell , the
Lord and His consorts
are taken to the Kalyanotsava mandapam located in
Sampangi Prakaram and
Snapana Tirumanjanam is conducted amidst the chanting
of vedic mantras.
Snapana Tirumanjanam involves performing a bath to the deities
involving holy and
consecrated water mixed with spices including turmeric ,
sandal paste, honey,
milk and curd.
Later the Lord and
His consorts are adorned in different attires (special
kavachams)on each of
these days. On First Day Lord muses pilgrims
in Vajrakavacham
(armour studded with diamonds), while on the second day in
Muthyala kavcham
(armour studded with pearls) and Svarna kavacham (armour of
gold) on the third
day. This Svarna kavacham remains adorned to the Lord and His
consorts throughout
the year and only removed for Abhidhyeyaka Abhishekam in
the year next.
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