Devunikadapa Brahmotsavams off to a colourful start

The annual Brahmotsavams at the Lakshmi Venkateswara Swamy temple in Devunikadapa got off to a colourful start, here on Monday.

‘Dhwajarohanam’ — the ritual of hoisting the sacred flag atop the temple flag post — was conducted between 10 a.m. and 10.30 a.m.. The flag is called ‘Garuda Dhwajam’ as it bears an imprint of Garuda, the Lord’s favourite celestial carrier. Earlier, the flag was paraded on the streets encircling the temple.

Temple legend

As per legends, the temple was built and the idol of Venkateswara consecrated by a devotee Krishnacharya. While Tirumala is known as ‘Varaha Kshetra’, Devunikadapa is revered as ‘Hanuman Kshetra’, as an idol of Anjaneya is consecrated behind the presiding deity (Moolavirat) of Venkateswara inside the sanctum sanctorum.

For the devotees travelling to Tirupati from the northern regions, this temple used to be the first stop and is called the ‘Devuni Tholi Gadapa’ (first threshold) to Tirumala, which over time became known as ‘Devunikadapa’.

Saint poet Tallakapa Annamacharya is believed to have directly served the deity here and referred to it as ‘Kadapa Rayudu’ and ‘Venkatadri Kadapa Rayudu’ in his compositions.

TTD Deputy Executive Officer K. Prashanti and Superintendent Hanumanthayya took part in the ritual. Cultural and devotional programmes like ‘Kolatam’, ‘Harikatha’ and ‘Bhajans’ will be organised every day before the ‘Vahana Sevas’ under the aegis of the TTD’s Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad (HDPP).