By 16th June, the Ashrama was wearing a festive look with decorations
all around. The highway in front of the Ashrama was also grandly decorated.
Inside the Ashrama, to the south of the temple, a huge pendal –
‘Garuda Mantapa’ was erected. As one entered the Ashrama through
the main entrance, the cutout of Lord Venkateshwara and Goddess Padmavati,
beautifully decorated with series lights could be seen.
Entering
the Mandapa
On 17-6-99,
Sri Swamiji performed Arati to Lord Dattatreya at 6.30 p.m. and blessed
Sri Ayyappan, an ardent devotee with the status of Dharmadhikari for
the ensuing consecration ceremonies. Sri Swamiji gave him an Audumbara
staff to signify that he was the Dharmadhikari.
After this,
Sri Swamiji, led by Poornakumbha and Mangalavadya in a procession, entered
the ‘Garuda Mantapa’. A stage was erected to the north of
this pavilion, adjacent to the Venkateshwara Temple. Once on the stage,
Sri Swamiji ordered that those connected with the construction work
of the temple be honoured first. Sri Swamiji declared that unless the
workers were suitably felicitated, no one had the moral right to enter
the temple.Accordingly,
Sri H.V.Prasad, the Executive Trustee of Datta Peetham called the workers
one by one on to the stage and Sri Ayyappan honoured them.
As soon
as this was over, His Holiness Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Swamiji
of Mysore, the chief guest of the day arrived and was reverentially
welcomed with Poornakumbha and escorted to the Garuda Mantapa.
At 7.15
p.m., Sri Swamiji and the pontiff of Parakala Mutt lit the lamp to mark
the commencement of the pre-installation ceremonies. The chief priest,
Sri Ananta Padmanabhacharya from Machilipatnam sought the permission
of the Swamijis and performed Vishwaksena Pooja. The two Swamijis and
the chief priest then entered the Yagashala.
The Yagashala
was designed as per Vaikhanasa Agama. It was beautifully and aesthetically
decorated. The eight entrances of the Yagashala were decorated with
the pictures of Goddess Sandhya. The main Mantapa on the stage was decorated
with sacred and colourful flags. The periphery of the Mantapa was decorated
with darbha grass. As a protection, Sudarshana flags were hoisted in
eight directions to protect the ceremonies.
The Yajnashala
was made of 16 pillars. To the west of the altar, a Homakunda named
‘Garhapatya’ was constructed. This is connected with ‘Bhoorloka’.
Purusha and Achyuta are its presiding deities. (first of the seven ‘worlds’
enumerated in ancient scriptures. The seven lokas are Bhoorloka –
the earth, Bhuvarloka – the space between the earth and sun inhabited
by Munis, Siddhas etc.. Swarloka – Indra’s heaven above the
sun or between it and the polar star. Maharloka – a region above
the polar star and inhabited by Bhrigu and other saints who survive
the destruction of the 3 lower worlds. Janarloka – inhabited by
Brahma’s son, Sanatkumara and others. Taparloka inhabited by deified
Vairagins. Satya loka or Brahma loka, the abode of Brahma, transition
to which exempts from rebirth.). To the south, a Homakunda named ‘Anvaahaarya’
was erected. This is connected to the Bhuvarloka and has Purusha and
Satya as its deities. To the NorthEast, another Homakunda named ‘Ahavaneeya’
was constructed. This pertains to Svarloka and has Suvah Purusha and
Purusha as its presiding deities. To the North was a Homakunda called
‘Avasatthya’, pertaining to Maharloka with Mahah Purusha and
Aniruddha as its lords. Just adjacent to this, a full size brass statue
of Lord Venkateshwara was placed. To the east, another Homakunda, called
‘Sabhya’, pertaining to Janarloka was set up. This has Janah
Purusha and Vishnu Murti as its Lords. Another Homakunda named ‘Poundareeka’
was erected to the South East, with Tapah Purusha and Vasudeva as its
presiding Lords. Vastu Mantapa was situated in the South West and Ankura
Mantapa was constructed in the North West. Attached to the Yagashala,
there were Vastu Homa Kunda, Sudarshana Homakunda and the altar for
Kumbhasadhana. To the east of these Homakundas, a big tank was constructed
for carrying out Adhivasa (immersion of idols) rituals.
Upon entry
in to the Yagashala, the chief priest offered a golden bracelet to Sri
Swamiji. Subsequently, Sri Swamiji blessed the priests connected with
the consecration and Sri Ayyappan, the Dharmadarshi of the celebrations
with Kankanas and Deeksha Vastra.
In the inauguration function held later, Sri Swamiji and Sri Parakala
Mutt Swamiji were seated on the stage with other dignitaries like the
chief priest, Sri Srikanthaiah, the Mayor of Mysore, Sri Ramdas, the
local legislator and others. All the speakers lauded the monumental
task successfully undertaken by Poojya Sri Swamiji. Sri Anantapadmanabhacharya,
the chief priest spoke at length about the greatness of Lord Venkateshwara.
In His benedictory speech, Sri Swamiji gave a brief account of the divine
plan responsible for the construction of the temple.
While the function was going on, the priests performed Vastu Homa. The
two Swamijis offered Poornahuti and blessed the devotees with Prasadam.
18-6-99
In the
morning, Sri Swamiji performed Srichakra Pooja in the Nada Mantapa.
At 12 noon, Sri Swamiji offered Poornahuti of the Navagraha Homa performed
in connection with the consecration ceremonies. Earlier in the day,
57 devotees were given special initiation. These devotees sat in front
of the temple and chanted the Sudarshana Mantra. Along with this, other
scholars carried out reciting of the four Vedas and other sacred scriptures.
In the evening, Sri Swamiji performed Ankuraropana with nine types of
grains in the Yagashala.
19-6-99
The priests
performed Agni Mathana (churning out the fire) at 10 a.m. and consecrate
the fire in the Homakundas. After this, Sri Swamiji performed the Akshi
Mochana (sculpting open the eyes) of the idols. After this, Poornahuti
of Dhanvantari Homa took place.
In the
afternoon, a special guard of honour was presented to Sri Swamiji by
the volunteer corps of Datta Peetham in which the local MLA Sri Ramadas,
and the Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Sri Somayajulu also
participated.
In the
evening, the idol of Anjaneya was decorated with betel leaves. In the
congregation held in the Garuda Mantapa, Sri Swamiji spoke for a while
and later asked Sri Telakapalli Vishwanatha Sharma, the Asthana Vidvan
of Datta Peetham to speak about the importance of Tilaka (sacred mark
or ornament on the forehead). After this, Sri Swamiji spoke about the
specialties of Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions. Sri Kuppa Krishna Murthy,
the Vidyadhikari of Datta Peetham also spoke and said that surrendering
one’s self to the Omnipresent Almighty God was the best of all
offerings.