Auspicious ‘PURATTASI MASAM’ OF SOUTHERN INDIA

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WHAT IS THE PURATTASI MASAM? 

• ‘Tirumala Shanivaralu (saturday’s)‘  is a Hindu Festival celebrated in some parts of South India including AP, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala.
• Lord Venkateswara Swamy will be worshiped during this festival.
• All the Saturdays of this month are treated as holy days and Devotees gather in large number at Lord Vishnu temps and special prayers are offered.
• Tirumala Annual Navarathri Brahmotsavam were also observed during this month where Tirumala will be flooded with lakhs of devotees.

The popular belief is that Lord Venkateswara made his divine presence on the earth in this month and returned to Vaikunata also in the month of puratassi.

Naradar wanted to know how people can worship Lord Ventakeshwara after his departure to Vaikunta.

Lord advised Naradar that he will bless the devotees who fast on the saturdays of puratassi month and pray to Him. He will also relieve hardship caused by Lord Shani during Puratasi month.

• People will wakeup early in the morning with Suprabhatam, the holy Sanskrit hyms to wakeup lord venkateswara.
• People will take headbath after which they will clean their houses and starts cooking special dishes (Naivedyam) to be offered to lord Venkateswara.
• Lord Venkateswara will be decorated with special folwers , Thulasi maala, mango leaves, Fruits , money and TiruNaamam (Tilak with Namakommu and Sirisunnam).
• Dishes include many varieties Laddu (The most beloved sweet of Lord Venkateswara), Bellam Pongali (Jaggary Pongal), Pepper pongal, Panchamrutham, vada, Payasam, Pulihora, dardhojanam (curd rice), Guggullu, Dosa, Nuvvula pindi, Biyyam Pindi,  Muddha pappu, sambar, rasam, perugu (curd), neyyi (ghee), annam (rice).
• During pooja first Deepam will be lit followed by offering naivedhyam, agarbathi, sambrani, coconut, harathi respectively.
• Naivedhyam will be offered to lord venkateswara and his wives, sri devi and bhu devi, on three banana leaves.
• Everyone in the house will keep tirunamam. During Harathi, everyone in the house utter the lord’s hyms loudly.