Tirumala concludes five-day Vedic ritual seeking rainfall blessings for India

Five days of Vedic prayers for rainfall conclude at Tirumala's Dharmagiri centre

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams wrapped up a traditional five-day ritual aimed at securing timely and adequate rainfall across the country with the performance of 'Maha Poornahuti' at the Dharmagiri Veda Vignana Peetham in Tirumala.

The ceremony, which concluded on Thursday, combined 'Kareri Isti', 'Varuna Japam' and 'Parjanya Shanti homam', rituals meant to invoke divine blessings for favourable rains and a bountiful agricultural season. A total of 32 ritwiks (Ved­ic priests) took part in the observance.

TTD Executive Officer M. Ravichandra and Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary participated in the concluding ceremony. Principal of Sri Venkateswara Veda Vignana Peetham Kuppa Siva Subrahmanya Avadhani led the chanting of the prescribed mantras.

Tradition maintained for several decades

Avadhani said the rituals were performed in keeping with the tradition followed for several decades, with prayers for timely and favourable rainfall across India and for people to be spared the hardship caused by excessive or deficient rains.

TTD board members Panabaka Lakshmi, G. Bhanu Prakash Reddy and Shanta Ram attended the concluding ceremony, along with faculty members and students of the peetham. The ritual's focus on both adequate precipitation and protection from weather extremes reflects the continuing agricultural dependence on monsoon patterns.

Source: The Hindu