GUNTUR: Abhishekam was performed to Lord Venkateswara at police parade grounds here on Friday as a part of ongoing Venkateswara Vaibhavotsavam.
Devotees turned up at the venue in the early hours to witness the seva, offered to the Lord at Tirumala every Friday.
Every Friday, after Suprabhatha Seva, regular thomala and archana sevas are done in privacy and then abhishekam is performed. This is one of the oldest Arjitha sevas of Tirumala shrine.
Abhishekam started with water mixed with aromatic ingredients, followed by milk, suddhodakam, chandanam and other scented things like powdered pachcha karpooram, saffron paste and drops of civet oil, which are brought in silver vessels.
While performing abhishekam, Pursha, Narayana, Sri, Bhu and Neela suktas are recited, besides selected Pasurams from Divya Pradbandham. Later, abhishekam is performed to Goddess Lakshmi using turmeric paste.
In year 966 AD, Pallava queen Samaavai gifted the present silver idol of Bhoga Sinivasa Murthy to the temple. It is an exact miniature replica of the main idol. The gift was offered on Jyestha Bahula Tritheeya when Sravana star was in the ascendant in Akshya Year, and it was a Friday.
While installing the Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy idol in the temple, abhishekam was also performed to the main deity. Thus, started the practice of abhishekam to moola virat every Friday. TTD Tirupati JEO P Bhaskar and others were present.