Tirumala Nambi Utsavam is an annual festival celebrated at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala to honor the great Vaishnava saint, Sri Ramanuja’s guru, Tirumala Nambi. This festival is celebrated during the Tamil month of Panguni, which falls between mid-March and mid-April. The festival spans for nine days, and it is celebrated with great pomp and splendor by devotees of Lord Venkateswara.
Tirumala Nambi was born in the 10th century AD and was a disciple of Sri Ramanuja. He was a great scholar and a saint who dedicated his life to the worship of Lord Vishnu. Tirumala Nambi was instrumental in laying the foundation of the Sri Vaishnava tradition and is considered to be one of the most important figures in the history of the Sri Vaishnava sect.
The significance of the Tirumala Nambi Utsavam lies in the fact that it commemorates the life and teachings of Tirumala Nambi. During the festival, the idol of Tirumala Nambi is taken in a procession around the temple, and devotees offer prayers and seek blessings from the saint. The festival is also an occasion to celebrate the rich heritage and culture of the Sri Vaishnava tradition.
The festival begins with the hoisting of the Garuda flag, which signifies the commencement of the festival. The idol of Tirumala Nambi is brought out of the temple and taken on a procession around the temple premises. The idol is adorned with silk clothes and flowers, and devotees offer prayers and seek blessings from the saint.
During the Tirumala Nambi Utsavam, various cultural and religious programs are organized, including music and dance performances, discourses on the life and teachings of Tirumala Nambi, and religious ceremonies. The festival concludes with the lowering of the Garuda flag, marking the end of the festival.
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Tirumala Nambi Utsavam
The Tirumala Nambi utsavam, a religious celebration intended to honor one of the most fervent saint worshippers of Lord Venkateswara, Sri Tirumala Nambi, for his selfless efforts, will be held in Tirumala.
After the completion of Adhyayanotsavams in Tirumala, Tirumala Nambi Utsavam is typically held. The processional deity of Lord Malayappa Swamy is carried to the Tirumala Nambi temple, which is situated in the south of Mada Street in Tirumala, following the evening Arjitha seva, Sahasra Deeplankara Seva.
Special pujas were later conducted, and the idols were brought inside the Srivari temple.
Regarding Tirumala Nambi
To the south of the primary temple, Tirumala is where you’ll find the Tirumala Nambi temple along the Maha Pradakshinam (larger circumambulation) route. It is said that the Lord Himself referred to Tirumala Nambi as his grandfather and that he was a devoted devotee. For the Lord’s abhisheka or celestial bath, he used to transport holy waters from Akasha Ganga every day. His offspring continue to serve the Lord in the same capacity. In addition to being Sri Ramanuja’s maternal uncle, Tirumala Nambi is also the Lord’s grandfather. We can learn about several contacts between the Lord and Nambi by going to his temple.
Nambi Temple in Tirumala
To the south of the primary temple, Tirumala is where you’ll find the Tirumala Nambi temple along the Maha Pradakshinam (larger circumambulation) route. It is said that the Lord Himself referred to Tirumala Nambi as his grandfather and that he was a devoted devotee. For the Lord’s abhisheka or celestial bath, he used to transport holy waters from Akasha Ganga every day. His offspring continue to serve the Lord in the same capacity. In addition to being Sri Ramanuja’s maternal uncle, Tirumala Nambi is also the Lord’s grandfather. We can learn about several contacts between the Lord and Nambi by going to his temple.
In conclusion, the Tirumala Nambi Utsavam is an important festival celebrated at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala to honor the great Vaishnava saint, Tirumala Nambi. The festival commemorates the life and teachings of the saint and is an occasion to celebrate the rich heritage and culture of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion by devotees of Lord Venkateswara, and it is an important event in the temple’s calendar.
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