Background of Kaisika Dwadasi
Kaisika Dwadasi arrived from a devoted follower by the name of “Nampaaduvaan” who lived in the Tirunelveli district town of Thirukkurungudi. He was born into a humble family and was therefore not permitted to enter the temple, yet he never stopped singing about the Lord’s glory when outside the temple.
Therefore, on a Kaisika Ekadashi day during Sukla Paksha of Karthika (November–December), he kept a fast. By night, he had started traveling to the temple, which was distant from his home, so that the following morning, he could, as usual, stand outside the temple and sing of the Lord’s glory.
He had to go through a forest to get there. While he was shouting praises to the Lord while passing through it, a Brahmarakshasa (demon) suddenly appeared and halted him so that it might devour him. Nampaaduvaan begged the Brahmarakshasa to let him leave, vowing to return after singing in front of the Lord. He was terrified, not for his life, but that he would not be able to finish his fast by doing so. Yet the Brahmarakshasa didn’t take him seriously.
For his release, Nampaaduvaan had to make eighteen pledges. He hurriedly made his way to the temple, finished his song, and started to head home when the Lord, in an effort to test him, appeared as a person, inquired about him, and attempted to persuade him not to return to the Brahma rakshasa.
Nampaaduvaan, however, was adamant about keeping his word and continued. A surprised Brahmarakshasa gave him an offer, “if you would give me the fruits (essence) of his offerings that you had sung today, I’ll let you go”. Nampaaduvaan countered, “I would gladly die than handing the essence to you.
Now, the Brahma rakshasa began appealing to Nampaaduvaan, saying, “In my previous birth, I was a Brahmin named ‘Soma Sarma’. I was cursed to become a Brahma rakshasa during a yagna because I mispronounced the mantras. So, he prayed to Nampaaduvaan to provide him with at least one pann (raga) of the fruits of his singing.
I had sung a raga called “Kaisika,” the compassionate Nampaaduvaan said. I give you its fruits. The Brahma rakshasa was set free immediately and ascended to heaven.
“Like Nampaaduvaan, whoever reads or listens to ‘Kaisika Mahaathyam’ on Dwadasi day in the month of Karthika would be liberated and will also gain the power to help the people who seek his sanctuary,” Lord Varaha declared to Bhoomi Piratti.
Tirumala celebrates Kaisika Dwadasi
Kaisika Dwadasi festival is a magnificent occasion at Tirumala temple. The Kaisika Purana is read aloud. On this unique day, Lord Ugra Srinivasamurthy (one of the Panchaberams, or five forms of the Lord) and His Consorts will be carried in procession along 4 Major streets in the early morning hours (4:30 to 5:30 AM) and brought back inside the temple prior to sunrise. Later, from 5:30 AM to 7 AM, the temple will host the Kaisika Dwadasi Asthanam with Purana parayanam.
A procession is used to remove Sri Ugra Srinivasa Murthy from the temple only on Kaisika Dwadasi day.
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