Ankurarpanam Performed for Srivari Navaratri Brahmotsavams at Tirumala
As part of the rituals, Senadhipati Sri Vishvaksena led a ceremonial procession along the four Mada Streets to symbolically inspect the arrangements for the nine-day festival.
The Ankurarpanam ritual was subsequently performed in the Yagashala, seeking divine blessings for the successful conduct of the Brahmotsavams.
During the ceremony, sacred seeds were sown in specially prepared earthen pots, known as palikas, with prayers for the successful celebration of the festival and the blessings of Sri Venkateswara Swamy.
The healthy sprouting of the seeds is traditionally regarded as an auspicious sign.
The ritual included sacred fire ceremonies invoking the blessings of Brahma, Garuda, Sesha, Sudarsana, Vakratunda, Soma, Shanta, Indra, Isana and Jaya.
After prayers to Bhudevi, soil was placed in the palikas, and seeds were sown with the invocation of the Moon, followed by the sprinkling of water.
The palikas were decorated with new cloth, and Punyahavachanam was performed. Recitations of the Somaraja Mantra, Varuna Mantra and Vishnu Suktam formed part of the ceremony.
The procedure for Ankurarpanam is detailed by Maharshi Atri in the Samurtarchanadhikaranam, according to temple traditions.
TTD Executive Officer Muddada Ravichandra, Additional Executive Officer Ch. Venkaiah Chowdary, Chief Vigilance and Security Officer Muralikrishna, Temple Deputy Executive Officer Bhaskar and other officials participated in the ceremony.
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