Every Item Used in this Religious Pyre is of Black

Tirumala, 14 May 19: Seeking good rains and prosperity to flourish across the state and country, the  “Kareeri Isthi Yagam” mulled by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) with the blessings of Kanchi Seer Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, commenced on a grand religious note in Tirumala on Tuesday at Paruveta Mandapam.

TTD EO Sri Anil kumar Singhal along with his spouse Smt Jaya Singhal, In-Charge JEO Tirumala Sri B Lakshmikantham took part in this religious rite which is usually performed to appease the Rain God Varuna as prescribed in Vedas that commenced with Ganapathi Aradhana.

Speaking on this occasion , the EO said, the five day Varuna ritual commenced in a ceremonious manner in Tirumala. During last year also we received good showers after we performed this Yagnam. This year also we are anticipating good results out of Yaga Karma”,he added.

Since 2005:

TTD has been performing this Yagam since 2005 to invoke the blessings of Lord Varuna. This five-day ritual commenced at Gogarbham Teertham near Paruveta Mandapam in the abode of Lord Venkateswara and will be performed every day between 8am till 12 noon.

Elaborating on the significance of this ritual Sri K Venkataramana Deekshitar, the Pradhana Acharya of this rite who has come from Kumbhakonam of Tamilnadu along with his spouse Smt Raja who acts as Yajamana Patni of the entire event said, that this ritual has been in vogue since vedic age wherein the sages or ritwiks used to perform with utmost devotion. 

Everything in Black:

The uniqueness of this ritual is that every item used will be in “Krishna Varna”(black colour) including the dressing of Ritwiks performing Yaga, the rice cooked in bamboo, the horse, the ram, honey and every material will be black in colour as the Homa invokes black clouds to shower good rains. 

"Krishnashwa-Krishnaavi-Krishna Vasaahamsi-Kareeristhi" (everything used in this yaga is black as defined in vedas)

Seeking good showers to all major Water sources:

There are five parts in this yagam including Kareeri Isthi, Varuna yagam, Parjanya Shanti, Amruthavarshini Ragam and Rushyashringa Sloka Parayanam. All these will be performed at different locations to appeased Rain God Varuna to bless all the six major water resources in Tirumala including Akasa Ganga, Papavinasanam, Gogarbham, Kumaradhara, Pasupudhara and torrent Tumburu Theertham to brim with waters due to good rains. 

Apart from this the other 67 water sources including some major rivers like Godavari, Krishna, Tungabhadhra, Vamsadhara, Moosi, Gundlakamma, Bahuda, Vedavathi, Papaghni, Koundinya, Kalyani, Handrineeva, Kolleru Sarassu, Chitravathi etc. which is spread across the state.