The
Mahasivarathri Utsavams are being celebrated as
Brahmothsavams in the month of Magham (the 11th
month of Indian Lunar Calendar) which falls usually in
the month of February/March. This is a festival of
seven days with Panchahnika Deeksha. The
Mahasivarathri day (29th day of Magham) is
the most important day of the festival. The important
events of the celebrations are Ankurarpana,
Dhwajarohana, Vahana Sevas to God and Goddess,
LingodhbhavakalaMaharudrabhishekam to God,
Pagalankarana, Kalyanothsavam,
Radhothsavam and Dhwajavarohana.
The
Brahmothsavams begins with Ankurarpana a religious
ritual on the occasion of festival followed by the
Dhwajarohana in which DhwajaPatam
(a white flag) marked with Nandi
symbol is hoisted on the Dhwajasthambha of the temple.
It is said that the Dhwajarohana is the significant
event of the starting of Brahmothsavams for inviting all
Gods (Devathalu).
The
Vahana Sevas are another important event of the
celebrations in which the procession of the God and
Goddess will took place on various vahanas (devine
vehicles) like Seshavahanam, Mayuravahanam,
Nandivahanam and Aswavahanam.
On
the Mahasivarathri day at midnight during
Lingodbhavakalam (the scared time in which God Siva
manifests in the form of huge flaming Linga) Abhishekam
will be performed to God Mallikarjuna Swamy in a
religious manner.
The
Pagalankarana is a unique custom finds only in Srisailam temple
and is the most significant event of the festival. In this a
person belongs to weavers community (Devanga) tie a lengthy new
white cloth called as Paga (Turban) starting from the Sikhara
of the Swayvari VimanaGopuram passing around the
Nandi idols placed on the Mukhamandapam of the temple. The
interesting feature of this event is that the Devanga will
decorate the Paga with naked body in total darkness and all the
lights at that time are put off in the temple.
The cloth
used in the Pagalankarana is hand woven by weavers
throughout the year. Nearly 30 Pagas are offered by various
weavers individually as a vow and all the Pagas will be
decorated simultaneously by a single weaver.
After
Pagalankarana Kalyanothsavam i.e., the marriage of God
Mallikarjuna Swamy with Goddess Bhramaramba Devi will be
performed.
The
Radhothsavam (Car festival) will be commenced in an
effective manner on the next day of Mahasivaratri at the evening
hours. More than One Lakh of pilgrim public will participate in
the Car festival.
The
celebration ends with the Dhwajavarohana in which the Dhwaja
Patakam (flag) is removed from the Dhwajasthambham.
Nearly 5
Lakhs pilgrims are visited the temple during the Brahmotsavams.
During above utsavam days there is no sparsa (touching) darsanam
and Argitha Sevas.
