Lord Venkateswara Swamy Deeparadhana Pooja Vidhanam

Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh is popularly known as Kaliyuga Vaikuntham. It is the abode of Lord Venkateswara Swamy. A trip to the temple of Lord Tirupati fills you with positive / divine vibes.

Venkateswara Swamy is worshiped in different ways. There are several ways of offering prayers to Lord Venkateswara Swamy. Deeparadhana is one such pooja that is performed by the people in the Southern states of India. Particularly either by the groom's family before a wedding ceremony or by the newly wed couple after the marriage. However, this special pooja for Lord Venkateswara Swamy can be performed by anyone and at any time for the well being of the family.

Also read: Places to visit in Tirumala

7 Saturdays vratam is one of vratams for fulfilling various wishes. Find here the Telugu book on the same.

Procedure for Venkateswara Deeparadhana

You can perform this special pooja on Saturdays, Ekadasi days or on an any auspicious day. On the day of pooja, have a hair wash and dress up in a traditional way, preferably in yellow color silk sari. Decorate the Pooja Mandap / Mandir with yellow flowers (chrysanthemum - chamanti in Telugu) and mango leaves (not compulsory). Draw a picture of Venkateswara Namam with turmeric paste and vermilion (kumkuma) on the East wall near Pooja Mandapam.

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Place the image of Lord Venkateswara in the mandap, if you have one, and decorate with yellow flower garland or yellow loose flowers. Prepare 'vadapappu', 'panakam' and 'chalimidi' for naivedyam.

Also read: Traditional Telugu Brahmin wedding ceremony

For making 'vadapappu'

Soak little split black gram i.e moong dal (skinless) for few minutes and drain off the water. If you want, you can add little sugar to this however it is not compulsory.

For 'panakam'

Take required quantity of water in a container or jar, add crushed jaggery (gur), crushed black pepper and cardamom (elaichi) powder. Keep stirring till the jaggery dissolves.

For 'chalimidi'

Take required quantity of rice flour and add powdered jaggery to it. Add cow's ghee to it and knead it to a dough of the rice flour and jaggery. If required just sprinkle very little water to make a soft dough. You can add elaich powder for added flavor.

After making naivedyam, make 'pindi jyoti' i.e rice flour lamp. Rice flour lamp is a must for this pooja.

For making rice flour lamp

Add powdered jaggery and little cow's ghee to rice flour (quantity as per your requirement) and knead it to a hard dough. If you find it difficult to make lamp, just sprinkle very little water to knead the dough. Do not add too much water as the dough becomes thin in consistency and you will find it difficult to make 'jyotulu. Make sure that the lamp is easily made with the rice flour dough.

Make the 'pindi jyoti' (rice flour lamp), the way you do for Sravana Mangala Gowri Puja. For Venkateswara Deeparadhana, make only one rice flour lamp. Place the lamp in a shallow bowl or plate and place it in front of the Pooja Mandapam. Once you are done with your preparations, keep all the pooja items handy before you sit for performing the pooja. Note that you are not supposed to get up in the mid of pooja. Also keep fruits like coconut and banana and dry fruits for offering.

Once everything is ready, light up the regular oil lamp in the pooja mandir which you use for regular pooja. And then keep the specially made rice flour lamp in front of the mandap, pour cow's ghee (not buffalo's ghee) in the lamp and place only one wick in it. Note that this lamp which you light up before you start performing pooja, should last till the end of the pooja. So, keep observing the 'pindi jyoti' while you perform pooja and keep pouring cow's ghee as and when required.

Also read: Mangala Gowri Pooja

Offer dhoopam i.e agarbatti, prayers to Lord Venkateswara by reciting Vishnu Sahasranamam (if you can - not compulsory). Also recite Venkateswara Namavali (108 or 1008 names of Lord Venkateswara). After completion of pooja, offer 'naivedyam' and give 'mangala harati' i.e arati with camphor to the lord.

Take the prasad of Lord Venkateswara. Offer it to your family members and neighbors. This is an effective pooja for the overall well-being of the family.