Brahmotsavam

A brahmotsava (), also rendered mahotsava and tiruvila () is the principal festival of a Hindu temple.

Commonly held in South India, the ''murti''s of a temple's deities are dressed in silk garments, decorated with ornaments, garlands, and other paraphernalia. They are carried from the sanctum to the streets upon palanquins or chariots by adherents, accompanied by musicians and crowds of devotees, who ritually venerate the deity. Brahmotsavas are held in a grand-scale in major temples of Tamil Nadu, such as the Ranganathaswamy Temple of Srirangam, the Nataraja Temple of Chidambaram, and the Meenakshi Temple of Madurai.

Etymology

Literally meaning "the festival of Brahma", the creator deity is regarded to conduct the ceremony of this event.

Description

The event is commonly classified into three categories based on duration: ''sāttvika'' (nine days), ''rājasa'' (seven days), and ''tāmasa'' (five days).

In Tamil Nadu, an annual brahmotsava festival occurs for a period of ten days.

On the final day of the festival, called the ''rathotsava'', the festival image of the deity is slowly pulled through the streets in the performance of a chariot procession.

In the brahmotsava festival of Tirumala, Brahma is believed to have worshipped Venkateshvara. The rituals occur for a period of nine days.

Events

The ten-day events of the festival generally conform to the following ceremonies in the Shaiva tradition in Tamil Nadu; similar events with varying consorts and ''vahana''s (mounts) are observed in the Vaishnava tradition:

# Day 1: The ''dhvajarohana'' or the ''kodiyetral'' (flag-hoisting) ceremony is observed on the first day, in which the flag of Shiva is raised over the '' dhvajastambha'' (flagstaff) of the temple complex after the ritual performance by priests. The deity is regarded to offer a '' darshana'' (auspicious sight) to devotees under the ''sthala vriksha'' (temple tree).
# Day 2: The festival image of the deity is placed on the mounts named Suryaprabha and Chandraprabha for a procession on the streets, an event that symbolises preservation.
# Day 3: The festival image of the deity is placed on the mounts of Nandi and Bhuta for a procession on the streets, an event that symbolises dissolution.
# Day 4: The festival image of the deity is placed on the mount of a naga for a procession on the streets, an event that symbolises obscuration.
# Day 5: The festival image of the deity is placed on a car called the ''sapparam'' for a procession on the streets.
# Day 6: The festival image of the deity is placed on an elephant for a procession on the streets.
# Day 7: The ''tirukkalyanam'', the ceremonial enactment of the wedding of Shiva and Parvati is performed.
# Day 8: The festival image of the deity is carried in the deity's form of Bhikshatana.
# Day 9: The ''ratha yatra'' (car festival) is performed, where the images of Shiva, his consort, and associated deities are carried for a procession on the streets, the highlight of the events.
# Day 10: The festival images are carried back to the temple, and the weapon of the deity is offered a ritual bath. The flag erected on the first day is lowered, symbolising the end of the festival.

Literature

The ''Mahabharata'' features a brahmotsava in the Virata Parva, in which a wrestling match is described between Bhima and a wrestler named Jimuta.

References

Hindu festivals
Hindu festivals in India
{{Hindu festivals
Festivals in Tamil Nadu