The Vedic ritual ritual Ashta Bandhana Maha Samprokshanam concluded on a religious note in the ancient temple of Lord Sri Kodanda Rama Swamy, located in the heart of the temple city of Tirupati on Friday, 16 June 2017.
After suprabhatam, Punyahavachanam and Maha Purnahuti were performed in Yagashala amidst chanting of Prabandha and Veda Parayanams by the Vedic scholars. The Maha Samprokshanam was observed in the auspicious “Mithuna Lagnam” between 6am and 7:30am.
TTD EO Sri Anil Kumar Singhal, Tirumala JEO Sri KS Sreenivasa Raju, Tirupati JEO Sri P Bhaskar also took part in this celestial fete. Speaking on this occasion, the EO said, Asta Bandhana Maha Samprokshanam was performed for five days in the temple of Lord Sri Kodanda Rama Swamy, seeking the longevity of the presiding deities and parivara devatas as per tenets of Vaikhanasa Agama. “This fete was earlier performed in this temple in 2009. The devotees will be allowed for darshan from today onwards as usual”, he maintained.
SIGNIFICANCE: Meanwhile in Sanskrit Asta means Eight and Bandhanam means tying or fixing. Ashtabandhanam is the process of affixing an idol to its pedestal (Peetham) with clay-like paste made of eight specific herbs mixed with wood lac, limestone powder, resin, sandal paste, red ochre, beeswax, butter and oil.
The paste is formed into long rolls about 2 cm thick and applied directly around the base of the idol, so that the cemented joints become watertight. This process is believed to keep the idol rejuvenated for many years.
The ”’Ashtabandhanam’ paste is pliable like rubber. Through repeated interactions with abhishekha dravyams – materials used to bathe the idol during daily worship like water, milk, buttermilk, sandal paste and oils – and atmospheric oxidants, the paste loses its flexibility, becomes rigid and gets riddled with a lot of fissures.
To avoid damage to the presiding deity, Asta Bandhanam is usually performed in the temples. This fete usually lasts for a day, three days, five, seven, nine days with Ankurarpanam on first day. In Sri Kodanda Rama Swamy temple, Astabandhana Maha Samprokshanam was performed for five days by invoking the charisma of main deity in the yaga shala by setting up twenty homa gundas. About 38 ritwiks performed the Yaga Kratu for five days as per tenets of Vaikhanasa Agama.
Temple DyEO Smt Munilakshmi, Agama Advisor Sri Sundaravadanacharyulu, Superintendent Sri Uma Maheswara Reddy and other temple staffs were also present.
ISSUED BY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER TTDs, TIRUPATI