Poolangi Seva – Tirumala

Here is everything you want to know about Poolangi Seva in Tirumala.

What is Poolangi Seva?

The Tiruppavada seva and Poolangi Seva are offered at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam every Thursday.

Tiruppavada Seva

Every Thursday, after the morning pooja, the Mula Virat is divested of all ornaments, flowers etc. The deity will be draped only in Dhoti and Uttareeyam. The Thirunamam Kaappu and Kasturi on the forehead of the main deity are also reduced in size. This results in the unique posture of Lord where one can witness the peculiar Netra Darshan (where the divine eyes of the Lord can be seen) of the main deity.

Poolangi Seva

After the Tiruppavada Seva, the temple observes some rituals like suddhi (cleaning of the temple) etc., and the Moola Virat is adorned with Velvet Gown from Crown to the Feet and then the main deity is decorated with flower garlands.

Who should perform Poolangi Seva?

Here’s who should do Poolangi Seva:

• Anyone who wants to offer their prayers to Lord Venkateswara should perform this seva.

What are the best days to do Tiruppavada and Poolangi Seva?

The best days to perform these sevas are:

• These poojas are performed only on Thursday.
• One should make prior booking to get the dates to perform this pooja.
• It should be performed early in the morning, the best time to do this pooja is 5 a.m.

What is the procedure for performing Poolangi and Tiruppavada Seva?

Here’s how to do Tiruppavada Seva:

• On Thursdays Tiruppavada Seva is performed as arjitha Seva in the Mandapam in front of the Bangura Vakili and Annakutotsavam (where heaps of tamarind rice are poured) is performed.
• A large rectangular tub – like golden vessel is placed in the mandapam and a huge quantity of “Pulihora”-tamarind rice, along with other sweet preparations such as payasam, laddu, jilebi, thenthola, appam etc and other delicacies are deposited thereon with coconuts, flowers, sandal paste, Kumkum, deepam and is placed in that trapezoid receptacle to be offered as naivedya to the Lord.
• Amidst chanting of Mantras, the previous wide Naamam is peeled off and a thin Naamam is adorned on the forehead of Mula Virat just to cover the space between His eyebrows.
• When this happens, it is believed that the Lord’s first gaze after “opening” His Eyes (because they were covered by the Naamam earlier) should not fall on mortals, because it has huge power that could not be withstand by humans.
• Instead, it is made to fall on the mound of “Pulihora” directly in front of Him, thereby sanctifying it and reducing the intensity of His Gaze. The “Pulihora” therefore acts like a Veil (“Paavada” in Telugu/Tamil) protecting devotees from His Powerful Gaze.

Here’s how to do Poolangi Seva:

• Poolangi Seva is a ritual in which the Moola Virat of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam temple, is dressed in a rich velvety attire, covering the Moola Virat from head to toe.
• Garlands made of flowers are then put on the deity. Every Thursday after the Tiruppavada Seva the Poolangi Seva is performed. It is an ancient ritual and a reference to the ritual is even made in the Tamil classic, Silappadikaram, in sometime around 756 AD.

Where to perform Tiruppavada and Poolangi Seva?

A devotee can perform these poojas in the tirumala temple premises. It is performed only on Thursday.

What is the cost of Poolangi Seva?

• The pilgrims who wish to be a part of Tiruppavada and Poolangi seva, they need to book tickets either online through ttd website or offline. Ticket cost is approximately Rs. 850/- per person. The pilgrim can book for 6 persons at a time.
• They will also get Prasadam after conducting the seva as 1 Big Laddu, 1 Vada, 1 Jalebi, 1 Tentola, Pulihora and 1 Uttariyam or 1 Blouse piece.