Ugra Srinivasa

Ugra Srinivasa is one of the idols in the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh. "Ugra" means anger and the idol which was originally called "Venkatatturaivar" is supposed to represent the anger aspect of Lord Venkateswara. He is also known as "Snapana Murti".

Legend

Legend has it that fire broke out in the village destroying houses during Brahmotsavam at Tirumala in 14^th century A.D. When prayers were offered to the God, a vision appeared to a devotee with a message from Lord Srinivasa himself. With the change in times, the "Ugra Srinivasa" idol could no longer remain the procession idol and a new idol would be found as "utsava murti" (Malayappa swami). The "Ugra Srinivasa" idol is no longer bought out of the temple after sunrise and it is believed that sunrays touching the idol would spark fire in the temple complex.cite book |first=Dr N Ramesan|title=The Tirumala Temple |year=1981 |publisher=Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams|location=Tirumala]

History

Apart from "Dhruva Bera", the idol of "Ugra Srinivasa" is the oldest idol in the temple. The date when the idol was consecrated is unknown though records indicate that the idol existed much before the Bhoga Srinivasa was presented in the 10^th century A.D. Records show that the idol was used as "utsava murti" till the 14^th century when "Malayappa swami" was found and used as utsava murti.

The name "Venkatatturaivar" means 'resident Godhead of Venkatam' in Tamil language.cite web | url=http://www.tirumala.org/sapthagiri/012003/news.htm | title = Spathagiri Magazine January 2003 - Ugra Srinivasa Murti | date=2003-01-01 | accessdate=2007-04-22]

Worship

The idol is about 18" long and has a base pedestal 7" height. The chakra in the hand of the Lord is called as prayoga chakra as it is in a slightly tilted condition as if ready for use. Bhudevi and Sridevi are also found as standing figures.

The worship is propotioned solely to this idol on three occasions in a year - "Uttana Ekadasi", "Mukkoti Dvadasi" and "Dvadasaradhana". The idol is bought in procession at wee hours only on "Kaisika Dvadasi" (also known as "Mukkoti Dvadasi") [cite web | url =http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/03/stories/2006110301760200.htm | title = `Kaisika Dwadasi' observed | publisher = The Hindu | date=2006-11-03 | accessdate=2007-04-22] [cite web | url =http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/14/stories/2005111410150400.htm | title = `Kaisika Dwadasi' observed | publisher = The Hindu | date=2005-11-14 | accessdate=2007-04-22] while the idol is worshipped inside the temple complex on the remaining two occasions.

Relevance of Kaisika Dwadasi

"Sri Vaishnavas" called "Prabodhotsava" or "Uttana Dvadasi" as "Kaisika Dvadasi". On the Uttana Dvadasi, preparations are made for waking Lord Vishnu, who went to sleep on "Ashada Sukla Ekadasi" (Vishnu Sayana Ekadasi). Among Sri Vaishnavas, this dvadasi is known as Kaisika dvadasi named after the ragam of a song which was used last in praise of the Lordby devotee Chandala "Bhakta Nambaduvan". Bhakta Nambaduvan kept his word and returned to a "Rakshasa" (demon) to offer his body to be devoured as food by the hungry Rakshasa. The reading of the Kaisika Puranam, which is specially composed in a dialect which is a mixture (manipravalam) of Sanskrit and Tamil or Telugu interspersed with Sanskrit quotations and vernacular explanations is the special feature of the early hours of the morning before day break. [cite web | url=http://www.tirumala.org/sapthagiri/062003/history.htm | title =Sapthagiri Magazine June 2003 - History of Kaisika Dvadasi | date=2003-06-01 | accessdate=2007-04-22]

References