Sri Venkateswara Swami - Tirumala Worship, Utsavams and Festivals

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Pidatala Sitapati, (1933-2009)was Fellow of the royal Asiatic Society and has served as Collector, District Magistrate, chittor, and commissioner of Archaeology, archives and Oriental Manuscript and Research Liberary. He retired as chief Secretary to the Governor of Andhra Pradesh with the rank of chief Secretary to Government.

A Student of oriental studies, specialized in temple sciences, he was keen archaeologist journalist, numismatist and student of indian art. His publications include Sri Venkateswara: the Lord of Seven Hills, tirupathi in the Book University Series of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (editions 1968, 1972,1977, 1989 and 2001) Sri Kala Hasti Temple, Sri ahobilam temple, New Satavahana Sculptures from Andhra Amaravathi, Srisailam Khaifiyats Volume I and II, Sri Padmavathi Parinayam (translated from Bhavishyattara Puranam) and(( Tirumala Temple, a historical monograph guide to the temple a its history, art and sculpture.

This Book is dedicated to the twin lotus feet of Sri Lakshmi Sametha Venkateswara Swamy, the Ishta and Para Daivam of the author.

This book "Sri Venkateswara Swamy, Tirumala : Worship, Utsavams and Festivals "is dedicated to the twin feet of Sri Lakshmi Sametha Sri Venkateswara swamy, the isthadaivam and now the kula-daivam of the author . The author worked earlier as collector of chittoor District (1966-68), as commissioner of Archaeology, archives and oriental Research and Secretary to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, and retirement as Enquiring authority, G.A.D in the Government of Andhra Pradesh.

The earliest comprehensive manual on Sri Ventakeshwera Swamy was published while the author was collector of chittor under the title "Sri Venkateswara, the lord of seven Hills ,Tirupati" by Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan in its book University Series in 1968 and has run into several editions . The author who has specialized in temple science has brought out many other books such as Sri Kala Hasti Temple , Sri Ahobilam Temple , New Satavahana Sculptures from Andhra Amaravathi , Enugu Veera swamy in telgu and several research volumes such as srisailam Temple , temple Bronzes of Srisailam etc., A special issues "ITHIAS" on the temples of Andhra Pradesh was also brought out to commemorate the second world Telugu Conference in the year 1981 . He has several books on administration and irrigation to his credit.

The ancient Vaikhanasa form of workship of Sri Venkateshwara swamy slightly different from Pancharatra agamic form of worship of Vishnu in vasishnative temples of India. It follows the sankritised more ancient Vedic tradition of worship the lord here is also unique, in that He is super agamic manifesto that is onewho come into being before the vedas and agamas came to be . A study of the worship of this Lord is therfore timely, especially when no systematic study of this has been made so far , in spite of brief mention and historical studies by the author himself , my late colleague Shri N Ramesan in his book Tirumala Tempkle and Historical studies of some Festivals by Sr iT.K.T.Veera Raghava Charya in his History of Triuparthi (1982). The present study of the actual daily ritualistic worship of Sri Venkateswara Swamy against the background of the Vaikhnasa Agamas particulary the Maricha Samhita Vimana Archna Kalpaha followed in the rituals of this temple. The Sevas and the Utsavamas are dealt with comprehensively and the author has had the benifit of being an eye witness of the worship for more than 35 years of his service in the state and also as an humble devotee of lord Sri venkateswara . The Brasmhotsavams have been studied in great detail here and the festivals to a large extent.

The author who is dedicating this book to the holy feet of Sri Lakshmi sametha Sri Venkateswara swami hopes that this book will fill the gap for the need of the book on the worship of the swamy , His Bramhotsavams and the "Nithya Kalyana Paccha Torana " festival which take place here around the year.

Along with this book , the author is dedicating two more books to the twin feet of Sri venkateswara Swamy; one is 'Sri Padmavathi Parinayam' the book translated from the Sanskrit Bhavishyottara Puranam and another a 'Historical monograph guide of the temple , its history Art and Sculpture.'