Kumbhabhishekam and Sahsra kalasabhishekam were conducted under the auspices of HHH Sri Tridandi china jeeyar swamy .

Kumbhabhishekam is a purification ceremony usually performed every twelve years. This purification ceremony also nullifies any unintended transgressions, deficiencies in the daily pujas recitation etc. During this elaborate religious event several homas are conducted according to agamas. This whole process synergises and unites the devine powers with the vigrahas of the lord. Kumbha means head and denotes the sikharas of the temple. On Saturday (May25th) sanctified holy waters were poured over sikharas of all the temples with vedic chanting. At the conclusion of kumbhabhishekam flowers were showered from a plane

In the consecration ceremony, there is another aspect called Kumbhabhisheka. Abhisheka, in general, means "bathing" and is derived from Sanskrit root sic, "to sprinkle", to which is prefixed abhi, "all around". For the Kumbhabhisheka, a golden pot (kalasa/Kumbha) is kept on the top of the temple. Consecrated water is then brought and poured into this pot.

"What is the significance of having the idol inside the temple and a kalasa above it? The idol - such as Ganesha, Siva or Vishnu - has a particular form: its presence in the temple represents the personal, saguna (with form) aspect of Brahman, the Reality. The kalasa on top of th temple is not in the shape of any person, however, and so it represents the attributeless, nirguna (without form) aspect of Reality.

A person approaching the temple from a distance is able to see the kalasa on top, but he or she enters the temple first to worship the personal form the Lord inside. Subjectively, this means that from a distance we see the highest goal we want to attain - the formless, nirguna Brahman - but in order to reach there, we must of through the practice of worshipping the saguna aspect of the Lord. Thus the path for the spiritual aspirant is indicated. Through worship of the Lord (with attributes), we reach the highest, formless Brahman."

(--Page 68-69, Hindu Culture, An Introduction, by Swami Tejomayananda. (The Hindu Culture Series, Chinmaya Publications, 1993. Courtesy of the publishers)

On 26^th May one thousand and eight kalasasfilled with sanctified water ware used to perform Abhishekam for Balaji. All the priests and silpis were honoured during this event and this grand event concluded with Mah satyanarayana puja on 27^th May.

SAHASRA KALASABHISHEKAM