Significance of Pavithrothsavam

Pavithrotsavam is an annual ritual at ALL Vishnu Temples. Pavithrotsava is derived from the combination of two words Pavithra (holy) and utsava (festival). This utsava is penitential as well as propitiatory and its main objective is to get rid of the evil that might have been caused due to omissions and commissions in the performance of various rituals throughout the year.That is why this utsava is referred to severally as ``Dosha Nivaarana,'' ``Sarva Yajna Phalapradha,''

'' Pavithras, the garlands made from special thread are used to decorate Lord Sri Balaji and his consorts . In the evening of the idols are taken on a procession around the four mada streets.

This is one of the important festivals with a hoary antiquity, agamic sanction, puranic reference and high religious significance. Basically during this utsava, the presiding deity and the other deities in the temple itself are adorned with pavithras (sanctified garlands of thread). Homa is performed, vedic mantras are chanted, puranas are read.

Pavithrotsava ,as the very word indicates is derived from the combination of two words ``pavithra and utsava.'' Pavithra is a means towards purification. That is why a darba grass worn in a loose knot round the finger usually heralds the performance of any religious rite. The Jayakhya Samhita explains that pavithra protects one from evil.

The puranas also prescribe ``Pavithra Aaropana,'' i.e., adorning the deity with pavithra, as an integral part of the rituals during the worship of Lord Vishnu.

`Ankurarpanam' or the sowing of nine type of holy seeds in earthern containers is undertaken on the day preceding the festival. This ritual signifies the beginning of festival in the temple. This is followed by recital of vedas in a ritual called Mritsangrahana. The Ankurarpana and Mritsangrahana rituals are identical to those performed during Brahmotsava. Veda recitation is started after the Mritsangrahana ritual and this recitation of the Vedas concludes on the third day. Through the chanting of the vedas, Aavahana (Invoking) is done for Lord Vishnu in the Pradana Kumbha (first of the holy container).

Aavahana is done in the Pradana Kumbha for Lord Vishnu and His Consort. There will be 16 other Kumbhas surrounding this Pradana Kumbha. The various mantras which are recited are believed to infuse voice vibrations which have great religious and spiritual force. It is this Kumbha which is taken to the Moolasthana on the concluding day of the Pavitrotsava and from that Kumbha the augmented spiritual power is believed to be transmitted to the Moola Vigraha (Kumbha Aavaahanam). The sanctified pavithras are offered to the various deities on the morning of the second day of the utsava.

During the festival, no other functions like Kalyanotsavam, Thirumanjanam etc are conducted while the rituals are held.