On the pleasant sunny day on fifth day morning, Goddess Sri Padmavathi Devi donned guise of “Universal Beauty”- Viswa Mohini and mesmerized multitude of devotees with her divine splendour on the tastefully decorated Pallaki Utsavam. As per Hindu mythology, Lord Sri Maha Vishnu takes the form of Mohini during the great myth of the Churning of the Cosmic Ocean when the demon horde got hold of the Nectar of Immortality obtained in cooperative effort with the gods and were refusing to share it. Mohini with her astonishing beauty and incomparable charisma spells magic on demons and distributes the entire nectar to deities leaving the demons with empty hands in order to protect the good from the evil. Goddess who walks in the path of Her Love and took the form of Mohini and casted Her spell on the devotees with her enchanting beauty. Through this form the Goddess sends divine message to Her devotees that the entire world is bound the magic of Maya-Myth and not to fall prey to worldly desires.
The much awaited moment, Gaja Vahana Seva took place on the pleasant evening on Saturday as a part of the ongoing Navahnika Karthika Brahmotsavams in Tiruchanoor where Goddess Padmavathi Devi donned Gaja Lakshmi avatar taking celestial ride on her favourite Vahanam. Like Garuda Vahanam which is considered to be most important vehicle for Lord Venkateswara, GajaVahanam is considered as the prominent vehicle of Goddess Padmavathi. Another important relation between goddess and the divine pachyderm is that both emerged from Palasamudra during Ksheera Sagara Madanam. So the divine elephant Airavata also is the vehicle for Lord Indra. The King of Gods ‘Indra’ rides his royal and divine elephant ‘Airavata’. Indra is also the rain bearing God and his elephant symbolizes the rain bearing clouds. Together they nourish the crops on earth and depict fertility. Elephants are therefore, associated with Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of beauty and fertility. Goddess Pamdavathi represents wealth, prosperity, brightness, light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage. She symbolizes royal elegance, beauty, grace and charm and hence she prefers to take a pleasure ride on the “Royal Elephant” which is her favourite ride during the Brahmotsavams.
The following are the photos taken during the Utsavam:
Courtesy: Tirumala Tirupathi
