Sri Chennakesavaswamy Rathothasavam is a religious festival celebrated in the Sri Chennakesavaswamy temple which is situated in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The Rathothasavam is observed for eleven days from Phalguna Suddha Ashtami to Bahula Tadiya (February March) at Yaditi near Anantapur. During the course of this celebration, a number of rituals are observed on the various days of the Rathothasavam.
Chennakesavaswamy temple
The Chennakesavaswamy temple in the town is a big one with an eighteen metre-high Gopuram. The 1.2 into 0.6 metre image of the deity is in the human form. It can be seen wearing a crown decorated with jewels and adorned in beautiful clothes. It is believed that the temple was constructed by a Palegar during the reign of the Vijayanagara Kings. In the compound of the temple, there can be seen the images of Anjaneyaswamy, Laxmi Devi, Nagulu, Alwars and Aswathanarayanaswamy, i.e., the Neem tree and the Ravi Tree side by side with a raised platform constructed around them in a square or rectangular form. This is considered as Sacred by the followers of Hinduism and generally, Nagas or Cobras are installed around the trees and worshipped. In addition to the main temple, there are three additional temples of Eswara, one temple each of Lord Rama, Pandurabgaswamy, Chowdarama and of Malleswari.
Rituals observed during Sri Chennakesavaswamy Rathothasavam
On the first day of the festival, the Ankurapanam is observed. On the second day, Dhwajarohanothsavam is observed in the morning and the Pushpaka Vimanotsavam at night. Simhavahanam is held on the third night, Ananthaseshavahanothsavam on the f ourth night, Hanumanothsavam on the fifth night, Garudothsavam on the sixth night, Gajendra Uthsavam on the morning of the seventh day, Kalyanothsavam on the morning of the eighth day, Paruveta and Aswavahanothsavam on the night of the ninth. On the morning of the tenth, the Vasanothsavam, Teerthavali, Avabhruthasnanam and Hamsothsavam is celebrated in the night. The festival concludes with Grama Seshothsavam in the morning and Ekanthothsavam on the night of the eleventh day.
Thus given above is a brief glimpse into the various aspects and rituals of the Sri Chennakesavaswamy Rathothasavam of Andhra Pradesh.
