#006 GOD HUNTS!

TTD (TIRUMALA TIRUPATI DEVASTHANAMS)
is the most popular and the most prosperous temple in Hinduism. Every year it celebrates a nine-day festival called BRAHMOTSAVAM (Festival by Creator).
Utsavam = festival; Brahma = Creator, a four-headed God.

The deity at TTD is Shri Venkateswara, also called Balaji, Srinivasa. The Creator is the son of God Vishn`u (Shri Venkateswara is a form of Vishnu). The Creator celebrates the "Festival by Creator" in reverance to his father, the Supreme Spirit (Vishnu).


VENKATESWARA HUNTS!

On the nineth day of the Celebration, the processional deity (called Utsava Murty - Malayappa Swami) is taken in a procession to hunting. This is called "Paaru Veta (pr: Paaru Veet`a)" , a hunting expedition to the forest.

The Priests lead the procession, one priest carrying a spear. Horns and drums are also used to create sounds.

INTERPRETATION, DEDUCTIONS

The evolution of this deity might have taken place when the devotees were hunters. It is also a practice for kings to go on hunting rounds occasionally. The king ruling the area might have introduced the hunting expedition in the God's agenda. Normally, man attributes whatever he does to the God also.

A God is said to be compassionate. Being Creator, he must be equal to father/mother of all the creatures in the Universe. Then how can he hunt his own children?

The priests and the temple administration blindly follow the rituals without application of any reason, in the name of "aagamas" (traditional texts which prescribe the manner of worshipping rituals in temples).