Goddess Sri Padmavathi Devi, in the guise of Panduranga Swamy, took a celestial ride on the dazzling ‘Surya Prabha Vahanam’ on the seventh day of the ongoing annual ‘Karthika Brahmotsavams’ at Tiruchanur, here on Tuesday.
With conch on one side of the celestial vehicle and marbles tied to the other, Goddess charmed the devotees as Panduranga Swamy, playing the folk game of ‘gillankodi’ where marbles are hit with a stick.
The Goddess, in all Her splendour, rode the vahanam decorated with bright red Vrukshi flowers (Ixora) and blessed the devotees.
Among the ‘vahanam’ processions, the ‘Surya Prabha Vahanam’ holds a special place as the Sun God (carrier of the ‘vahanam’) controls the affairs of the entire universe and represents the three Vedas — Rig, Yajur and Sama — giving him the name of Trayimaya, the form of Lord Narayana.
He is also called Surya Narayana.
Later, temple priests accorded the auspicious ‘Snapana Tirumanjanam’ (Celestial Bath) to the processional deity of Goddess Sri Padmavathi Devi, at Sri Krishna Mukha Mandapam inside the temple premises. After the Unjal Seva, in the evening, Goddess Padmavathi was taken in a procession on ‘Chandra Prabha Vahanam’, where the moon becomes the celestial carrier.
