Following the continuous dry weather conditions, Sri Raja Rajeshwara Devasthanam authorities have launched a four-day varuna yagam to appease the rain god on Friday.
During the four-day ritual, the temple priests would be performing puja s round-the-clock. The puja was formally launched early on Friday with the installation of the vrushashrunga maharshi statue at the shrine and the performing of puja s and special homam s.
A total of 60 priests, including main priests Gopannagari Shankaraiah and Umesh Sharma, participated in the special puja s. As part of the ritual, there would be continuous abhishekam s to Lord Shiva at the shrine. On Monday, during the closing of the yagam , the priests would conduct ghatabhishekham , wherein the Shiva lingam would be completed immersed in the waters by closing the doors.
Incidentally, rains lashed the Vemulawada temple town and adjoining villages on Friday evening, bringing much-needed relief from the heat wave conditions.