The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) formally began its new accounting year on Sunday by conducting the annual ‘Anivara Asthanam’ ceremony in Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala on Sunday.
‘Anivara Asthanam’ is one of the major religious events conducted with splendour at Tirumala, as it is the last date of Tamil month of ‘Ani,’ thus marking the turning of a new accounting year. A mention of this festival as annual accounting festival is found in an inscription (No.617 T.T) on the stone wall of the second Prakara (precincts) of the temple, with the date 9-3-1494. The festival marks the closure of the previous year’s bookkeeping and the commencement of new accounts. The temple is re-entrusted to the Jeeyangars and the seals of the office of administration to the executive and administrative heads of the Devasthanams. The festival has an oath-taking ceremony, wherein the Lord’s servants affirm their loyalty and faithfulness to their duty in the holy service of the Lord.
The deities of Lord Malayappa (Venkateswara), His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi and the Lord’s Commander-in-Chief Vishwaksena were seated in front of Garudalwar Sannidhi at Bangaru Vakili point and the temple court (Asthanam) was conducted. The Tirumala Pedda Jeeyangar (senior pontiff) presented a set of new silk Vastrams to Lord Venkateswara.
The set of gifts (Saare), brought from Srirangam temple in Tamil Nadu, was carried by the senior seer (Pedda Jeeyangar) from the Jeeyangar Mutt to the temple, while the Chinna Jeeyangar, TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal and Joint Executive Officer K.S. Sreenivasa Raju were present.