Alappuzha  :

Kashi mutt chief Samyamindra Thirtha led the ‘thapta mudra dharana’, a rare ritual of the Vaishnavite sect of Brahmins, at Sri Venkatachalapathy temple, Old Thirumala, here, on Wednesday. The seer has reached the temple as part of a four-day camp organised by the Gowda Saraswath Brahmin community.

“Special Vedic hymns were chanted as part of the ritual, which is supposed to purify the body and soul of the participants and thus help them lead a pious life. Impressions of sacred symbols like ‘sankha’(sacred conch) and ‘chakra’ (sacred circle) were made on the bodies of devotees using heated ‘pancha loha’(made of 5 metals) mudras,” said a priest of the GSB Sabha.

Besides, ‘sahasradeepalankara seva’ (festival of thousand lights) was also held.  Sri Venkatachalapathy temple is the only place in the state which conducts this ritual. The seer also addressed the youths at a function organised by the Samyuktha Grama Sabha.  Prizes and study materials were distributed to those who have passed various examinations and competitions with flying colours.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / May 26th, 2016