Jyeṣṭhābhiṣekam 1951: Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh

Jyeṣṭhābhiṣekam (ज्येष्ठाभिषेक), also called Snāna-yātrā, is the ceremonial bath (abhiṣeka) of the deity, observed in the month of Jyeṣṭha, on Jyeṣṭha Pūrṇimā or on the day of Jyeṣṭhā Nakṣatra.

In most temples of North and South India the abhiṣeka is performed early in the morning, around sunrise. In Tamiḻ Nāṭu it is observed in the Tamiḻ month of Āṉi.

Rituals

Tirumala (TTD)

At Tirumala, Jyeṣṭhābhiṣekam is a three-day annual festival for Śrī Malayappa Svāmī with Śrīdevī and Bhūdevī, observed in Jyeṣṭha māsa and concluding on the day of Jyeṣṭhā Nakṣatra. The utsava-mūrtis are taken to the Kalyāṇa Maṇḍapa in Sampangi Prākāra, where homa and Snapana Tirumañjanam are performed with Vedic chanting.

On the first day the annual golden armour is removed, the ceremonial bath is performed, and Malayappa Svāmī is adorned with the Vajra Kavaca (diamond armour). On the second day the deities are adorned with the Muthyāla/Muttangi Kavaca (pearl armour). On the third and concluding day they are again adorned with the Svarṇa Kavaca (golden armour), which remains on the utsava deities until the following year's Jyeṣṭhābhiṣekam. Śata-kalaśa Tirumañjanam, the sacred bath with water from 100 kalaśas following the Mahāśānti Homa, is also recorded as part of the observance.

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Puṣṭimārga (Śrīnāthjī and Puṣṭimārgīya temples)

Jyeṣṭhābhiṣeka is observed as Snāna-yātrā, traditionally on the appropriate Jyeṣṭhā Nakṣatra in Jyeṣṭha Śukla Pūrṇimā season. On the previous night, after Śayana-bhoga, sacred water is brought from the place from which water is ordinarily obtained for Śrī Thākurjī and is ceremonially prepared for the abhiṣeka.

Before sunrise, Śrī Thākurjī is seated for the ceremonial bath wearing a white dhotī and uparanā, with light pearl ornaments and without elaborate head adornment. The abhiṣeka is performed with the prepared sacred water while Vedic mantras, especially the Puruṣa-sūkta, are recited; śaṅkha, ghaṇṭā, mṛdaṅga and kīrtana accompany the celebration.

After the snāna, Śrī Thākurjī is dressed in white summer attire, traditionally with kesar or candana decoration, and adorned principally with pearl and other light ornaments. Special cooling foods and summer offerings are made during the day, including preparations associated with sāthvā, rice, curd, buttermilk, fruits and mangoes.

The utsava is understood in Puṣṭimārga as a rājyābhiṣeka-bhāva: Nanda Bābā arranges for Śrī Kṛṣṇa's ceremonial royal consecration, with Gargācārya performing the abhiṣeka with sacred waters. From this festival onward, Śrī Yamunājī kīrtanas and various jala-manorathas become prominent in the seasonal sevā.

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Śrīraṅgam

Namperumāḷ (Āni Jyeṣṭhābhiṣekam). Kāverī water is brought to the temple in gold and silver pots, traditionally including a principal golden pot. Namperumāḷ's golden kavacam (āṅgi) is removed and cleaned, and the special tirumañjanam is performed with Kāverī water. This observance follows the Āni + Kettai/Jyeṣṭhā Nakṣatra tradition, the Tamil Nadu date shown above.

Śrī Ranganācciyār (Tāyār). Tāyār has a separate Jyeṣṭhābhiṣekam on a different day, by her own temple tradition, with her own golden-pot procession bringing Kāverī water for tirumañjanam.

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