Tungabhadra Pushkaralu
India is a land of numerous rivers, each of which has significance. Every river that flows through the length and breadth of the country has religious importance. The people of the land worship each river with great pride and reverence and have festivals and auspicious ceremonies dedicated to them. It is a way of glorifying the importance of nature and the blessings endowed on us with the richness of water- one of the elixirs of life.
A river of great prominence in India, the Tungabhadra River begins to flow through the state of Karnataka and continues its course. It continues its path through the border of Karnataka before it turns to run through Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and finally merges with the Krishna river in the Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh. The Tungabhadra river was known as the River Pampa in the epic story of Ramayana.
There are many holy places along the river Tungabhadra. For example, Sringeri Sharda Peetham, established and founded by the guru Shree Adi Shankaracharya is located on the left side banks of the Tungabhadra river. With so many holy places around its banks, it is evident that there is an annual celebration associated with the river.
What is Pushkaralu
Pushkaralu, or Pushkaram, is an Indian festival dedicated to worshipping twelve significant rivers flowing across the length and breadth of India. It is widely known as Pushkaralu in the Telugu dialect and even Pushkaram in other parts of South India. It is known as Pushkar in the North.
Pushkaralu is celebrated at several temples and shrines along the banks of twelve sacred rivers of India. The celebrations take various forms- spiritual discourse, musical performances, cultural events, and ancestral worship. Pushkaralu or Pushkaram celebrations happen every year as an annual event. The festivities take place once in twelve years along each river.
Every river is associated with a zodiac sign as per astrology. The river that will be revered and Pushkaram will take place based on the movement of the river and the position of Jupiter amidst the celestial bodies at a time. Many rivers have the same zodiac sign, but the celebrations will depend on the variations of the region where the river flows.
Twelve significant rivers flow across India- Ganga, Godavari, Narmada, Krishna, Yamuna, Saraswati, Bhima, Kaveri, Tapti, Sindhu, Pranhita, and Tungabhadra. The Pushkaralu festival is celebrated for each of these rivers as per the zodiac sign associated with the river. The Pushkaram or Pushkaralu is a 12-day festival related to that particular river.
Pushkaram is important from the perspective of Hindu mythology, tradition, and astrology. It is believed that all sins committed until now and in the past life will vanish if you take a holy dip in the waters of the Tungabhadra during the time of Pushkaralu. Pushkar was a sage who knew Jala Tattva Sidhi ( the science behind water) and was also the Theerthapalaka ( ruler of the holy water). Pushkar, the sage, is believed to enter each of these rivers once every twelve years and resides there for the first and last twelve days when Jupiter, the planet, stays in the respective zodiac signs.
As Jupiter enters the zodiac sign of any particular river, the first twelve days are said to be the Aadi Pushkaralu. As Jupiter exits the zodiac sign of the river, the last twelve days are called the Antya Pushkaralu.
Some scientific facts are associated with the holy festival called Pushkaralu or Pushakaram. Read on to learn about it:
The sunspot cycle enhances the Earth's magnetic field, which correlates with the Pushkaram time. This magnetic power increases the river's positive energy and improves the water's healing power.
∙The healing power equals the power gained by meditation, Snana (bath), Archana ( puja), Dana (charity), Dhyana (meditation), and Japa (chanting) are to be done to improve the power of the body, mind, and soul.
The magnetic power of the water is highest before sunrise and at noon.
What is Tungabhadra Pushkaralu?
The Tungabhadra Pushkaralu is a festival held for the Tungabhadra river and observed for 12 days. It is celebrated when Jupiter enters the Makara Rasi ( Capricorn). Makara is the zodiac sign associated with the Tungabhadra river.
During this period, there were several penance rituals observed, and each day held a special significance. Each day is dedicated to worshipping a particular Hindu God, donating certain specific items, special poojas to be performed, and chants to be recited.
In Conclusion
Whether you live near the Tungabhadra river or any other part of the country, it is worth embarking on a pilgrimage during the Tungabhadra Pushkaralu to offer penance and purge your sins. redBus helps you plan this trip with its extensive bus network that pies several routes across India. Avail of great deals and discounts to book your APSRTC and other bus tickets by logging on to the redBus website. Alternatively, download their app to book your holy visit!
