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Tirumala’s Centuries-Old Musical Tradition Remains Integral to Worship
Tirumala uses music as part of worship every day.
Temple musicians play traditional instruments during rituals for Lord Venkateswara.
This music is considered a devotional service called kainkaryam.
It can be heard from the early-morning Suprabhatam to the nighttime Ekantaseva.
Different instruments signal events such as processions, offerings and the arrival of temple officials.
Nineteen kinds of instruments are associated with the tradition.
Music is performed more often during festivals such as the Salakatla Brahmotsavams.
Generations of musician families have helped preserve this custom.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams supports it through programmes, recordings, a college and a museum.
Nineteen traditional instruments accompany rituals and services at Tirumala.
Music is treated as kainkaryam, or devotional service, rather than merely as performance.
Traditional music accompanies daily rituals from Suprabhatam in the morning to Ekantaseva at night.
Mela Vadyam is performed around 14 times on normal days and more often during festivals.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams preserves the heritage through recordings, programmes, education and museum collections.
- Who
- Generations of temple musician families, saint-poets and devotional performers have contributed to Tirumala’s musical tradition.
- What
- Traditional music and 19 instruments continue to accompany worship, rituals, offerings and processions.
- Where
- At the Tirumala hill shrine in Tirupati, including during temple rituals and processions.
- When
- The tradition is used throughout the daily ritual schedule, from Suprabhatam to Ekantaseva, with additional performances during festivals.
- Why
- Music is treated as kainkaryam, or devotional service, and is prescribed as part of worship under Agama traditions.
Key facts
- Traditional instruments
- Nineteen traditional instruments are associated with worship at Tirumala.
- Daily performances
- Mela Vadyam is performed around 14 times on normal days.
- Key instruments
- The Dolu, Mukkuveena, Tiruchinnam, Gaurugolu, Sanna Dolu, Sruti and Nadaswaram are among those used.
- Nadaswaram
- It accompanies important rituals, naivedyam and processions and is played twice daily at the offering bell.
- Festival use
- During the Salakatla Brahmotsavams, traditional ensembles accompany vahana sevas and processions.
- Preservation efforts
- The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams supports the tradition through the Sri Venkateswara Recording Project, Nada Neerajanam programmes and the Sri Venkateswara College of Music and Dance.
- Museum collection
- The Sri Venkateswara Museum preserves the Brahma Nagaara, believed to be around 400 years old.
Sources
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