The month of Puratasi (September 15 – October 15) is very sacred in the Tamil speaking parts of the country. The people worship Lord Vishnu as Venkatachalapathy during this period. Devotees avoid onion and garlic during this month and the ones consuming alcohol and non-vegetarian items stay away from them. Saturdays are even more sacred.

Shani amongst the nine planets had sought a boon from Lord Venkatachalapathy. According to this boon, bhagavata-s offering prayers to Lord Venkatachalapathy on Saturdays would be blessed with the week’s merit of offering prayers. In return, the navagraha Shani was not supposed to torment them within his premises. Even today, the devotees of Lord Vishnu visit him on a Saturday.

One cannot usually find a navagraha shrine in the temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. But they host a shrine of Lord Shani. The Venkatesa Perumal Temple at Mondipalayam near Coimbatore is one of the places that has been endowed with a shrine for Lord Shani. It is generally accepted that the devotees praying to Lord Venkataramana on Puratasi Saturdays would be blessed with wealth and salvation.

Devotees prefer to visit Lord Venkataramana in Thirumala Tirupathi on this day, however the ones unable to visit him can pray to him from their residence. Now, let us look into the story connected with the potter Bheema. This potter was deeply attached to Lord Venkataramana. Just before Bheema woke up on a Saturday morning the lord appeared in his dream. Thereafter, Bheema created the image that was seen by him in his dream.

Bheema would offer his prayers along with flowers to this clay image of Lord Venkataramana. He would be deeply engrossed and at times he would inadvertently make clay flowers and offer it to the Lord. The benevolent ruler Thondaimaan had offered flowers made of gold to Lord Venkataramana. One day Thondaimaan noticed that clay flowers were found amidst the gold flowers, and he presumed that something was wrong. Lord Venkataramana sought to clarify the doubt of Thondaimaan.

Lord Venkataramana appeared in the dream of the king and narrated the story of Bheema the potter. He suggested that Thondaimaan visited Bheema and observed his prayers. The king visited Bheema’s hut and hid himself at a safe distance to observe the floral offerings of Bheema. He was deeply impressed, and he ran towards Bheema and hugged him. Thondaimaan told Bheema that his was the best form of devotion.

Bheema had already been blessed with the promise that he would attain salvation on the day when a third person acknowledges his devotion to Lord Venkataramana. The potter Bheema attained Moksha on that day and this event is being celebrated by the observance of prayers on Puratasi Saturday. Lord Venkatanatha had ordered that clay pots containing curd rice would only be accepted by Him in his sanctum thereafter. The devotion of Bheema was thus recognized by Lord Venkateshwara.

Devotees who wish to gather themselves to Tirupathi begin their commitment by performing a pooja on a Puratasi Saturday. They would place a hundi in front of the Lord and submit a sum of money or a gold coin as part of the preparations.

(Click here to access the Puratasi Sanikizhamai Pooja)

Mr. Rajesh Govindarajulu is one of the founding members of the Verandah Club Pvt. Ltd. He is a leading columnist, historian, jeweler, entrepreneur, and a heritage enthusiast who is earnestly working to revive the past in the light of the present. Experiential learning about the history of Coimbatore is his main course of interest and he is also a panel member of many colleges in the city.