On the occasion of Pitru Amavasya, a special ritual called Tila Tarpanam and Mahalaya Amavasya Gayatri Homa was performed at the Sri Gnana Saraswati Temple near Kollapur Junction in Nagar Kurnool district. The event took place on Wednesday and was organized by the Sahasra Gayatri Mahayagna Samithi. Special prayers and a Sahasra Gayatri Yagna were conducted for Dodla Lakshma Reddy, Srujana, Kamatham Bhupal Reddy, and Bhargavi, accompanied by Vedic recitations.
The rituals were performed with prayers for peace and prosperity for all people. The event included the chanting of Shanti Mantras, Ishwara Stuti, Gayatri Mantras, and special homa mantras for the Pitru Deities during Amavasya Tithi. The organizers explained that performing this homa is believed to bring greater benefits than the traditional Pinda Pradhanam (offering rice balls). They said that the offerings made during the yagna reach ancestors in a subtle form and bring blessings to the devotees.
A special homa gundam (sacred fire pit) was set up for the ceremony. Participants individually offered food items to their ancestors. After the rituals, a communal meal was served to everyone as part of the temple’s Annadanam (daily food donation). Several people were present at the event, including Bala Ashram caretaker Dodla Narayan Reddy, temple general secretary Elime Eshwarayya, and committee members Mididoddi Shiva Shankar, Dodla Eshwar Reddy, Sonnaati Rammohan, Vijay Kumar, Thalla Yadagiri, Shyam, as well as the students of the Gnana Saraswati Bala Ashram and many devotees.
