Do You Know Why Offerings Are Made in Clay Pots to Tirupati Ezhumalaiyan? Let’s Find Out…

Saturday is considered a special day for Lord Vishnu, and the Saturdays in the Tamil month of Purattasi are even more significant. Observing fasts and worshipping Lord Venkatajalapathy during these Saturdays brings numerous benefits.

There is a story connected to the offering of clay pot prasadam to Lord Venkateswara. It starts with the sage Narada Maharishi, who, after receiving blessings from Lord Venkateswara in Tirupati, guided a poor potter to experience the same blessings.

The potter, named Bhima, lived at the foothills of Tirumala. He had a physical disability but made a living by crafting and selling clay pots. Every day, he would make flowers out of clay and use them to worship Lord Venkateswara.

One day, Narada Maharishi appeared in Bhima’s dream and instructed him on how to observe fast and worship Lord Venkateswara during Purattasi Saturdays. Since Bhima could not physically climb the Tirumala Hills, he decided to perform the rituals in his own humble abode. He crafted an idol of Lord Venkatajalapathy out of clay, and with clay flowers, he started offering his worship on every Purattasi Saturday while strictly observing the fast.

At the same time, the king of the land, Tondaman Chakravarthy, was offering golden flowers to worship Lord Srinivasa. However, one day, when he offered the golden flowers, they turned into clay flowers. Shocked and distressed, the king began to worry.

That night, Lord Venkateswara appeared in the king’s dream and revealed the reason for this. The Lord said, “O King! Nearby, there is a potter named Bhima who, with utmost devotion, worships me with clay flowers every day. Therefore, the golden flowers you offer turn into clay flowers.” The Lord then disappeared from the king’s dream.

The following day, King Tondaman set out to verify the truth and arrived at Bhima’s hut. There, he saw the potter deeply engrossed in worship, offering clay flowers to a clay idol of Lord Venkatajalapathy. Moved by Bhima’s devotion, the king offered his support to the potter.

After some time, Bhima attained moksha (liberation) due to his devotion and strict observance of the Purattasi Saturday fasts. Tondaman then instructed the temple priests that from then on, all offerings to Lord Srinivasa should be prepared in clay pots.

This tradition, which started centuries ago, continues in the temple even today.

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