Chilkur Balaji priests perform Varuna Japam at Gandipet lake

Priests and Vedic scholars from Chilkur Balaji Temple performed a Varuna Japam ritual at Gandipet lake in Hyderabad, praying for abundant monsoon rains to benefit farmers and society.

Hyderabad: Praying for bountiful rains and relief for farmers and the public of Telangana, Vedic pandits and temple priests from Chilkur Balaji temple performed a special Varuna Japam on the banks of the Gandipet lake on Tuesday.

The traditional vedic rain-invoking ritual of Varuna Japam started at around 8 am and continued till 11 am Tuesday at Osmansagar (Gandipet) lake.

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Vedic pandits and temple priests from Chilkur Balaji temple stood in waist-deep water while performing the prayers.

The ritwiks (priests) led by Dr V Srirama Ghanapati of Vedabhavanam continuously recited the Varuna Japam from the Taittiriya Samhita of the Vedas, typically chanting the prayers 108 times to appease Chilkur Balaji to ordain Varuna (the Hindu God of water and oceans) and Lord Indra.

The purpose of the Varuna Japam, which includes mass prayer, is conducted for the welfare of society, specifically to bring copious monsoon rains, save withering crops, and fill up drying rivers and reservoirs across the state, Chilkur Balaji temple priests on Tuesday said