‘Rahu-Kethu pooja' has international followers

TIRUPATI: That westerners and Europeans are also of late getting to evince keen interest in the Indian occult system, especially Vedic astrology and the impact of the nine planets of the cosmic system on the human life and so on was demonstrated when a batch of about 20 devotees from abroad performed the hour-long ‘Rahu-Kethu pooja', a ritual in the famous Siva temple of Srikalahasti on Monday.

The shrine has shot into fame of late for this special ritual, with devotees thronging the temple from all over India, as it is widely believed that by propitiating the two evil serpent-headed planets their malefic effects on the performer could be neutralised and their blessings received for their lasting peace and prosperity.

As for the 20-member contingent from abroad which participated in the ritual, they were said to have come on their own, purchased the prescribed Rs.250 tickets each from across the counter like anybody else and sat down in the granite mandapam along with other devotees to perform the elaborate ‘pooja' (ritual). They showered flowers, bilva leaves, vermillion and turmeric powder on the small icons of the two snake-shaped planets placed before them, as the priests chanted hymns from the scriptures.

After the ‘pooja', they offered prayers to Lord Siva and Goddess Gnana Prasoonambika—the main deities. As they went round the inner precincts of the temple, they were said to have been deeply impressed with the architectural beauty of the ancient temple. Their attempts to take photographs of the intricate carvings on the granite structures inside the temple were subtly curbed, as photography inside the temple is prohibited, as a rule to maintain the sanctity of the shrine.

As the team of foreigners came on their own, performed the ‘pooja' and left, temple sources are not able to confirm which country they were all from. While some said they were Americans, others who over-heard their conversation with someone in the crowd insist that they were New Zealanders.