TTD to allow aksharabhyasam

In an initiative for promoting spiritual traditions, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has announced a new programme that will allow devotees to perform Aksharabhyasam for children at the historic Vakula Matha Temple near Tirupati. The initiative, titled “Akshara Govindam,” is expected to provide a spiritually significant platform for parents wishing to begin their children’s education with divine blessings.

The programme draws inspiration from the widely known tradition at the Gnana Saraswati Temple, where thousands of families perform Aksharabhyasam for their children each year. With the introduction of “Akshara Govindam,” devotees visiting Tirupati will now have a similar opportunity to initiate their children into education under the blessings of Vakula Matha, revered in Hindu tradition as the mother of Lord Venkateswara.

The initiative has been developed by the Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad and under the programme, parents can perform Aksharabhyasam for children between three and five years of age in a ceremonial setting designed according to traditional Hindu rituals.

Since the main Vakula Matha temple is situated on a small hill, TTD officials have chosen a more accessible location near the temple’s pushkarini on the eastern side to conduct the programme.

A dedicated permanent mandapam will be constructed at the site to facilitate the rituals comfortably for families, including children and elderly devotees. During the ritual, priests will guide children through the traditional process of writing their first letters, symbolising the beginning of their educational journey.

After completing the ceremony, each child will receive a specially designed “Akshara Govindam kit” containing seven items associated with learning and blessings. The kit will include a writing slate, chalk box, akshintalu from Lord Venkateswara, kumkum from Goddess Padmavathi, a picture of Lord Venkateswara along with Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswati, sacred wrist threads and a prasadam packet containing rock sugar.

Initially, the programme will be launched as a pilot project with 300 kits. TTD authorities are currently deliberating whether the kits should be provided free of cost or at a nominal charge. The programme is expected to be implemented under the supervision of either the Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad or the Sri Venkateswara Vidyadan Trust.