Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!
Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!
Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!
SRINIVASA KALYANAM
! Kalyanadbhutha Gatraya Kamithartha Pradayine!
Sri MadhVenkatanathaya Srinivasayathe Namaha!
As per the Hindu Lunar calendar Vaisakha Masam (April-May) is known for many
festivals starting from Akshaya Thrutheeya, Parashurama Jayanthi, followed by
Nrusimha Jayanthi, Kurma Jayanthi, Maha Vaisakhi (Baisakhi), Buddha Jayanthi
(Buddha Pournima), Hanuma Jayanthi, and Sanaischara Jayanthi. But one such very
sacred and celestial event that does not appear in the calendar is Vaisakha Suddha
Dasami the day on which the divine marriage of Lord Srinivasa (Venkateswara) took
place with Goddess Padmavathi. For making this event happen Lord Sri Maha Vishnu
is said to have come down to the earth from his abode Vaikunta after having a quarrel
with his consort Goddess Lakshmi. He took the form of Srinivasa and settled down at
Aananda Nilaya on the top of Tirumala Hills called Venkatadri after marrying Goddess
Padmavathi.
Perhaps it will be a wonder if one hasn’t heard/known the name of Lord Venkateswara
(Balaji)of Tirumala who is also called as Srinivasa. He is none other than Lord
SriManNarayana (Maha Vishnu), the Kaliyuga Dhaivam, Kaliyuga Avathara, the house
hold deity, whose story and reference called Venkatachala Mahatyam isfound in as
many as 12 puranas. There are several stories about the Lord at Tirumala Hills who is
said to be in existence since time immemorial. He is Archaavathara, Swayam Vyaktha
(self manifested), and will be present in Aananda Nilaya (the present abode of Lord) till
the end of Kaliyuga protecting Dharma and humanity from the evils of Kaliyuga. It is
believed that He will be present on Earth in every Kaliyuga.
Tirumala the abode of Lord Venkateswara is also called as Kaliyuga BhuVaikuntam.
Srinivasa is one of the names of Lord Maha Vishnu in whose chest Goddess Lakshmi
always resides.
Preamble
At the end of Dwapara Yuga when the sages were performing sacred rituals, sage
Narada comes there asks them to whom they are offering its fruits for which the sages
had no answer. On the advice of sage Narada all the sages requested sage Bhrigu to go
round the Universe to find out the fittest God who is possessed with sattvik qualities for
offeringthe fruits of sacred rituals. In the process, sage Bhrigu visits Brahma Loka and
Kailasa and finds that they are not competent for receiving the offering since they have
Rajo and Tamo qualities. Finally he visits Vaikunta the abode of Lord Maha Vishnu
who was with his consort Goddess Lakshmi and who did not notice the sage’s visit. In
his fit of anger sage Bhrigu kicked with his leg on the chest of Lord Vishnu. Being
sattvik in nature Lord Vishnu did not get angry or offended with this incident, instead
pleaded guilty with the sage for having not noticed the sage’s visit. Pleased with the
gesture of Lord Vishnu sage Bhrigu declared him as the Supreme God and the fittest
person to receive the fruits of sacred rituals.
In this process Goddess Lakshmi who is said to be resident of Lord Vishnu’s chest also
deemed to have received the kick. She became very angry and furious with Lord
Vishnu for his gesture towards the sage and after a brief quarrel she left Vaikunta and
reached Kariveerapuram (Present Kolhapur) and started doing penance. Very much
upset with the incident and unable to bear the detachment, Lord Vishnu started
vigorous search for Goddess Lakshmi and in the process camedown to the Earth.
During the course of His search for Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu reached Tirumala
Hills and started living there in the name of Srinivasa under the care and nursing of
Vakuladevi. On one of his outing He happened to see the princess of that place
Padmavathi and fell in love with her and wanted to marry her.
Who is Goddess Padmavathi?
Goddess Padmavathi was the daughter (foster) of Aakasarajaand Dharani Devi. The
Royal Couple had no children and Padmavathi was found on a Lotus flower while
ploughing the sacrificial ground. Since she was found among the Lotus (Padma) petals
she was named as Padmavathi. Aakasa Raja was the ruler of a Kingdom with
Narayanapuram (present Narayanavanam) as its capital. He belongs to the Lunar
Dynasty (Chandra Vamsam) and his younger brother was Thondamanu Chakravarthi
who went on to become a great devotee of Lord Venkateswara.
In her previous birth in Treta Yuga, Padmavathi was none other than Vedavathi
(daughter of sage Kusadhwaja) who had a strong desire to marry Lord Vishnu and also
did a lot of penance to marry him. But before her desire could get fulfilled she had to
go in to the custody of Ravanasura in lieu of Goddess Seetha Devi as per the Divine
trick played on Ravanasura. As a gratitude for Vedavathi’s help Lord Sri Rama was
requested to marry her so also to fulfill Vedavathi’s desire to marry Lord Vishnu. Since
Lord Sri Rama (Lord Vishnu) was committed to only single wife during his life time
refused the proposal. He, however, promised to fulfill the desire in Kaliyuga in his
avathara as Srinivasa when Vedavathi would take birth as Padmavathi. This is said to
be one of the purposes of his incarnation in Kaliyuga for the fulfillment of the promise
he made to marry Vedavathi. Incidentally Padmavathi also fell in love with Srinivasa
and the divine marriage took place after initial hiccups which got resolved by the
intervention of the Lord (Srinivasa) himself and through the negotiations by
Vakuladevi.
There is also another legend from Padma Purana that refers to the origin of Goddess
Padmavathi. She is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi who got
manifested from the sacrificial pond called Padmasarovaram (lake of lotus flowers) as a
result of rigorous penance performed by Lord Srinivasa (Vishnu) for a period of 12
years for attaining Goddess Lakshmi. It is said that Goddess Lakshmi came out of
Padmasarovaram on Friday the fifth day of Lunar month Kartheeka (Kartheeka sukla
Panchami) in the star constellation of Uttarashada, and got united with Lord Srinivasa
(Vishnu).
To commemorate this event, even today special annual celebrations (Brahmostavam)
are held at Tiruchanoor every year around this time. One can see this Padmasarovaram
even today at Tiruchanoor (about 5 km from Tirupathi) where Goddess Lakshmi is
worshipped as Padmavathi who is also called as Alamelumanga. Pilgrims who visit
Tirumala will compulsorily visit Tiruchanoor and have the darshan of Goddess
Padmavathi. Though there are several stories behind the origin of Goddess
Padmavathi, she is recognized as the consort of Lord Venkateswara (Srinivasa) and is
being worshipped along with him.
Debt of Lord Srinivasa (Venkateswara)
The marriage of Goddess Padmavathi and Lord Srinivasa took place in a grand manner
in the presence of all the deities, sages, Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva. At the time of
marriage it is said and believed that the Lord Srinivasa was not having money with him
for his marriage expenses. Symbolically this indicates due to the detachment of Sri
(Goddess Lakshmi) from Srinivasa (Vishnu). In order to meet the expenses the Lord
had to incur a debt taken from the divine cashier Kuberaand executed a promissory
note in his own hand as per the Kali Yuga Dharma. It is said that the amount
borrowed was to the tune of 14, 00,000 Nishkamas having the symbol of Lord Sri Rama
repayable with interest at the end of Kali Yuga. The witnesses for the debt were Lord
Brahma, Lord Shiva and sacred Tree Aswattha. It is said that the script regarding this is
available in Bhavishyotthara Purana (11thchapter).
The divine marriage called as Padmavathi Srinivasa Kalyanam is said to have taken
place on Friday, the 10th day (Dasami) of Lunar month Vaisakha Masam (Vaisakha
Suddha Dasami) in the lunar calendar year Sri Vilambi in this Kaliyuga. The marriage
is said to have been performed in the night. The event is said to have happened in a
place called Narayanapuram (presently called as Narayanavanam) about 33km from
Tirupathi on the way to Chennai near Puttur.
After the marriage, Lord Srinivasa and Goddess Padmavathi could not go to Tirumala
immediately (according to the belief that the new couple should not climb a hill for a
period of six months soon after the marriage) but stayed in an Ashram near Agasthya
Ashram for a period of six months as per the advice of the Sage. The place where the
Lord stayed with his consort Goddess Padmavathi is now called as Srinivasa
Mangapuram which is about 15 km from Tirupathi. There is a temple of Lord
Venkateswara at this place and the idol of the Lordis a replica of the one at Tirumala.
Here also the Lord is called as Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy.
In memory of the divine marriage, Aakasa Raja constructed at Narayanavanam two
separate temples in the same complex for Goddess Padmavathi and Lord Srinivasa and
installed their idols. To evidence the marriage of Padmavathi the grinding stone which
was used at the time of marriage is still present in front of Padmavathi Temple. The
Lord Srinivasa here is called as Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy and gives darshan in his
full attire of a bride groom.
Who is Vakula Devi?
Vakula Devi the care taker under whose nursing and care Lord Srinivasa was residing
before his marriage was none other than Yashoda Mata (foster mother of Lord Sri
Krishna). It is said that Yashoda Mata had no opportunity to perform or witness a
single marriage of Lord Sri Krishna which she desired to. In order to fulfill her desire
Lord Sri Krishna is said to have given her a boon that in his Kaliyuga Avathara as
Srinivasa, his marriage would be performed in the hands of Yashoda (Vakuladevi).
Accordingly she (Vakuladevi) only negotiated for the marriage of Srinivasa and
Padmavathi which was performed in her presence.
To commemorate the event of Padmavathi Srinivasa Kalyanam a three day festival is
celebrated every year at Tirumala under the auspices of TTD coinciding with Vaisakha
Suddha Dasami.
On this auspicious occasion it will be sacred and celestial if one perform or participates
in the Kalyanostavam of the Lord Venkateswara Swamy and also read the episode of
Srinivasa Kalyanam. It is said that where Venkatesa Mahatyam is read/heard, there,
one will have good longevity, good health and good prosperity and finally that will
lead to salvation.
Venkatadri Samam Sthanam Brahmande Nasthi Kinchana
Venkatesa Samo Devo NaBhootho NaBhavishyathi
In this Universe there is no sacred place equivalent to Venkatadri (Tirumala) and there
is no God equivalent to Lord Venkateswara neither in the past nor in the future going to
be. In this Kaliyuga Lord Venkateswara (Srinivasa) is known as the Pratyaksha
Dhaivam (Kalau Venkata Nayaka) who is the God to be worshipped and who is theremedy for all.
! Sri Srinivasa Para Brahmane Namaha!
SREENATH
sreenath as a stylish n crazy boy