Goda Parinayotsavam
Sri Venkateswara Swamy, the presiding deity of Tirumala is adorned with the garlands brought from Sri Govindaraja swami temple in Tirupati on Kanuma day every year. These garlands are the presentations of Sri Godadevi (Andal) as part of a festival called ‘Sri Goda Parinayotsavam’.
The holy garlands are first brought to Pedda Jeeyar Mutt at Tirumala and later they are brought to Srivari temple with Mangala Vaidyams in a holy procession. Later these garlands were adorned with the main deity.
In commemoration of this historical event, there was a tradition of sending silk cloth (Pattu Vastram) and flower garlands from Srivilliputhur to Tirumala in return for which Tirumala temple sent silk saree and prasadams to Srivilliputhur. History accounts say that this practice was in vogue for a few centuries and subsequently set aside for reasons unknown.
But a closer observation of Tirumala Brahmotsavam affirms to us that this said tradition is still in vogue as on the fifth day i.e. on Garuda Seva day, Lord Srinivasa receives the flower garlands along with a beautiful flower parrot as a messenger of Her significant lore from Srivilliputhur.
He decorates Himself with these garlands before mounting Garuda Vahanam. Likewise, the intimate association between Godadevi and Srinivasa is as flourishing and overwhelming as it was during the times of Goda’s physical appearance on this earth.
The Goda Parinayotsavam is performed grandeurly every year as part of Sankranti, Kanuma festivals. The garlands adorned to Sri Goda Devi of Sri Govindaraja Swami temple were brought to Tirumala by Archakas with utmost Devotion. Then garlands were brought from Pedda Jeeyar Mutt amidst the chanting of Vedas by Veda pandits and decorated the garlands to the Mulamurti in the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Goda devi is worshipped as the incarnation of Bhudevi, the Consort of Lord Narayana and lauded as the one who propitiated God Ranganatha of Srirangam. Goda has been credited with the authorship of “Tiruppavai.”
The mere recitation of Tiruppavai can bestow the readers with the divine grace of God Ranganatha, so say the devotees who recite the beautiful ‘pasurams ’ during Dhanurmasam.
