Skip to content 
Sita Kalyanam – Ideal Marriage of Sita Rama
Raaghavatve abhavat Seetaa Rukmanee Krishna janmani |
Anyeshu cha avataareshu Vishnoh eshaa anapaayinee ||
When Lord Vishnu takes the ‘avatara’ as Lord Sri Rama, Goddess Lakshmi becomes Sita. When He takes the incarnation as Lord Krishna, She becomes Rukmini. Whatever Lord Vishnu has taken the ‘avataras’, She is inseparably associated with Him always.
(Sri Vishnu Purana, Amsa 1, Chapter 9, Sloka 144)
When Lord Rama lifted the bow with ease, all were astonished and felt that Lord Sri Rama was the only match for the beautiful Sita. It is said that ‘Marriages are made in Heaven.’ The place where Lord Rama and Sita’s marriage was greater than heaven. Marriage is the eternal bond that should make one’s family happy.
‘Sita Kalyanam’ is considered the divine wedding, which is beyond time and location.
The entire universe is happy and benefits from the glance of the ceremony. Sita and Lord Rama were equal in charm, and they both had ‘sattva guna.’They were highly knowledgeable and highly respectable. They had great lineage. Their stars and the dates of their birth were aligned. They had healthy offspring. Both liked and respected each other. Sita had fine ‘Maangalya Bhaagyam.’
Significantly, marriage gives us delight not only for the bride and bridegroom but to their parents. The king Janaka sends the message to the king Dasaratha, and he arrives in Mithila. The rituals belonging to the Ikshvaku bloodline are narrated. The same is done from Janaka’s side. This is one important ritual to be followed nowadays to know about our ancestors and welcome them to get their blessings.
We must follow the same tradition today by inviting the relatives and highly respectable people so that the couple can receive their blessings. A quick decision is made in the court that Lakshmana will marry Urmila, Bharata will marry Mandavi, and Shatrugna will marry Shrutakeerthi. It is an immense delight for all of them.
The Kalyana Mandapam was decorated well. The charity started by donating the cows, gold, food, garments, and land to the people, to the sages and to the Brahmins. Even today, for every good function at home, one should do charity before starting the function. Charity may be restricted according to one’s capacity. Sita and Lord Rama are royal personalities. They can donate valuable items to the guests. On the auspicious occasion of the marriage, the Vedas were recited.
It is a good custom to chant the sacred Vedas to protect ‘sanatana dharma.’ The spiritually sound hymns remove the obstacles in the air and purify the environment. The same is for the Yagna. In every marriage, the ‘varapuja’ is considered the real worship to Lord Rama, the bridegroom as Lord Vishnu and Sita, the bride as Goddess Lakshmi. It is the same who had taken the ‘avatara’ for protecting ‘dharma.’ Sacred threads are being tied to the bridegroom. ‘Gauri Puja’ was performed by the bride.
This is a must even today, which tells that the bridegroom and bride will be protected from evils. The altar of fire is ignited, which is the ‘divine witness’ for the wedding (Sita Kalyanam). Fire is one of the most important ‘Pancha Bhoothas’, which ensures the safety of the marital status. The wedding hall was decorated. All arrangements were beautifully done. The entire area glittered like Vaikuntam.
King Janaka said
‘Iyam Sita mama sutaa sahadharmacarini …’
It is an important sloka in the Valmiki Ramayanam. Janaka says, ‘Sita is my daughter who follows dharma.’ He continued: “Sita is your better half, she can guide you in many situations of your life. She is intelligent, knowledgeable. Lord Rama, please take her happily.’ There are numerous interpretations. These days, people think that a bride is given as ‘dhanam’ which should not be, but in those days, they take it as pride to get their daughter married because she gives them posterity.
She is the person who is responsible for a successful life. Thus, taking the daughter to the next level by giving her more responsibilities will benefit society. The above ceremony is called ‘Paanigrahana Mahotsavam’ – holding the couple’s palms and offering water. Seeing this, everybody was delighted and hailed them as a couple ‘made for each other.’
Vivaha Panchami
Other brothers also did the same, and all performed circumambulation around the holy fire. Drumbeats were roaring, and flowers were showered on the couple in the wedding hall. Everybody was delighted at the divine wedding (Sita Kalyanam). This day is celebrated as ‘Vivaha Panchami’, ‘Panguni Uthram’ in all the temples. Even today, whoever gets the chance to be part of this celebration in the temples is highly blessed.
This divine wedding (Sita Kalyanam) is even more celestial because of Lord Rama and Sita who had come down to show us a righteous way of life. Their sacred union showers blessings on us.
Lord Rama is addressed as Dasaratha Rama, Kausalya Supraja, Kodanda Rama, Janaki Rama, Sita Rama and Kalyana Rama. But Kalyana Rama is considered the holiest because of the auspiciousness and divinity combined when He married Sita. Lord Rama is addressed as an ideal man because of His union with Sita. This is to show how the union of husband and wife should be.
The married life of Lord Rama and Sita shows us the eternal bonding they have: how much they lived for each other, how much they respected each other, how much they strived for uplifting the ‘dharma’, and how much they followed the path of righteousness. It is shown that their bonding never gets diluted even during the separation. Each part of their life is a true education for us even today.
Final Word
By participating in Sita Kalyanam, the boys and girls who are to be married will get a good companion of their choice and will enjoy the marital status. Those already married will get good progeny. The couple will live long, having a happy understanding in life. It is not only for worldly pleasures, but also for spiritual enlightenment. The marriage of Lord Rama and Sita is for the welfare of the world.
May Lord Rama and Goddess Sita bless us all!
Celebration in Srirangam Temple
The temple of Lord Ranganathaswamy in Srirangam has a unique celebration each year. On this day called ‘Panguni Uthram’, where Sri Ranganayaki Thayaar and Sri Ranganathaswamy alight on the same altar (Serthi Utsavam). This happens only once a year. Seeing this, Sri Ramanujacharya performed Saranagathi by reciting the Gadyams.
It is clearly shown that when the Lord is united with the Goddess, one will get the boons easily as She is the symbol of compassion, as mentioned by Swamy Vedanta Desika in Daya Satakam, which makes the Lord forgive our sins and uplift us from the ocean of sorrow.
On the day of Sri Rama Navami, Sri Ranganathaswamy marries Chera Kula Valli, who is the daughter of Kulasekhara Alwar which is also called ‘Serthi Sevai.’ She is also believed to be an incarnation of Neela Devi. As Sri Kulasekhara Alwar was devoted to Lord Ram, Sri Ranganatha Perumal marries his daughter on the day of Sri Rama Navami.
“Eri Katha Ramar Temple” in Maduranthakam near Chennai, has a unique idol of Lord Rama holding the hand of Sita in Kalyana Kolam. Hence, it is very auspicious.
