Sri Padmavati Srinivasa Parinayam at Tirumala
Celebrating the wedding of the Aadhi Dampathi (Divine couple) Sri Lakshmi and Lord Narayana is a great event celestial since time immemorial. Indeed in every marriage ceremony of humans, the Divine couple are invoked so that the human marriages have the blessings of the Lord and the Goddess.
The marriage of Lord Srinivasa and Sri Padmavathi took place at ‘Narayanavanam’ amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras by sages and was attended by all the celestial gods including Sri Parvathi, Parameswara, Brahma and others on an auspicious day. Akasa Raja called Brihaspati to fix the date of the marriage after discussing it with all his family members and ministers.
They all gave their consent for the marriage to Lord Srinivasa, the son of Vakuladevi. Since the native star of Sri Padmavati is Margasirsha and Lord Srinivasa is Shravana the marriage was arranged at the conjunction of the two starts. Brihaspathi selected the uttaraphalguni day of the month of Vaisakha and the Lord became an idol along with Goddess Lakshmi as Vyuhalakshmi on His chest approx. after 52 years.
After Marriage
After His marriage with Padmavati, Lord Srinivasa moved towards Tirumala to make it His permanent abode till Kaliyuga ends to bless His devotees. Lord Venkateswara stayed for 6 months at a place on the advice of Agastya Muni. Agastya Muni wanted the newly married couple to stay near his penance grove on the Banks of the Swarnamukhi River.
It was a custom that newly married couples should not climb Hills at least for six months. So, they stayed in this place. The place where Lord Srinivasa and Sri Padmavati stayed now is called ‘Srinivasamangapuram’.
The grand celestial wedding conducted by Akasaraju for his daughter with Lord Srinivasa at Narayanavanam was a feast to the eyes of all those who attended the unforgettable event. The TTD on the request of a Bhakta started celebrating the parinayotsavam of Lord Srinivasa and Sri Padmavathi at Narayanagiri in the year 1992. The great wedding Day of the Divine couple was to get a glimpse of the marriage performed some centuries ago so that we the Bhaktas enjoy and experience it.
Padmavati Srinivasa Parinayam – At Narayanagiri Gardens
This festival called ‘Padmavati Srinivasa Parinayam’ is celebrated from April – May. The Lord’s marriage took place in Narayanavanam and the TTD selected Narayanagiri a befitting place for the event in Tirumala. The Narayanagiri Gardens is the venue of the celestial wedding of Lord Srinivasa and Goddess Padmavati. This three-day Annual festival is performed in the evening under the moonlight in the Parinayotsava Mandapam decorated artistically.
This three-day festival is conducted on Navami, Dasami and Ekadasi in the month of Visakha. Sri Malayappa Swami the processional deity of Lord Venkateswara arrives in the Gaja, Aswa and Garuda vahanams on each day and Sridevi and Bhudevi arrive on separate palanquins.
This Divine re-cap wedding ceremony takes place as per the Hindu orthodox tradition elaborately and interestingly in the beautiful garden with special decorations of the flora. Lord Malayappa Swami occupies the centre stage of the mandapam and His consorts are on the opposite side in a decorated place.
As per the tradition ‘Edurkolu’ receiving each other, Poola Banthulata (game of flower balls), and Vastradharanam (offering new clothes) are conducted.
Padmavati Srinivasa Parinayam – 3 days
The same process will take place on all three days. At the end of this grand divine marriage, there will be a display of crackers. The most important of all the above will be the recitation of four Vedas by Vedic Pandits and the music programme by TTD Annamacharya project. After the above programme, Lord Malayappaswami and His consorts return to the temple as usual. Hence Vaisakha Sudha Dasami is the wedding Day of Lord Srinivasa and Padmavati.
The Kalyanotsavam which was celebrated in that (Brihaspathi’s) time is celebrated every year during April-May on that particular day in addition to the Nitya Kalyanotsavam of the Lord every day in Tirumala. The devotees attend in large numbers the wedding (parinayam / kalyanam) to seek the blessings of the Lord and His consorts.
Sriyah Kaantaaya Kalyaana
Nidhaye Nidhayertinaam
Sri Venkata Nivaasaaya
Srinivaasaaya Mangalam
