Sri Lakshmi Jayanti in Tirupati – Sri GovindarajaSwami Temple
Tremendous importance is attached to this ‘Sri Lakshmi Jayanti’ ritual which is performed in Sri Govindarajaswami temple, Tirupati.
Temples are representatives of our culture and traditions. Festivals are an important part of our culture. They are some special occasions, bringing people together to commemorate rituals. One can experience the heavenly enjoyment and feeling of fulfilment once we have the grand sight of the ritual. When festivals are celebrated in temples, they are extra special as they are believed to bring protection and happiness to people.
Sri Mahalakshmi or Pundareeka Ammavaru temple is located at Sri Govindarajaswami Temple Complex in Tirupati. Sri Lakshmi Jayanti utsavam will be performed to Sri Pundareeka Ammavaru on Uttara phalguni, the birth star of Sri Mahalakshmi celebrated for seven days from 12-03-2022 to 18-03-2022.
Ritual Sequence
Every day in the evening Sri Pundareeka Ammavaru will be decked with resplendent ornaments, flowers and will be taken for unjal seva in front of Her temple. There will be Prabandha Ghosti in the evening and asthanam after Her arrival inside the temple.
On 18.02.2022 (the last day) the star being the Uttara Phalguni, there will be Snapana Thirumanjanam and afterwards asthanam will be conducted. In the evening of this day, once in a year, Lord Govindarajaswamivaru comes to Her place to greet Her on Her birth star day. There will be unjal seva for both of them facing each other at a distance of 10 mts.
The Kalyanam or marriage of Sri Mahalakshmi with the exchange of garlands will be a feast to the eyes of the devotees who throng in large numbers to the temple. Another important and interesting event will be the closing of entrance doors by Mahalakshmi when the Lord is about to be taken into Her temple. He will come at high speed but the doors will be closed. This will be done three times and finally, She allows Him to enter after He expresses ‘Sorry’ for His mistakes.
Afterwards, both Sri Mahalakshmi and Sri Govindaraja Swami will be seated on one throne (Simhasanam) and the ritual ends with Asthanam and the distribution of Prasadams to all those present there. Many Local people come purposely to see the Kalyanam and the ‘Mock show of anger‘ by Sri Pundareeka Ammavaru towards Her husband and they re-union for the sake of ‘their children’ the devotees.
Article by “- Sri T.K. Krishnaswami Thathacharya”
