Sakshatkara Vaibhavotsava Utsavam at Srinivasa Mangapuram Temple
The T.T.D. performs Various utsavas every year on different occasions to Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami in Srinivasamangapuram. One among them is the annual ‘Sakshatkara Vaibhavotsava utsavam’. This utsavam is conducted for three days in Ashadamasam.
Legend
There is an interesting Sthala Purana behind the celebrations of the Annual Sakshatkara Vaibhavotsavam. Sri Venkateswara Swamy married the daughter of Akasaraja, Sri Padmavathi Devi in Narayanavanam and started the journey towards his residence at Tirumala.
On the way, he reached the Agastya Maharshi Ashram on the banks of the Swarnamukhi River and received his hospitality. In those days, there was a rule that the newly wedded couple should not climb the hill for six months.
Hence, Sri Venkateswara Swamy and His consort Sri Padmavathi Devi lived for Six months in Maharshi’s Ashram. After six months, he started his journey to Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy gracefully granted Agastya Maharshi’s wish to remain as Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy there. The place is present Srinivasa Mangapuram.
Evident from the Inscription
Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy is receiving the puja of devotees from the ancient days, the temple of Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy reached its state of dilapidation. As such, the grandson of Sri Tallapaka Annamacharya, Chinna Tirumalacharya (Chinnanna) renovated the temple and performed puja to Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy.
This fact is evident from the Inscription dated March 22nd, 1510 at the entrance of the temple. Later, the temple retained its glory for many years till it was lost in the 20th Century. In 1940, an Archaka by name Sri Sundara Raja Swamy of Kanchi came to Srinivasamangapuram.
Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy appeared in the dream to Sundara Raja Swamy and ordered him to see that the temple area be cleaned and the pujas to be continued. As such Sundara Raja Swamy took the help of the local people to clean the bushes in the temple premises and started regular pujas.
Sundara Rajaswamy conducted the puja of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy on July 11th, 1940. That day was Ashada Sukla paksha Shashti. That day was the day on which the great deity showed his blessings through His holy appearance before the devotees. Taking this as an auspicious occasion, The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams started celebrating the “Sakshatkara Vaibhavotsavams” every year.
Sakshatkaram
The holy appearance of the deity before the devotees is called Sakshatkaram or Darshan. Taking this occasion of the deity’s holy appearance, the Festival is celebrated and hence, it is called Sakshatkara Vaibhavotsavam. This festival is celebrated for three days i.e. previous day and the following day including the day on which His holiness appeared i.e., Ashada sudda shasti.
It is said that Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swami appeared in the dream to an ‘Archaka’ and ordered him to see that the temple area be cleaned and pujas be continued in a great way without any interruption. As such, the archaka proceeded with the work and started pujas.
Three-Day Ritual
On the First day of these celebrations, the processional deity of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy with His consorts are taken out in a procession from the temple to the Kalyana Mandapa.
Tirumanjanam (Celestial Bath) is conducted between 10.00 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. In the evening Unjal Seva will be performed. At night, the processional deity of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy along with His consorts is taken out in a procession on Golden Tiruchi around four Mada streets.
Similarly, on the second day, Hanumantha Vahana Seva is celebrated.
On the Third day night, the Garuda Vahana Seva is performed. Taking into consideration, the holy day on which the Lord made his appearance before the devotees, the three-day festival of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy is celebrated with the worshipping of the devotees and in return the Lord blesses them.
Final Word
In these Sakshatkara Vaibhavotsavams, the Darshan of the Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy results in endless blessings for the Devotees. Let us all participate in this occasion and be blessed.
