K.A.Viswanathan
Mumbai, :The Mumbai devotees waited patiently for hours to receive the ‘Barat’ of Thirupathi Balaji and his consort from Gokul hall , Sion to the Sri Shanmukhananda hall , Kings Circle ,the marriage venue , Ladies turned up in colourful sarees singing in chorus and dancing all the way to the Sabha, with lazim dance, Crowd chanting "Govinda Govinda" to witness this remarkable spectacle of event.
The world’s most revered Lord of seven hills, Lord Venkateshwara, also called Balaji , a supreme avatar of Maha Vishnu, with his consorts ,Goddesses Sridevi and Bhudevi, were in the City, all the way from the temple town of Tirupati, in Andhra Pradesh, for a one-day divine marriage ceremony. Last occasion the Lord’s marriage was performed in the City the same hall , three years ago.
This time the idol was brought to the city by the Bombay South Kanara Brahmin’s(BSKB) association, Sion to get the blessings of the Lord to start their ambitious Gokul project Vision 2020 for the construction of a big Krishna temple at Sion and expand their Old age home in Nerul.
At Tirupati, the ritual is performed daily. "Not everybody can visit Tirupati. We thought of bringing the idols to Mumbai so that we can pray for peace in the city," said Dr.Suresh Rao, President of the 90 year old BSKB
It is said Lord Maha Vishnu was incarnated as Venkateswara to come and offer salvation in the Kali Yug era for his devotees and wash off their sins.
The Vedic book Pancharatra aagamam system of Vaishnavism prescribes an elaborate procedure for the divine marriage. All the elements of marriage in our systems are taken from what is prescribed for the Lord Himself. All ceremonies generally performed in Hindu marriages, beginning with homas (haven) are depicted in the God’s marriage also, culminating in the Thirumangalya dharanam (tying of Mangalsutra)
Special pujas were performed for the trio and they were decked up in colourful silk dress and garlands amidst chanting of Srinivasa Govinda, Venkatesa Govinda. After exchage of Garlands with the vedic chantings and beating of drums and Nadaswaram the Lord tied Mangalsutra (Thirumangalya dharanam ) to Goddess Sridevi and Bhudevi infront of the packed gathering of devotees.
