Kalyanotsavam
Srivari Kalyanotsavam is performed to the utsava murti - Lord Sri Malayappa swami (instead of the main deity) and
his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi. A purohit conducts the marriage and an archaka is consecrated to perform other
rituals on behalf of the bridegroom. The wedding ceremony is held according to Vaikhanasa Agama rituals and starts
with the Panchamurthi Puja. This is followed by recitation of Vedic mantras and pronouncing the family pedigree of
the brides and bridegroom. The idols of the Lord and his brides face each other with a thera (screen) in between
them. After the priests perform appropriate homas, the bridegroom and the brides are allowed to see each other at the
appropriate auspicious moment as the screen is removed. This is followed by Mangala sutra dharana, Thalambralu
and then Lord and his consorts are garlanded.
This seva is not performed on important festivals like Srivari Brahmotsavam. Pavitrotsavam, Pushpayagam etc. and
on the days of solar and lunar eclipses. The duration of the seva is about one hour. Previously each ticket entitled two
people; nowadays each ticket entitles only one person to attend this arjita seva and they are given one silver Pendant
(2 grams), one big laddu, one vada, one vastra bahumanam (Cloth Gift consisting of one silk Uttariyam for gents
and one cotton blouse for ladies), along with Lord's akshantalu ('sacred rice' used for blessing). At the conclusion of
the seva, the ticket holders are also sent for the darshan of the main deity in the sanctum sanctorum.
The practice of Kalyana utsavam started in 1536 AD when Tallapakam Tirumala Ayyangar conceived the idea of
celebrating the marriage festival of Lord Malayappa swami and the ceremony was conducted over five days in the
Tirumamani mandapam
This seva starts exactly at 11:30am and ends up at 1:00pm followed by darshan. More than 500 couples will take part
in this seva.
Cost of this seva is 1000RS ( for 2 people /a couple)
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