Somidevara Palem. A village in the east godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. The place is quite small; you could walk around in an hour or even less. Dominantly an abode of farmers, it is the place whence we of the 'Saladi' household have our roots. And the identity and center of our village is the temple which greets you as you enter, the temple of Lord Venkateshwara. The temple built by my grandfather's father, the late Mr. Sri Rama Chandra Murthy.
Every time we visit our village, we always visit the temple and thank both our forefathers and god for all that we have to be thankful for. Of all the things I remember about our temple, one that always instills in even an agonstic like me a sense of spirituality is the yearly 'Kalyaanam' (marriage) of the Lord. Every year, in the month of may there is a celebration commemorating the establishment of the temple. The temple was established in 1975 and in that may, the first ever ceremony of kalyaanam was performed. A couple from our family or any outsider who has received our consent can conduct this ceremony. A family priest always aids in the proceedings so as to guide the performers according to the traditional process(es).
The entire kalyaanam process takes 5 days and is taken part in with the utmost devotion by both those conducting and witnessing. The first day involves letting everyone know that the ceremony has started and that they are invited. There is a 'pandiri' (an artificial enclosure) erected in front of the temple, signalling the invite. This is followed by a 'Dhwajhaaroohanam', a ceremony in which the central pillar, the 'Dhwajhastambham' of the temple is emblazoned with the image of 'Garutmanta', the messenger of the Hindu gods. This is done in belief that garutmanta will convey the message to all the gods that there will be a kalyaanam of Lord Venkateshwara in the forthcoming days. There is also the lighting of the holy pyre, the 'Homam' which will burn non stop for the following 5 days of ceremonial proceedings.
The second day is the main, including the actual marital ceremony of Lord Venkateshwara to his consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi, the goddess of wealth and of the earth, respectively. This part is especially well attended, being central to the whole 5 day ceremony. The devotees take great pride in witnessing the marital ceremony, every year, as if it was their first time seeing it. Every year we always have a lot of people wanting to perform the ceremony along with their husband/wife. This interest not because of them viewing the chance to conduct the kalyaanam as a position of power but as a responsibility they whole heartedly cherish and love. After the ceremony is complete, the 'Prasaadam', the holy offering is distributed amongst all the people.
The third day is more about the devotees than it is about the Lord himself; being conducted in may, the devotees brav the peak summer heat in attending the ceremony and being a part of the celebrations. And so, the next day, the devotees who visit the temple are offered holy sweetened water and hand fans as a thanks for visiting the Lord even in such harsh conditions. The fourth day is conducted by and amongst the priests who've been overseeing the preceedings. They perform a 'Pooja', a holy ceremony to celebrate the Lord and his consorts' marriage.
The fifth day is again an eventful day, involving two different ceremonies. The first is the 'Chakrasnaanam', wherein the effigies are washed in the water of the temple's pond as a symbol of sanctification. The second is the 'Pushpotsavam' wherein the Lord and his consorts are placed on a swing and served, much like the 'Unjal seva' in Tirupati. Later, the effigies are placed inside the temple in solace, much akin to giving newly weds their space. This ceremony, though done with simple elegance, has to it the heartfelt devotion of an entire family who show their thanks to the god and the appreciation of an entire village that shows its devotion with such wholesome participation in what started as a family tradition.
I share this with you all not to build my family a pedestal but to portray the picture of what a true 'giver' can do. My great grandfather was a man of extraordinary discipline and scrupulous character and he had such an impact on our family and our village that to this day I see the Kalyaanam be performed with as much devotion and elegance as it was the first time. The very first kalyaanam involved my entire family of then, literally. My great grandparents were the ones conducting the ceremony, my grandparents conducted the dhwajhaaroohanam and my grandfather's two younger brothers established the 'Gopuram', the highest part of any temple.
For a tradition of such simple roots to have been alive to this day in this ever disconnecting world is, I believe, a testament not to the strength of my family but to the amount of respect they have for their elder and the gratitude they have towards god for always keeping us afloat in the ocean of life. One day, I too hope to become a proud part of this tradition and carry on my family name with pride and a firm sense of belonging to the best of my capability.
The entire kalyaanam process takes 5 days and is taken part in with the utmost devotion by both those conducting and witnessing. The first day involves letting everyone know that the ceremony has started and that they are invited. There is a 'pandiri' (an artificial enclosure) erected in front of the temple, signalling the invite. This is followed by a 'Dhwajhaaroohanam', a ceremony in which the central pillar, the 'Dhwajhastambham' of the temple is emblazoned with the image of 'Garutmanta', the messenger of the Hindu gods. This is done in belief that garutmanta will convey the message to all the gods that there will be a kalyaanam of Lord Venkateshwara in the forthcoming days. There is also the lighting of the holy pyre, the 'Homam' which will burn non stop for the following 5 days of ceremonial proceedings.
The second day is the main, including the actual marital ceremony of Lord Venkateshwara to his consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi, the goddess of wealth and of the earth, respectively. This part is especially well attended, being central to the whole 5 day ceremony. The devotees take great pride in witnessing the marital ceremony, every year, as if it was their first time seeing it. Every year we always have a lot of people wanting to perform the ceremony along with their husband/wife. This interest not because of them viewing the chance to conduct the kalyaanam as a position of power but as a responsibility they whole heartedly cherish and love. After the ceremony is complete, the 'Prasaadam', the holy offering is distributed amongst all the people.
The third day is more about the devotees than it is about the Lord himself; being conducted in may, the devotees brav the peak summer heat in attending the ceremony and being a part of the celebrations. And so, the next day, the devotees who visit the temple are offered holy sweetened water and hand fans as a thanks for visiting the Lord even in such harsh conditions. The fourth day is conducted by and amongst the priests who've been overseeing the preceedings. They perform a 'Pooja', a holy ceremony to celebrate the Lord and his consorts' marriage.
The fifth day is again an eventful day, involving two different ceremonies. The first is the 'Chakrasnaanam', wherein the effigies are washed in the water of the temple's pond as a symbol of sanctification. The second is the 'Pushpotsavam' wherein the Lord and his consorts are placed on a swing and served, much like the 'Unjal seva' in Tirupati. Later, the effigies are placed inside the temple in solace, much akin to giving newly weds their space. This ceremony, though done with simple elegance, has to it the heartfelt devotion of an entire family who show their thanks to the god and the appreciation of an entire village that shows its devotion with such wholesome participation in what started as a family tradition.
I share this with you all not to build my family a pedestal but to portray the picture of what a true 'giver' can do. My great grandfather was a man of extraordinary discipline and scrupulous character and he had such an impact on our family and our village that to this day I see the Kalyaanam be performed with as much devotion and elegance as it was the first time. The very first kalyaanam involved my entire family of then, literally. My great grandparents were the ones conducting the ceremony, my grandparents conducted the dhwajhaaroohanam and my grandfather's two younger brothers established the 'Gopuram', the highest part of any temple.
For a tradition of such simple roots to have been alive to this day in this ever disconnecting world is, I believe, a testament not to the strength of my family but to the amount of respect they have for their elder and the gratitude they have towards god for always keeping us afloat in the ocean of life. One day, I too hope to become a proud part of this tradition and carry on my family name with pride and a firm sense of belonging to the best of my capability.
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