South India Commemorates Sri Venkateswara

PADA: This is a history of Sri Venkatesvara someone from South India sent me. I cannot say if it is 100 percent accurate, but it is interesting that this is the history many of the folks have there. ys pd 

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Vaisakha Suddha Dasami (Today) commemorates the Divine Wedding of Sri Venkateswara and Padmavathi Devi.

The Divine Wedding known as Padmavathi Srinivasa Kalyana is said to have taken place on Friday, the 10th day (Dasami) of Lunar month Vaisakha Masam in the lunar calendar year Sri Vilambi in this Kaliyuga. The wedding is said to have been performed at night at a place called Narayanapuram (presently known as Narayanavanam) about 33km from Tirupathi.

In Treta Yuga, there was a King named Rathadhwaja who had extreme wealth with him, because of that he was arrogant. Seeing his arrogance Maha Lakshmi left his palace. He lost his kingdom and finally one day he died. 

His two sons Dharmadhwaja and Kushadhwaja were depressed and meditated upon Maha Lakshmi. Pleased by their devotion, Maha Lakshmi appeared before them and asked them for any boon. The two sons asked her to take birth as their daughter to each of them so that they can have the wealth that they had before. 

Thus, to Dharmdhwaja, she was born as Tulasi Devi and to Kushadhwaja, she was born as Vedavathi. Princess Vedavathi when she reached adulthood wish of marrying Maha Vishnu. In Treta Yuga Maha Vishnu had incarnated as Shri Rama. 

In Rama Avtara He had taken the vow of “Ekapatni Vrata” (Vow of Monogamy). So He granted a boon to Vedavathi that He’ll marry her in future.

In Kaliyuga, she was born as Padmavathi, the daughter of Akasharaja. King Akasharaja adopted her as his child since he was childless. Meanwhile Brigu Maharshi went to test who among the Trimurthi is the best. He felt Maha Vishnu was the best and he should come to Earth to protect his devotees.

Maha Lakshmi felt very sad as Brigu Maharshi while testing Trimurthi had kicked Maha Vishnu in His chest and left Vaikuntam. She went to Kolhapura. Maha Vishnu came down to Earth in search of her. He went to Seshachalam hills and with the permission of Sri Varaha Swamy he lived there in the ashram of Vakuladevi. 

It is here He met Padmavathi, who was the “Amsha” of Maha Lakshmi and He fell in Love with her and later with the help of Vakuladevi He married her.

Amazingly Sri Venkateshwara Swamy wedding to Padmavathi was fulfilling two boons granted in Treta Yuga and Dwapara Yuga. As told above the wish of Vedavathi to marry Shri Rama was in Treta Yuga. While in Dwapara Yuga Yashoda wanted to see the wedding of Sri Krishna, He had promised to fulfil her wish in Kaliyuga. Vakuladevi was Yashoda in her previous birth, now she stood as mother to Sri Venkateshwara Swamy.

After the wedding as custom the newly wedded couple should not climb hill hence Sri Venkateshwara and Padmavathi Devi stayed at Agasthya Ashrama for six months. The place where the Divine Couple stayed is now known as Srinivasa Mangapuram which is about 15 km from Tirupathi. There is a temple of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Swamy at this place and the idol here is an exact replica of Dhruva Bera” we see in the sanctum at Tirumala.

To venerate the event of Padmavathi Srinivasa Kalyana, a three day festival is celebrated every year at Tirumala starting from Vaisakha Suddha Dasami.

Venkatadri Samam Sthanam Brahmande Nasthi Kinchana
Venkatesa Samo Devo Na Bhootho Na Bhavishyathi

There is no sacred place in this Universe equivalent to Venkatadri and there is no God equivalent to Sri Venkateswara neither in the past nor in the future.
Kalau Venkata Nayaka. Sri Venkateswara Swamy is the Leader in Kaliyuga.
He is the Pratyaksha Dhaiva (Visible God) to be worshipped and is the remedy for all. 

Silavat Drushyathe Hatrih.

In the Sanctum Sri Hari appears in the form of a Stone.

May the Divine Couple bestow peace and tranquillity to the entire mankind.....!