Lord Venkateswara Swamy : A Captivating & Ancestral Deity

Lord Venkateswara Swamy : In general, some people start performing marriage rituals for their ancestral deity, Venkateshwara Swami. Even before the sacred union takes place, they walk towards the Lord and engage in various services for Swamiji by diligently serving Him in person and paying homage to Lord Venkateswara, whom they deeply revere and hold in the highest regard.

Lord Venkateswara Swamy & Event As Follows

The bride adorns herself with a towel immersed in turmeric for auspiciousness, radiating an aura of grace and elegance.

The groom wears traditional attire immersed in /applied with turmeric.

Uninterrupted, continuous worship is conducted through the eternal flame for the unity and well-being of everyone. Two pots of Pongali (A special dish) are taken for this purpose, one for the god (in the form of the eternal flame) and the other for elders.

They should prepare two sets of meals containing vada pappu, panakam (a traditional drink), and chalimidi (a sweet dish).

In one pot, three heaps of rice should be placed, and in the second pot, three jaggery lumps should be offered to Goddess Maa Lakshmi for preparing Pongali (a Special Sweet dish).

Everyone in the family takes a holy bath. Until then, they should not eat any food and must wear new clothes.
Every gentleman adorns himself with the sacred Namam, a special tilak.

On a plate, they arrange panakam, vada pappu, chalimidi, fruits, flowers, and coconut and take them to the temple to offer them to the deity.

In the house, one set of vada pappu is distributed to everyone, and in the temple, Other sets of vada pappu are offered to all the devotees.

For the groom, they must put a black dot on his cheek, Parani on his feet, and Namam on his forehead.

“Celebrating the union, a graceful black dot is placed on the bride’s radiant cheek, adorning her with an exquisite bindi, a mark of divine blessings and sacred beginnings.”

As the auspicious ceremony unfolds, the mother gracefully sprinkles fragrant turmeric-infused water, anointing the path ahead. The groom, holding a ceremonial vessel adorned with a vibrant yellow cloth, proceeds with utmost reverence. The father of the bridegroom, enveloping a damp towel around it, delicately places an empty vessel upon a mound, atop which a glowing pile of coals rests.

With a firm grip, they embark on a momentous journey, accompanied by the aromatic wafts of Sambrani. The air resonates with joyous chants of “Govinda! Govinda!” as they invoke the divine presence of Govinda.

When they come out, Women light camphor in the main hall and wave it over hundi. They should not touch the temple until then.

Women who have served money in the hundi are given fruit or alum jaggery as prasadam and Kumkum(bindi) is offered to them. Prasadam is then offered to Men.

If anyone receives Punakalu of Lord Venkateshwara, it is customary to sprinkle turmeric water, if it still persists, they can give four coconut offerings. So, they take a few coconuts along with them during their journey.

While doing all this, they offer prayers and chant the names of Govinda while giving donations and completing their pooja in the Venkateshwara Swami temple.

Upon entering the house, they should light the camphor and offer aarti to the hundi.
Two people should hold a rope near the main gate and stand. No one should enter the house from beneath the rope.
The groom should place the hundi inside the Pooja room in front of the Lord Venkateshwara.

Three lumps of money (coins)from the hundi should be taken out by the Groom’s sister (woman of that family).
The money received in the hundi by the groom’s party should be offered in the Tirupati hundi.

The coins from the hundi should be placed in a new cloth (new hundi) and must be placed in the Pooja room and later they can be offered in the Lord’s temple in Tirupati.

After coming in front of the house, the groom should transform into the bridegroom and the bride into the bride.
Generally, this procedure is followed. In some regions, there may be slight variations in customs and practices.

Also Read : https://telugutraditions.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1120&action=edit