Śrīnivāsa Padmāvatī Kalyāṇam

The Śrīnivāsa Padmāvatī Kalyāṇam is the divine wedding of Bhagavān Śrīnivāsa, also called Veṅkaṭeśvara, with Padmāvatī. Padmāvatī was the daughter of King Ākāśarāja of Nārāyaṇapura. The Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya tells this account in chapters three to eight.

Padmāvatī is the rebirth of Vedavatī. Vedavatī suffered captivity in Laṅkā in the place of Sītā in the Tretā-yuga. Śrīnivāsa, who was then Rāma, promised to marry her in the twenty-eighth Kali-yuga. Brahmā conducted the wedding in the month of Vaiśākha, in the Uttarā Phālguṇī muhūrta (auspicious time), with all the devas present. After the wedding Bhagavān Śrīnivāsa took both Lakshmī and Padmāvatī to Vṛshabhādri, where he lives with them.

The promise from the Tretā-yuga

The origin of this wedding lies in the Tretā-yuga. Rāvaṇa came to the Pañcavaṭī āśrama (hermitage) to carry Sītā away. Agni had already taken the real Sītā to Svāhā-devī in Pātāla to keep her safe. In her place Agni brought Vedavatī and set her in the āśrama in Sītā’s form. Vedavatī was a woman of great virtue. Rāvaṇa had touched her against her will, and out of shame at that touch she had already entered the fire.

So Vedavatī, in Sītā’s form, was taken captive to Laṅkā. She bore the captivity through the whole time in Laṅkā. After Rāvaṇa died and the real Sītā was brought back, Vedavatī entered the fire again.

At that moment Agni brought the real Sītā from Pātāla and gave her back to Śrīnivāsa, who was then Rāma. Agni said: “This Vedavatī did great service to Sītā and bore captivity in Laṅkā in her place. Please give her a vara (a boon).”

Sītā herself spoke: “This Vedavatī was always dear to me and gave me joy. Please marry her.”

Śrīnivāsa answered: “As you say, so it will be. In the twenty-eighth Kali-yuga I will marry her. Until then let her live in Brahmaloka, honoured by the devas.”

Vedavatī was then born from the earth as the daughter of Ākāśarāja of Nārāyaṇapura. Bhagavān Śrīnivāsa told this to Vakulamālikā in chapter 5.

Padmāvatī’s birth and the reading of her marks

Ākāśarāja was ploughing the bank of the Araṇī with a golden plough for a yajña (fire ritual). He found an infant girl lying on lotus petals. She shone like molten gold and had all the auspicious marks. He named her Padminī, also called Padmāvatī.

When she had grown into a young woman, the ṛshi Nārada came to the garden and read her lakshaṇas (bodily marks) in great detail. He read her feet, her limbs and her waist. He read her navel, which turns to the right like a whirlpool of the Gaṅgā. He said her whole form was equal to that of Lakshmī who rose from the milk-ocean. Then he said: “Your face is suited for Vishṇu alone.” (Chapter 4)

The first meeting

In the spring season, Bhagavān Śrīnivāsa went into the forest on a white horse to hunt. Hunters in kirāta (forest-tribe) disguise went with him; they were really devas. He chased a wolf and came to the royal garden. There Padmāvatī and her companions were picking flowers.

A great elephant had frightened the women under the trees. When Śrīnivāsa appeared, the elephant turned and ran away. Śrīnivāsa was dark and radiant. He carried a golden bow. He wore padmarāga (ruby) earrings, the sacred thread, a crown and armlets. He got down from his horse and asked about the animal. Then he asked about the remarkable woman in the group.

He was told that she was Ākāśarāja’s daughter. He said that he desired her. Her companions drove him away with warnings about Ākāśarāja. Śrīnivāsa went back to Veṅkaṭādri. He lay down on his swing set with gems. He could not eat, because he was burning with viraha (the pain of separation). (Chapter 4)

Padmāvatī had also seen Śrīnivāsa. When he vanished she fainted. Her companions carried her to the women’s quarters. She refused food and grew weak. Her mother Dharaṇī called for the royal astrologer. He said: “An excellent man came. A woman sent by him will arrive here. Follow what she says.” (Chapter 6)

Vakulamālikā’s mission

Śrīnivāsa told Vakulamālikā about his viraha and about who Padmāvatī was. Vakulamālikā had served him since before the present kalpa (age of the world). He sent her to Nārāyaṇapura on a red horse. He gave her exact directions. She was to go down by the way of the Narasiṃha cave and reach the Agastya-liṅga. Then she was to pass Śuka’s āśrama at the Padma-sarovara, cross the Araṇī and reach the city.

Vakulamālikā reached Nārāyaṇapura. She met Padmāvatī’s companions at the Śiva temple, and they brought her to Queen Dharaṇī. That day Dharaṇī had also received a reading from a soothsayer. She heard Vakulamālikā’s proposal with joy. She took it to Ākāśarāja, who called his ministers together. He said: “This divine girl, who was not born from a womb, will become the wife of the deva of all devas on Veṅkaṭādri. My wish is fulfilled!” All the ministers agreed with great joy. (Chapters 5 to 7)

The muhūrta and the parrot’s message

Bṛhaspati was called from Devaloka to fix the auspicious muhūrta. He learned that the bride’s birth star was Mṛgaśīrsha and the bridegroom’s was Śravaṇa. He thought about it carefully and then declared: “Uttarā Phālguṇī in the month of Vaiśākha is the star that brings them the greatest joy and union. This is the auspicious time for their wedding.” (Chapter 7)

The parrot Śuka was then sent from Nārāyaṇapura to Veṅkaṭādri with Śrīnivāsa’s own vanamālā (garland of forest flowers). He took the formal acceptance. Śuka came before Śrīnivāsa, who was seated with Lakshmī on a gem throne. He gave Padmāvatī’s message in her own words:

“O Mādhava, accept me. I always chant your names. I always think of your form. O Ramāpati, I wear your marks on my shoulders. I honour the devotees who have received the pañca-saṃskāra (the five sacred rites of initiation). O Madhusūdana, I do all my actions for your pleasure. This is my vow. So, with my father’s consent, bless me with your grace.”

Śrīnivāsa received this with the greatest joy. He sent his own vanamālā garland back with Śuka. Padmāvatī received it and placed it on her head. (Chapter 7)

Preparing the bridegroom

On the wedding day Śrīnivāsa asked Lakshmī to look after his preparations. Lakshmī called all her companions.

• Śruti brought fragrant oil.
• Smṛti brought silk cloths.
• Dhṛti brought ornaments.
• Śānti held the mirror.
• Prīti brought camphor, agaru (aloe-wood) and yakshakardama (a fragrant paste).
• Kīrti brought the golden crown set with gems.
• Śacī held the umbrella.
• Sarasvatī and Pārvatī held the two chāmaras (fly-whisks).

Lakshmī herself rubbed fragrant oil on Śrīnivāsa’s hair and applied scented powder. She bathed him with golden vessels of water brought from Ākāśagaṅgā and all the tīrthas (sacred waters), mixed with camphor. She tied up his dark hair with divine scents and applied golden ointments. She dressed him in green silks and tied the waistband. She placed the crown and all the ornaments on him and put gem rings on every finger. She showed him the mirror so that he could put on the ūrdhvapuṇḍra tilaka (the upright mark on the forehead) himself. Then he mounted Garuḍa with Lakshmī. (Chapter 8)

The wedding procession

Śrīnivāsa set out for Nārāyaṇapura in a grand procession. Brahmā, Śiva, Indra, Varuṇa, Yama, Kubera, the Vaikhānasa munis, the great ṛshis and the whole assembly of devas went with him. Gandharvas sang. Apsarases danced. Divine drums sounded.

The devas had already decorated Nārāyaṇapura. Viśvakarmā decorated the whole city in a moment. Indra sent a shower of flowers. Apsarases danced. Kubera filled the palace with wealth. Yama took away all disease from the people of the city. Varuṇa filled it with gems and pearls.

Padmāvatī came to the city gate on Airāvata and walked around Śrīnivāsa in respect. At the gate Ākāśarāja received the bridegroom, with all the relatives gathered. Śrīnivāsa put his garland around Padmāvatī’s neck. She put her mallikā (jasmine) garland around his. They did this three times. Then they came down from their vehicles. They sat for a moment on the dais and then went together into the auspicious maṇḍapa (wedding hall). (Chapter 8)

The marriage ceremony

Brahmā led the rites. He performed the Maṅgalasūtra-bandhana (the tying of the auspicious cord), the Aṅkurārpaṇa (the sowing of sprouts) and the Lājāhoma (the offering of puffed rice into the fire). When the vrata-ādeśa (the vow instruction) was finished and all the rites were complete, the bridegroom and bride rested. The celebrations went on for four days. (Chapter 8)

Return to Veṅkaṭādri

When the four days of celebration ended, Brahmā took leave of Ākāśarāja. He himself seated Śrīnivāsa on Garuḍa with both queens, Lakshmī on one side and Padmāvatī on the other. Divine drums sounded as the procession went up to Vṛshabhādri. All the devas praised Śrīnivāsa as he entered the Maṇi-maṇḍapa and sat on the throne with Lakshmī and Padmāvatī.

The text says that after this Śrīnivāsa, with Lakshmī and Padmāvatī, walked on the south bank of the Svāmi Pushkariṇī. There Kumārasvāmī honoured him in the divine temple. (Chapter 8)

Sources

• Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaishṇava Khaṇḍa, Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya, chapters 3 to 8