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 awarded
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.