Jai Sri:manna:ra:yana!
19th Jan 2013 is a memorable day for the devotees in Tampa as JETUSA Tampa chapter made them get drenched in the showers of the divine couple’s blessings. With the mangala:sa:sanams of Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, we performed Sri: Go:da: Rangana:tha Kalayano:tsvam in a jubilant way.
The special attraction to this holy event is the Priest – Srima:n Maringinti Yugandhara:cha:rya Swa:mi:Ji who humbly accepted our invitation to perform the Kalyanam and drove all the way from Houston, TX. He is the direct disciple of our beloved A:cha:rya – Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swa:mi: ji. He not only completed his vedic study at Sri Swamiji’s vedic school, but also a staunch follower of H.H Sri Swamiji. The way he performed kalyanam reminded everyone the old Indian tradition and filled their hearts with joy.
The day began with the arrival of all JET USA Tampa committee and volunteers to the venue by 07:45AM. Each and everyone knew one’s role during the event execution. In a matter of 1 hour, stage for divine couple and hall was decorated with various banners representing JET and VT activities. Tables were setup for welcoming devotees, JET and VT Seva registration, and JET book stall.
Sri:ma:n Yugandhara:cha:rya Swa:mi:ji arrived to the venue along with Sri Go:da: Krishna peruma:l by 9AM. The auspicious wedding to the divine couple started just on-time at 10AM with eduruko:lu utsavam. Goddess Go:da and Lord Sri Krishna were seated opposite to each other. All the devotees were divided into two groups each representing divine mother and father. Both groups exchanged ta:mbu:lam and mangala dravyams and offered them to Sri Krishna and then invited Him to accept divine mother. Our priest explained the glory of Lord Sri Krishna and carried Him onto the stage while all devotees were dancing and singing His glory with joy. Then, our priest carried divine mother also onto the stage.
Srima:n Yugandhara:cha:rya Swami:ji started the proceedings of the kalya:nam with Vishvakse:na A:ra:dhana and performed the ritual in an authentic way prescribed in our scriptures. During the process, he educated all the devotees about the importance of each and every step of the ritual and also Dhanurma:sam. He involved all the devotees by singing bhajans that are appropriate to each step of the ritual. Finally, the ritual ended with a ma:la ma:rpidi (garland exchange) which was the highlight of the event where all devotees danced in circles with joy while signing the glory of divine couple. The entire environment became vibrant with the ecstatic chanting of lord krishna’s name “Go:vinda:” by all devotees. We all felt like the venue as divine abode (parama padam) and were all experiencing divine joy, a wonderful unique and unexplainable feeling.
Prajna Tampa took this opportunity to award graduation certificates to 31 students who completed the modules 1, 2 and 3 recently. Sri:ma:n Yugandhara:cha:rya Swa:my blessed the kids and handed over certificates to them.
