Andal Godadevi thirukkalyanam at Vijayawada

Friday, January 31, 2025

Andal Godadevi thirukkalyanam at Vijayawada

Some places carry a wrong perception, primarily for the way they are portrayed in movies. The temple city of Madurai is often portrayed in Tamil movies as violent city with gangsters walking with ‘aruvals’ clutched behind their necks inside their white shirts ! .. .. Vijayawada is another one ! “Bezjawada” produced by Ram Gopal varma and directed by Vivek Krishna hit the screens in 2011 and did not do all that well – this Telegu film was on the Vijayawada Gang Warfare, featuring Naga Chaitanya and Amala Paul in the lead roles. Later it was dubbed in Hindi as Hero: The Action Man and also in Tamil as Vikram Dhadha. No filmy review this !

In some legends, Vijayawada is referred to as Rajendracholapura as Virarajendra Chola won a battle against Chalukyas in 1068 and ruled over this place. The reason for the city acquiring the name Bezawada is that Goddess Krishnaveni (River Krishna) requested Arjuna to make a passage for her to merge into the Bay of Bengal. Arjuna made a bejjam (hole) through the mountains and the place came to be known as Bejjamwada which later changed to Bezawada. Other names of Vijayawada were being Vijayavata, Beejapuram, Kanakaprabha, Kanakapuram, Kanakawada, Jayapuri, Vijayapuri, Phalguna Kshetram and Jananathpura. Bezawada (as Vijayawada was known then) was founded around 626 A.D. by Paricchedi Kings. Bezawada (Vijayawada) was ruled by King Madhava Varma (one of the kings of Vishnukundina dynasty). Chinese Buddhist scholar Xuanzang stayed a few years in Bezawada around 640 A.D. to study the Abhidhamma Pitaka. In the early 16th century, during the reign of Qutb Shahi dynasty (Golconda Sultanate), diamond mines were found near Vijayawada on the banks of Krishna River.

Any traveller via Vijayawada cannot miss Prakasam barrage – over river Krishna. River Krishna, is the fourth longest river which flows entirely in India, after the Ganges, Godavari and Narmada. One for sure would love to stand near the gate and view the long bridge on this river nearer Bejawada [Vijayawada station]. Krishna River flows about 1,400 kilometres (870 mi), originating at Mahabaleswar near the Jor village in Satara District, Maharashtra and meets Bay of Bengal at Hamasaladeevi in Andhra Pradesh, flowing through Karnataka before entering Andhra. The delta of this river is one of the most fertile regions in India and was the home to ancient Satavahana and Ikshvaku Sun Dynasty kings.

Earlier known as Bezawada, Vijayawada is a Commercial city with a hot climate – you can feel the heat as the train enters this region ~ Indian Railways has assigned the station code - "BZA". This politically active city is well connected by road, air and more specifically by rail. It is a major Railway junction located in South Central Railway. Trains from Tamilnadu towards Hyderabad pass through ~ trains to Howrah & beyond; the National Capital and beyond – all pass through this Junction. The station has 10 platforms and is one of the busiest with more than 250 express and 150 freight trains passing through it. The station was constructed in 1888 when the Southern Maharatta Railway's main eastward route was connected with other lines going through Vijayawada. By some accounts, an average of 70,000 people board different trains each day and an equal number of commuters exit trains at the station.

Vijayawada is a holy town – with the famous temple of Sri Kanaka Durgamma of Goddess Durga – Pushkaram on river Krishna occurs here once in 12 years. It is also called Vijayavatika (land of victory in Telegu) where Goddess Durgamma killed demon Mahisashura, and resting at Indrakeeladri hill by the river side – establishing victory of good over evil and providing boons to all devotees.

Moving away from all negativity - Bhogi is a special day ... at Thiruvallikkeni, it marks Thirukkalyanam of Goda devi Andal with Sri Parthasarathi Emperuman. On Panguni uthiram, thirukkalyanam ‘Gadhya thrayam’ of Emperumanar Ramanujar is recited before the divya dhampathigal.

Poranki village is located in Penamaluru Tehsil of Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a known locality of Vijayawada in NTR district of Andhra. Bhadrinath swami once visited Thiruvallikkeni a couple of years ago and has been in touch with me since. He is doing kainkaryam at : Sri Sri Sri kodanda Rama Swamy temple , poranki village, Vijayawada city, Andhra Pradesh -521137.

Here are some photos of Sri Krishna - Godhadevi thirukkalyanam conducted at this temple on Bhogi day. Photos shared by - Kosuri Sai Badrinath swami, Vijayawada, who is doing kainkaryam there.

In earlier days, puranic and religious stories were being filmed. Andal Thirukkalyanam was a Tamil film released in 1937 by Saradha Films, directed by R Prakash. ‘Goda Kalyanam’ is a famous telugu TV serial.