In India, marrying off a child is not just a milestone; it’s the mission of a lifetime. Parents begin anticipating this event the moment they hear their baby’s first cry. And when the time comes, they will do anything – beg, borrow or (metaphorically) steal – to make the wedding nothing short of legendary.
Even the gods are not spared. Take, for instance, the love story of Lord Venkateshvara and Padmavati which culminated in a wedding so grand, so sacred, that it continues to be celebrated every single day at the Tirupati temple in the Tirumala hills of Andhra Pradesh.
And guess what? The budget for this wedding was so extravagant that Lord Venkateshvara – the Preserver of the Universe – had to take a loan from Kuber, the treasurer of the Gods!
But how did this come about? I heard this fascinating tale on my recent trip to Tirupati…
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Long ago, in his celestial abode of Vaikunth, Lord Vishnu sat in deep meditation, completely immersed in his divine state. Which is why he failed to register the arrival of the great sage Bhrigu.
Now sages, though enlightened with immense wisdom, are known to have big egos and even bigger tempers. Angered by this perceived disregard, Bhrigu kicked Vishnu hard in the chest. In the very sacred space where Vishnu’s eternal consort, Goddess Lakshmi, resides.
The heavens gasped. The cosmos trembled. But Vishnu, ever the epitome of grace and tolerance, did not react in anger. Instead, he tenderly took the sage’s foot in his hands and massaged it, trying to sooth away any pain the kick may have caused.
Goddess Lakshmi watched – stunned, disbelieving. Her Lord, the mighty Preserver of the Universe, had just been insulted, and yet, instead of retaliating, he was showing concern for the very man who had dishonored her! The insult had not just landed on Vishnu’s chest; it had struck Lakshmi’s very essence.
Indignation – and sorrow – surged within her. If her honor meant so little to Vishnu, how could she remain in Vaikunth? Hurt to the core, Lakshmi left home. Heartbroken, she descended to Earth, vowing to undertake penance.
Without Lakshmi, Vaikunth was no longer home for Vishnu. Grief-stricken, he too followed her to Earth.
Thus began a timeless saga of love, separation, penance, and reunion—a tale that continues to captivate devotees even today.
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On Earth, longing for his beloved, Vishnu wandered across mountains and rivers, through sacred forests and holy lands. His journey finally led him to the serene hills of Tirumala, where he sought refuge in an anthill beneath a tamarind tree. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, as the Lord of the Universe waited, pining for his other half, living the life of a hermit.
In this state, he was known as Srinivas or ‘the one in whom Lakshmi resides.’ Concerned for Srinivas’s well-being, the gods arranged for Vakula Devi, a reincarnation of Yashoda (his foster mother from his Krishna avatar), to care for him.
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But where was Lakshmi?
In the nearby kingdom of Narayanapuram. The king, Maharaja Akash Raj, had been ploughing a sacred field as part of a ritual when his plough unearthed a golden lotus. Nestled within its petals was an infant girl, glowing with divine brilliance. Being childless, the king and queen joyfully adopted her and named her Padmavati, meaning ‘one born of the lotus.’ The child was none other than Goddess Lakshmi, reborn on Earth.
Padmavati grew up to be a noble princess, unmatched in beauty, grace, and intelligence. Fate, however, had already scripted her reunion with Vishnu.
Years passed, and then, the inevitable happened. One day, Srinivas saw Padmavati playing with her friends in the forest. Mesmerized by her beauty, he fell in love instantly. Padmavati, too, felt an inexplicable connection with this mysterious yet familiar presence. However, her attendants mistook him for an intruder and drove him away. Disappointed but undeterred, Srinivas returned to his hermitage, longing for his beloved.
It was Sage Narada who revealed the truth – Padmavati was none other than Goddess Lakshmi herself. Encouraged by this divine revelation, Vakula Devi approached King Akash Raj and formally sought Padmavati’s hand in marriage on behalf of Srinivas.
When the king learned that Lord Vishnu himself wished to wed his daughter, he was overjoyed. Recognizing the sacredness of the match, he began preparations for a wedding unlike any other – a celebration truly worthy of the gods.
But grand weddings require grand wealth, and Srinivas, now a hermit, had none. To fund the wedding, Srinivas turned to Kuber, the treasurer of the gods, for a loan. Kuber, though initially hesitant, agreed under one condition—Vishnu must repay the debt in its entirety before returning to Vaikunth.
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Thus, the celestial wedding of Srinivas and Padmavati took place with unmatched splendor. The earth rejoiced, the heavens showered flowers, and the mountains of Tirumala echoed with celestial music.
The divine couple were finally together, bound in the eternal bond of love.
Now, it was time for Vishnu and Lakshmi to return to Vaikunth. Yet, the divine debt remained unpaid. It was then that Vishnu assumed the sacred form of Lord Venkateshvara to stay behind in Tirumala, thus honoring his promise to Kuber.
To this day, Lord Venkateshvara stands in all his splendor atop the Tirumala hills, showering blessings upon those who seek his grace. Devotees continue to offer their prayers and contributions, believing they aid in repaying Vishnu’s eternal debt.
And who knows? Perhaps, one day, the celestial loan will finally be settled.
Until then, the legend endures…
Being Meeta 