Goda Kalyanam (the wedding of Goda devi) celebrates the marriage of Goda devi, an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi, with Lord Ranganatha, an aspect of Lord Vishnu. Lakshmi and Vishnu are the female-male aspects of God in the form of the Sustainer of creation. The festival is being celebrated in the Adivarapupeta ashram this January 13 to 14. All are invited and welcome.
Goda devi is an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. She was found as a child under a basil tree by a great devotee named Nammalvar who raised her in Sri Villiputturu. Goda devi was very attracted towards Lord Vishnu in the form of Lord Ranganatha Swami. She refused to marry any human being. She used to make garlands for Lord Ranganatha, and before sending them to the temple, she would wear them before a mirror to see whether it would be nice on Lord Ranganatha. One day the father saw her wearing the garland before sending it to the temple and scolded her for it. (Garlands made for deities are not to be worn by another.)
Goda devi felt very sad about what she had done. But Lord Ranganatha appeared in her father's dream and told him that he likes the garlands to be worn by Goda devi. The god instructed the father to bring garlands to the temple every day only after Goda devi had tried them on.
Lord Ranganatha informed the king and the priests of the temple that he would marry Goda devi in Sri Rangam. Goda devi went to Sri Rangam with her father. The Lord appeared in the form of divine light married her. Finally Goda devi merged into Lord Ranganatha.
This year's invitation to attend the annual function in Jhansi to celebrate Shivabalayogi's birthday on January 24. He would have been 78 this year.
