Prudhvi family to decorate Mallanna with Turban

Chirala: The preparations for the celestial wedding of Lord Mallikharjuna Swamy’s  with goddess Bhramaramba are not complete at Srisailam unless the Mallanna Talapaga ( Turban) was adorned. 

The weaving of the sacred talapaga is the boon bestowed to Prudhvi Venkateswarlu family by Srisaila Mallanna about 200 years ago and the tradition is to be continued this year also.

Maha Shivaratri is a very important festival to all the devotees of Lord Shiva. Attending the celestial wedding of Mallikharjuna and Bhramarambha at Srisailam is customary to many families from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. 

A large number of families involve themselves in the preparations  of the marriage of celestial gods and do their bit without expecting anything but only the grace of the Lord in return.  The family of Prudhvi Venkateswarlu of Hastinapuram village near Chirala is such one blessed family.

With the commencement of Kartika Masam, favorite of Lord Shiva, Prithvi Venkateswarlu and his son Subba Rao weaves the special turban with special care and dedication. 

After the completion of 300 cubits in length, it would be made into two parts and packed as two round cylinders. Just two days before the Shivarathri, the Prithvi family starts from their home with a procession to the Shivalayam in Pandillapalli after conducting pooja at all Shivalayams on the way.

Venkateswarlu’s family reached Srisailam on Sunday and is ready to put the Talapaga to the Lord’s head on Monday. During the lingodbhava time on Maha Shivaratri day, the Srisailam shrine echoes with the chanting of ‘Harahara Mahadeva’ and ‘Sambho Shankara’. 

Then at the midnight hour, the officials turn off all lights on the temple premises and the nude Prithvi Venkateswarlu and his son Subbarao reach the ‘Alaya Sikharam’ and cover the ‘Nava Nandi’, nine bulls on the abode of Lord Mallikharjuna with one part of the cloth. 

The other part of the cloth is used as a turban to the bridegroom Mallikharjuna for the marriage with Bhramaramba. 

After the completion of celestial marriage, the cloth will be auctioned in the presence of the devotees, who believe that the  cloth symbolizes God’s presence in their home.
Prithvi Venkateswarlu and his forefathers are weaving the special turban for the celestial god and his abode for over 200 years as a tradition. 

Speaking to the media here on Sunday, Pridhvi Venkateswarlu said, “It is a boon to our family and we are doing it as a responsibility with utmost care and dedication. Though it is a pride moment, we see it as a chance to the weavers of Chirala to participate in the work of God.”

Pridhvi Subba Rao said, “We start the weaving of the special cloth from the starting day of Karthika Masam. We are doing this with dedication and as a service to god and feel blessed to participate in the Siva Kalyanam.”

After witnessing the grand celestial wedding, the Prudhvi family reach home to continue the duty they are bestowed for the next year, though many issues surround them in regular life.