(during April – June, 2011)
Hymavathi Devi’s Consecration Day :
It may be recalled that Sri Hymavathi Devi’s consecration was done in Jillellamudi by Amma on 6th April, 1968. For the past several years, it has been the custom to celebrate the commemorative function of Hyma’s consecration, every year in Jillellamudi on Chaitra Suddha Saptami (the seventh day of the brighter half of the lunar month Chaitram). This year this happened to be on the 10th April, 2011. On this day, the celebrations are generally brief with special Abhishekams to Hyma performed to the accompaniment of chanting of Vedic Mantras by 11 Veda Pandits invited for the occasion and Pujas to Hyma in the gaily decorated sanctum of Himalaya. This is followed by a collective performance of ‘Hymavathi Vratam’ by a number of enthusiastic couples and individuals. This function is held in the TTD Kalyana Mandapam and conducted under the guidance and supervision of the process of the vratam by the veteran Sri PSR Anjaneya Prasad and assisted by Sri Ravuri Prasad.
Amma Birthday Celebration In Jillellamudi:
Amma’s 89th birthday celebrations were held in Jillellamudi on 14th April, 2011 with usual gaiety and devotional fervor with a festive atmosphere pervading the whole premises. Performing special Abhishekams & pujas to Amma in the Anasuyeswralayam are regular features here on this occasion. These are followed by collective ‘Anasuya Vratams’ performed by several enthusiastic couples in the TTD Kalyana Mandapam under the guidance of Sri PSR. Anjaneya Prasad of Guntur.
An additional and important feature of the function this year was the release of a DVD titled ‘Matruvedam’ by Sri Ganti Venkata Rao, an ardent devotee of Amma from Visakhapatnam. This DVD is a recording of a kind of Telefilm, wherein some selected sayings of Amma are picturised through a painter’s interpretation of each of the sayings in Telugu along with the accompanying commentary, also in Telugu. The sayings rendered into Sanskrit (by Dr. Pannala Radhakrishna Sarma, former Principal, Matrusri Oriental College) are also shown in this picturisation. The entire process of making this Telefilm was financed by Mr.Kaliprasad Ganti of Chennai and directed by Sri Ramkapil Sarma of Hyderabad who also wrote the lyrics for the songs in this telefilm as also did the screenplay. The script for the commentary was jointly prepared by Dr. B.L. Suguna, Sri AVR Subrahmanyam and Sri PSR Anjaneya Prasad
An important development this year, is the release of a Digital Data Catalog of Amma’s Photos brought out through the tireless efforts of Sri M.S. Saratchandra Kumar and Smt. Yarla Rohini, which was presented at the lotus feet of Hymavathi Devi. A Calendar bearing the picture of Hymavathi Devi which was presented by Mr.Potturi Premagopal was released by Sri B.Ravindra Rao on this occasion.
In Hyderabad:
For the past couple of years Amma’s birthday function was being held at the residence of Sri Valluri Rama Murty ever since he shifted from Guntur. So, this year also Amma’s birthday was celebrated with utmost devotion by all the devotee children of Amma who attended the function. It has been the custom to hold the function in the morning hours and consisted of collective recitation of Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam and performing puja to Amma offering flowers by individuals as the Lalitha & Ambika Ashtothara Naamaavali was being read out. The function concluded with the distribution of Prasadam (Lunch) to one and all gathered there.
Amma’s Kalyanotsavam
Amma’s Kalyanotsavam (Wedding day) is celebrated every year on 5th May in Jillellamudi and this year Amma’s 76th Kalyanotsavam was celebrated with traditional gaiety and enthusiasm. The celebration of the Kalyanam started with bringing in procession the ‘Panchaloha’ idols of Amma and Nanna garu (got made by Sri Annamraju Murali of Guntur) to the dais of Kalyanam venue in the main dining hall by the bride and bridegroom’s parties to the accompaniment of music by traditional musical instruments. Before this, a welcoming ceremony (‘Edurkoklu’ in Telugu) is held, in which the bride’s party and bridegroom’s party welcome each other. This program was conducted by Sri PSR Anjaneya Prasad, Editor of ‘Viswajanani’, the Telugu monthly magazine for bride’s party and Sri P. Appi Reddy, a Lecturer in Kakinada and an old student of Matrusri Oriental College for the bridegroom’s party.
Nearly 100 couples enthusiastically participated in the collective performance of the Kalyanam, while the couples Smt & Sri Vajjha Mallikarjuna Rao for the bride’s party and Mrs.& Mr. Annamraju Vamsi for the bridegroom’s party performed the function on the dais as the purohits conducted the program.
It has been more or less a custom for the interested couples to participate in the collective performance of ‘Upanayanam’ to their wards in Jillellamudi on this day (5th May). This year about 15 couples performed Upanayanam to their wards in the TTD Kalyana Mandapam. Nearly 250 people consisting of the relatives and friends of the couples participated in this function.
The entire celebration of Kalyanotsavam concluded with a grand feast to all those nearly 1500 people who attended the function.